Illegitimacy And Age Groups

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 21

Illegitimacy And Age Groups

Of all the live babies born in New Zealand last year, 12.72 per cent—or one in every eight —were illegitimate. The figure of 12.72 per cent last year compares with 11.56 per cent in 1966.

When the number of illegitimate births compared with total live births is related to the age groups most likely to have illegitimate children, the percentage is much higher. In 1966 (the latest figures available) 64 per cent of the babies born to girls aged 16 were illegitimate. Forty-four per cent of babies born to girls of 17, were illegitimate; 35.9 per cent to those of 18; 28 per cent to those of 19, and 15 per cent tq those aged 20. The percentage of i'lovitimate babies born to

women aged 21 to 25 falls from 15 per cent to 5 per cent.

The highest number of illegitimate babies born In any age group in New Zealand in 1966 was 907 to girls aged 19. Girls aged 19 gave birth to 3225 live children of whom 28 per cent were illegitimate. But in the same age group, 1155 mothers had conceived before marriage, so that 65.4 per cent of the babies were illegitimate or conceived before marriage. The 15 to 19 age group is that most likely to have illegitimate babies, while the peak age for legitimate children is 24-25.

Of the 120,990 girls in the 15-19 age group, 7502, or 6.2 per cent, had babies. In the 20-24 age group, there were 96,720 women. Of these, 19,339, or 19.9 per cent, had babies. The 25-29 age group contained 85,300 women, of whom 17,093, or 20 per cent, had babies.

The 25-29 age group contained 85,300 women, of whom 17,093, or 20 per cent, had babies —19 per cent of them had legitimate babies and 1 per cent had illegitimate babies. Girls and women In the age group 15-24 gave birth to more than 70 per cent of the illegitimate bdbias burn in 1966. Thirty-seven per cent of the total number- of babies born to girls aged from' 13 to 19 were illegitimate.

Almost one bsby in every three born to mothers in the 15-19 age group in 1966 was illegitimate. The total number of illegitimate babies increased last year, with the age-group pattern similar to 1966.