Aklan’s Births registry climbs up by almost 5% in 2023

In 2023 there is total of 7,553 registered live births in the province of Aklan, which shows a positive annual growth of 4.8% compared to the 7,191 registered live births the previous year. On the average, 21 babies are born daily which resulted to 12.3 birth rate per 1000 population in the province in 2023. This number is slightly higher compared to 11.7 birth rate reported in 2022.

Among the 17 municipalities of Aklan, Kalibo (capital) recorded the highest number of registered births, with 5,054 live births, accounting for almost 67 percent of the province’s total. This was followed by the municipality of Ibajay and Malay with 664 births (8.8%) and 564 births (7.5%), respectively. On the other hand, municipality of Tangalan had the lowest registered births in 2023 with only 14 births, while municipality of Batan recorded 21 births, both contributing less than one percent (1%) of the total birth registered in the province.

Births by Usual Residence of the Mother

In terms of the usual residence of the mother, Kalibo still had the highest number of registered births, with 1,118 live births, while Lezo had the lowest, with 149 births.

Births by Sex

Of the total registered birth in the province, 3,954 are males or 52% of all babies born alive in 2023, while the remaining 48% percent or 3,599 registered births babies are females. This translates to a sex ratio of 110 males per 100 females in 2023, higher compared to 108 males per 100 female births recorded in 2022.

Births by Month

Highest number of registered births logged in 2023 is in the month of October with 700 births, followed closely by November and September with 687 logged births and 686 logged births, respectively. Meanwhile, the month of June recorded the least number of registered births at 548 births. Months of August and July also posted low number of registered births following June with 555 births and 592 births, respectively.

Birth Attendance

Of the total number of births in the province, 6,874 or 91.0 percent of deliveries were attended by health professionals (physician, midwife, or nurse). While 670 or 8.9 percent birth deliveries are handled by traditional birth attendant/hilot.

Moreover, 90 percent of birth deliveries in the municipalities of Altavas, Balete, Buruanga, Kalibo, Lezo, Malinao and New Washington are medically attended. Meanwhile, it is notable that in the municipality of Batan 95 percent of birth deliveries are attended by traditional birth attendant. Likewise, 88.3 percent of deliveries in Libacao are also traditionally attended. Moreover, less than 1 percent of birth deliveries are attended by neither a health professional or a traditional birth attendant.

Births by Place of Delivery

In 2023, nine out of 10 births were delivered in a health facility (89.9%), which was either a hospital, birthing clinic, lying in,  outpatient care center, specialized care center, and the like. The remaining 9.7 percent of total births were delivered at home while less than one percent are delivered in other locations.

Births by Age of Mother

In 2023, majority of registered births are born to mothers aged 25-29 years (2,115 or 28%). These numbers were followed by babies born to mothers of aged 30-34 years (1,779 or 23.6%) and 20-24 years (1,574 or 20.8%). Moreover, there are 663 babies born to adolescent mothers or are those younger than 20 years old in Aklan during the reference period. In addition, the median age of mothers was 30 years old. This means that half of the births in 2023 were to mothers who were at least 30 years.

EXPLANATORY TEXT

Data on births presented in this release were obtained from the timely and late registered births at the Office of the City/Municipal Civil Registrars all throughout the country and submitted to the Office of the Civil Registrar General through the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) - Provincial Statistical Offices (PSOs). The information presented includes births that occurred from January to December 2023 based on data files received by the PSA - Civil Registration Service (CRS) from the PSOs and processed as of 31 August 2024. Figures presented herein are not adjusted for under registration. This release includes births of Filipinos whose usual residence is abroad and births of foreign nationals that occurred in the country during the reference period. Births of Filipinos abroad which were reported to the Philippine Foreign Service Posts are presented in a separate report.

Birth statistics presented for the province of Aklan, are taken from the database of Philippines Statistics Authority. Note that some figures (percentages) are rounded off to complement the analysis.

ENGR. ANTONET B. CATUBUAN
Chief Statistical Specialist