Complete Health Indicator Report of New Mexico Population - Poverty Among Children Under Age 5
Definition
The estimated number and percentage of children under age 5 living in households with income below the federal poverty level.Numerator
Estimated number of children age 4 and under living in households whose income is below 100% of the federal poverty level as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Poverty status is determined by comparing household income to poverty thresholds (income cutoffs). Thresholds vary by family size and number of children under 18 in the household, and are updated in January of each year. For instance, the poverty level for a family of four in 2015 was $24,250. The U.S. Poverty Guidelines may be found at the [http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/ Health and Human Services website].Denominator
The estimated number of children age 4 and under in the population.Data Interpretation Issues
The U.S. Poverty Guidelines are published in January of each year, and may be found online at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/. Beginning with the year 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau switched from the Current Population Survey as a data source for these data to the American Community Survey. Population size estimates from the UNM Geospatial and Population Studies (GPS) program are considered more accurate for New Mexico. For this indicator report, the poverty percentage estimates from the 5-Year American Community Survey (ACS) were applied to the GPS population estimates to calculate counts and population size.Why Is This Important?
Childhood poverty has especially harmful effects on healthy development and well-being, including developmental delays and infant mortality. Children born into poverty are less likely to have regular health care, proper nutrition, and opportunities for mental stimulation and enrichment. These factors are especially important in the very earliest years of life, because childrens' brain growth and skill development starts at early infancy. Studies document that children who live in low-income and under-educated families start to score lower on standardized developmental tests by as early as eighteen months of age. Such early setbacks are difficult to overcome. Due to their size, physiology, and behavior, young children are also disproportionately vulnerable to many health hazards. For example, the risk factors for childhood lead poisoning include living in a family with a poverty-level income. Studies have documented low blood-lead testing rates among children living in households with this risk factor. This measure identifies counties with higher percentages of children who therefore may be at increased risk for lead poisoning. When compared with lead-testing rates by county, populations with inadequate lead testing of young at-risk children may be identified in order to improve testing in these regions.Healthy People Objective: EMC-1, (Developmental) Increase the proportion of children who are ready for school in all five domains of healthy development: physical development, social-emotional development, approaches to learning, language, and cognitive development
U.S. Target: DevelopmentalOther Objectives
CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking, Nationally Consistent Data and Measures (EPHT NCDM) New Mexico Early Learning IndicatorHow Are We Doing?
New Mexico is one of the most impoverished states in the nation, ranking near the bottom of all states in the percent of its young children living in poverty (49th in both the 2013 and 2014 Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Data Books).Related Indicators
Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:
- Lead Exposure - Children Under Age Three Years with Confirmed Elevated Blood Lead Levels
- Lead Exposure - Children Born in the Same Year and Tested for Lead Before Age Three Years
- Lead Exposure - Annual Childhood Blood Lead Levels
- New Mexico Population - Homes Built Before 1950
- New Mexico Population - Age 0-5
- New Mexico Population - Poverty Among Children Under Age 18
