~117- I. INFANT BIRTH AND MORTALITY Table V-1 presents crude birth, death and infant mortality rates of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands for the years 1965-1976. The average crude birth rate for the period 1972-77 _ Was 33.6 births per 1,000. population. This birth rate is high when compared to the United States birth rate of 14.8. However, when compared to Pacific area countries of American Samoa, 38.13 and Guam 29.3; the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands’ birth rate is acceptable. - { The birth rate in Table V-1, also indicates some decline jn the birth rate. As the TIPI population becomes more dependent upon a cash economy, the downward trend in births will probably continue. Table V-2 presents births by location for 1976. It is significant to note that 33% of all births occur outside the district hospitals. Of that total, 27.1% 0f the births occur at home. Table _V-3_ presents births by age and location of mother. ME 5005 53;