A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted that while the U.S. total fertility rate has fallen to 1.57 births per woman, this widely cited figure is a snapshot statistic—not a measure of how many children women ultimately have over their lifetimes.
Demographers, economists, and reproductive health experts argue that delayed childbearing, improved educational and career opportunities for women, declining teen pregnancy rates, and barriers to family formation all contribute to the trend.
George Washington University has experts available who can offer insight. If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact GW Media Relations at gwmedia@gwu.edu.
Julia Strasser, is the director of the Reproductive Health Workforce & Policy Research Center in the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity at GW.
Linda Cassar, clinical associate professor at the GW School of Nursing, has worked primarily with the maternal/child health patient population over her 30 years as a nurse, working in labor and delivery, mother/baby, high-risk antepartum, and outpatient community perinatal education.
Amita N. Vyas, is an associate professor at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health and Director for the MPH Maternal and Child Health program and the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health.
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