Place of Occurrence and Usual Residence of Mother

At national level, a total of 1,668,120 registered live births were reported for the year 2018. Central Visayas contributed to about 8.3 percent of registered births in the country. The region ranked fourth in terms of the highest number of live births recorded. (See Figure 1)

More males were born than females            

There were more male babies born than females in the year 2018. The distribution of 52 percent males (72,786) and 48 percent females (65,870) resulted in a sex ratio of 109 males per 100 females.  (See Figures 2).

Highest occurrence of births in Cebu

Of the total live births in Central Visayas, 44,156 or 32 percent were born in Cebu, 22,331 or 16 percent in Negros Oriental, 20,700 or 15 percent in Bohol and 1,174 or 1 percent in Siquijor. On the other hand, for highly urbanized cities, Cebu City had highest number of birth occurrence with 31,691 or 23 percent. Second in rank was Mandaue City with 11,092 or 8 percent and third was Lapu-Lapu City with 7,403 or 5 percent of the total registered births. (See Figure 3)

More babies born at Usual Residence of Mother

In Central Visayas, all provinces reported negative differentials in the number by place of occurrence. The negative differential may be indicative of expectant mothers preferred giving birth within their usual place of residence. Meanwhile, two out of three highly urbanized cities showed positive differentials in the number of births by place of occurrence. Cebu City accounted 11,672 and Mandaue City with 3,753 births. Probably, expectant mothers from some areas of the region preferred to give birth outside of their usual place of residence due better health care facilities and social services. (See Table 1)

Most number of births in October

In 2018, most births occurred in October with 12,902 or 9.3 percent of the total births in the region. It was followed by the months of December with 12,749 or 9.2 percent, September with 12,668 or 9.1 percent, and November with 12,448 or 9.0 percent. Meanwhile the month of February had the least number with 9,404 or 6.8 percent share of the registered births. (See Figure 4)

Births by Attendant in Central Visayas 2018

Of the total number births in the region, 95.8 percent birth deliveries were medically attended by health professionals which may be either a physician, a midwife, or a nurse. Which implies that 96 birth deliveries were medically attended by health professionals out of 100 birth deliveries. Only 4.2 percent of births occurred in the region were attended by traditional birth attendants (hilot/ unlicensed midwife) and others. (See Figure 5)

More than half of babies born to unwed mothers

Central Visayas reported more than half or 58 percent of the total registered live births were born out of wedlock or illegitimate. Legitimacy is a status of a child to parents who are married to each other at time of birth. (See Figure 6)

Technical Notes:

Vital statistics » are derived from information obtained at the time when the occurrences of vital events and their characteristics are inscribed in a civil register. Vital acts and events are the births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and all such events that have something to do with an individual's entrance and departure from life together with the changes in civil status that may occur to a person during his lifetime.

Live Birth » is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life.

Place of Occurrence » refers to the place where the vital event took place.

Place of Usual Residence» refers to the place where the person habitually or permanently resides.

Legitimate » refers to the legal status of the child conceived and born to parents who are married.

Illegitimate » refers to the legal status of the child conceived and born outside of wedlock of parents.

Approved by:

(SDG.) ARIEL E. FLORENDO
Regional Director