Alaska Birth Rates Decline, Cancer Incidence Drops

Alaskas birth rates continue to decline, with fewer babies born in 2024 than in 2023, marking the fifth consecutive year of decrease. Fertility rates also dropped, with Southwest Alaska having the highest rates and Southeast Alaska the lowest. Popular baby names were Oliver and Theodore for boys, and Amelia and Olivia for girls. However, there are positive trends: life expectancy increased, teen birth rates dropped, and fewer pregnant women use tobacco. Cancer incidence decreased overall, with declines in leukemia, bladder, lung, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Colorectal cancer rates have also decreased, but remain high among Alaska Natives, prompting health organizations to encourage earlier screenings. DNN | The Daily News Now! The world’s first global local news network. Every city. Every story. AI powered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.