- New Mexico Population - Poverty Among Children Age 5-17
Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:
Graphical Data Views
Percentage of Children Under Age 5 Living in Poverty by Year, New Mexico and U.S., 2005-2017
| NM vs. U.S. | Year | Percentage of Children Under Age 5 in Poverty | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Numer- ator | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 46 | ||||||
| New Mexico | 1995 | 38.9% | 33.8% | 44.0% | 54,547 | |
| New Mexico | 1996 | 35.3% | 30.7% | 40.0% | 48,993 | |
| New Mexico | 1997 | 30.0% | 25.0% | 35.0% | 41,024 | |
| New Mexico | 1998 | 33.8% | 28.1% | 40.0% | 45,578 | |
| New Mexico | 1999 | 28.7% | 23.1% | 34.0% | 37,495 | |
| New Mexico | 2000 | 26.7% | 22.5% | 31.0% | 34,641 | |
| New Mexico | 2001 | 30.0% | 26.3% | 34.0% | 39,189 | |
| New Mexico | 2002 | 30.4% | 26.1% | 35.0% | 40,213 | |
| New Mexico | 2003 | 29.5% | 25.0% | 34.0% | 38,728 | |
| New Mexico | 2004 | 27.8% | 23.8% | 32.0% | 37,307 | |
| New Mexico | 2005 | 29.8% | 27.8% | 32.0% | 39,040 | |
| New Mexico | 2006 | 29.2% | 27.4% | 31.0% | 40,718 | |
| New Mexico | 2007 | 29.7% | 27.8% | 32.0% | 42,245 | |
| New Mexico | 2008 | 27.9% | 25.9% | 30.0% | 40,670 | |
| New Mexico | 2009 | 29.4% | 27.0% | 32.0% | 43,951 | |
| New Mexico | 2010 | 32.0% | 29.9% | 34.0% | 45,529 | |
| New Mexico | 2011 | 34.0% | 31.5% | 37.0% | 48,612 | |
| New Mexico | 2012 | 32.9% | 30.9% | 35.0% | 46,398 | |
| New Mexico | 2013 | 33.2% | 30.9% | 36.0% | 45,301 | |
| New Mexico | 2014 | 31.5% | 29.1% | 34.0% | 42,581 | |
| New Mexico | 2015 | 30.3% | 28.3% | 32.0% | 40,192 | |
| New Mexico | 2016 | 31.4% | 28.4% | 34.0% | 39,733 | |
| New Mexico | 2017 | 28.4% | 25.8% | 31.0% | 35,257 | |
| United States | 1995 | 24.2% | 22.5% | 26.0% | 4,816,366 | |
| United States | 1996 | 23.4% | 21.6% | 25.0% | 4,582,977 | |
| United States | 1997 | 21.7% | 19.9% | 24.0% | 4,223,539 | |
| United States | 1998 | 20.8% | 19.0% | 23.0% | 4,038,584 | |
| United States | 1999 | 18.9% | 17.1% | 21.0% | 3,594,416 | |
| United States | 2000 | 18.7% | 17.0% | 20.0% | 3,583,098 | |
| United States | 2001 | 18.6% | 17.4% | 20.0% | 3,575,879 | |
| United States | 2002 | 19.0% | 17.8% | 20.0% | 3,727,193 | |
| United States | 2003 | 20.3% | 19.0% | 22.0% | 4,021,366 | |
| United States | 2004 | 20.5% | 19.3% | 22.0% | 4,123,715 | |
| United States | 2005 | 21.3% | 21.1% | 22.0% | 4,242,948 | |
| United States | 2006 | 21.0% | 20.8% | 21.0% | 4,211,345 | |
| United States | 2007 | 20.8% | 20.6% | 21.0% | 4,229,120 | |
| United States | 2008 | 21.2% | 20.8% | 22.0% | 4,369,698 | |
| United States | 2009 | 23.2% | 22.8% | 24.0% | 4,849,988 | |
| United States | 2010 | 25.0% | 24.8% | 25.0% | 4,961,524 | |
| United States | 2011 | 25.8% | 25.6% | 26.0% | 5,110,087 | |
| United States | 2012 | 25.6% | 25.4% | 26.0% | 5,014,970 | |
| United States | 2013 | 24.8% | 24.4% | 25.0% | 4,811,689 | |
| United States | 2014 | 23.9% | 23.7% | 24.0% | 4,658,187 | |
| United States | 2015 | 22.8% | 22.4% | 23.0% | 4,448,211 | |
| United States | 2016 | 21.3% | 21.1% | 22.0% | 4,156,949 | |
| United States | 2017 | 20.2% | 19.8% | 21.0% | 3,932,969 | |
Data Notes
This measure of child poverty includes all children aged 0 to 4 who are related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption (except a child who is the spouse of the householder). The householder is the person (or one of the people) who owns or rents (maintains) the housing unit. Poverty status is determined by comparing household income to poverty thresholds (income cutoffs). Thresholds vary by family size and number of children under 18 in the household. For instance, the poverty level for a family of four in 2019 is $25,750. NM population values derive from UNM GPS population estimates. Percentages in poverty derive from U.S. Census SAIPE. 95% confidence intervals were calculated from the SAIPE 90% confidence intervals. Statewide totals and percentages will differ between estimates made using U.S. Census SAIPE and ACS values, due to rounding differences and dissimilar methodologies.Data Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. http://factfinder.census.gov.
