The number of registered live births in La Union in 1^st quarter of 2022 summed up to 2,556, an increase of 7.67 percent birth occurrences compared with 2,374 registered live births in the same period of 2021. The daily average birth occurrence in 1^st quarter of 2022 was computed at 28.  The month of January recorded the highest registered live births at 898 babies with a daily average of 29, while March posted the lowest registered live births at 813 babies with a daily average of 26. (Table 1)

Meanwhile, in the same quarter a year ago, the month of March recorded the highest registered live births at 827 babies or 28 daily average births. On the contrary, the month of February posted the lowest registered live births of 660 babies with 24 daily average births. (Figure 1)

Among the city/municipalities in the province, the City of San Fernando registered the highest number of births in 1^st quarter of 2022 with 1,057 accounting to 41.35 percent of the total number of registered live births in La Union. Agoo ranked second with 717 live births (28.05 percent share). The municipalities of Naguilian, Balaoan and Bacnotan distantly followed with 201 registered births (7.86 percent share), 127 registered births (4.97 percent share) and 115 registered births (4.50 percent share) respectively. (Figure 2)

Similarly, the City of San Fernando posted the highest number of registered live births in 1^st quarter of 2021 with 1,046 births or 44.06 percent of the total registered live births in the province. Agoo also ranked second with 545 births (22.96 percent share), Naguilian, Bacnotan and Balaoan followed with 134 registered births (5.64 percent share), 125 registered births (5.27 percent share) and 92 registered births (3.88 percent share) respectively. (Table 2)

Males with 1,317 (51.53 percent share) outnumbered females with 1,239 (48.47 percent share) in terms of registered live births in the province in 1^st quarter of 2022 resulting to a sex ratio of 106 males per 100 females.

There are 6 city/municipalities registered a sex ratio that is higher than the provincial ratio. The highest sex ratio of 300 was recorded in Sudipen. This was followed by San Juan and Santol with a sex ratio of 150 and 120 respectively. (Table 3)

Majority of  birth deliveries in La Union in 1^st quarter of 2022 were attended by medical professionals (physician, midwife, or nurse) accounting to 93.31% of the total registered birth deliveries. Births delivered by physicians recorded the highest number with 2,132 (83.41 percent share) followed by midwives with 327 (10.97 percent share) and nurse with 9 birth deliveries (0.30 percent share).

On the other hand, 165 births or 6.46 percent of the total delivered births in the  province in 2022 1^st quarter were delivered by a hilot/traditional birth attendant. Meanwhile, there were 6 births (0.23 percent share) delivered by other birth attendants. (Figure 4)

SGD. DANITES E. TEÑIDO, Ph.D.
Chief Statistical Specialist

Explanatory Notes

            Data on births presented in this release were obtained from the Certificate of Birth (Municipal Form No. 102) that were registered at the Office of the City/Municipal Civil Registrars in La Union and forwarded to the Philippine Statistics Authority La Union Provincial Statistical Office. Information presented include births registered from January March of 2021 and January March 2022.