
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 9, 1991                   TAG: 9104090311
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

LIFE SPAN OF BLACK MALES DECLINES TO 64.9 YEARS

The life expectancy of black males continued its striking decline in 1988, according to statistics released Monday by federal health officials.

In his annual report on the health of U.S. residents, Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan reported "sobering news" of how AIDS and rising homicide rates have cut the average life span of black males to 64.9 years - its lowest point since 1981. It was 65.2 in 1987.

By comparison, 1988 life expectancy for other major groups was 73.4 years for black women, a slight decline from 73.6 in 1987; 72.3 years for white men, a rise from 72.2; and 78.9 years for white women, which was unchanged from 1987.

This year's report also included, for the first time, a detailed breakdown on the health of American minority groups, revealing what Sullivan said were "startling statistics."

Only 60 percent of American Indian, Mexican American, African American and Puerto Rican mothers received prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy, according to Sullivan, compared to 80 percent of white, Cuban and Asian mothers.

The study also found that infant mortality rates are 50 percent higher for American Indians and 40 percent higher for Puerto Ricans than for non-Hispanic whites.

by CNB