- New Mexico Population Estimates: University of New Mexico, Geospatial and Population Studies (GPS) Program, http://gps.unm.edu/.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Data Integration Division, Small Area Estimates Branch, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE). http://www.census.gov/did/www/saipe/
Percentage of Children Under Age 5 Living in Poverty by County, New Mexico, 2013-2017
This measure can identify communities where children may be at greater risk of exposure to lead. Limitations of this measure include the fact that children may be exposed to lead in a county other than their county of residence, while visiting family or attending day care in a neighboring county.
| County | Percentage of Children Under Age 5 in Poverty | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | Numer- ator | Denom- inator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 35 | ||||||
| Bernalillo | 28.9% | 26.5% | 31.3% | 11,737 | 40,612 | |
| Catron | 72.5% | 35.0% | 100.0% | 81 | 112 | |
| Chaves | 38.1% | 29.4% | 46.8% | 1,768 | 4,641 | |
| Cibola | 38.8% | 30.4% | 47.2% | 764 | 1,970 | |
| Colfax | 50.5% | 27.9% | 73.1% | 330 | 653 | |
| Curry | 41.8% | 33.0% | 50.6% | 1,801 | 4,310 | |
| De Baca | 0.0% | 0.0% | 40.2% | Unstable | 0 | 95 |
| Dona Ana | 43.0% | 37.9% | 48.1% | 6,439 | 14,975 | |
| Eddy | 26.4% | 16.5% | 36.3% | 1,146 | 4,343 | |
| Grant | 32.0% | 23.0% | 41.0% | 505 | 1,579 | |
| Guadalupe | 42.3% | 12.7% | 71.9% | Unstable | 92 | 217 |
| Harding | 8.3% | 0.0% | 22.0% | Very Unstable | 3 | 32 |
| Hidalgo | 39.9% | 16.6% | 63.2% | 114 | 285 | |
| Lea | 24.4% | 17.9% | 30.9% | 1,471 | 6,028 | |
| Lincoln | 8.9% | 0.6% | 17.2% | Unstable | 85 | 952 |
| Los Alamos | 7.7% | 0.0% | 18.0% | Very Unstable | 70 | 914 |
| Luna | 46.7% | 30.2% | 63.2% | 879 | 1,882 | |
| McKinley | 45.0% | 39.4% | 50.6% | 2,797 | 6,216 | |
| Mora | 36.0% | 0.0% | 77.0% | Very Unstable | 83 | 230 |
| Otero | 29.1% | 18.9% | 39.3% | 1,287 | 4,424 | |
| Quay | 41.8% | 18.0% | 65.6% | 201 | 481 | |
| Rio Arriba | 32.6% | 24.3% | 40.9% | 893 | 2,739 | |
| Roosevelt | 47.6% | 29.7% | 65.5% | 640 | 1,345 | |
| Sandoval | 25.0% | 19.1% | 30.9% | 1,967 | 7,869 | |
| San Juan | 27.9% | 23.7% | 32.1% | 2,632 | 9,432 | |
| San Miguel | 60.1% | 46.7% | 73.5% | 898 | 1,494 | |
| Santa Fe | 27.0% | 21.7% | 32.3% | 1,850 | 6,853 | |
| Sierra | 48.6% | 26.7% | 70.5% | 261 | 536 | |
| Socorro | 49.8% | 26.3% | 73.3% | 543 | 1,091 | |
| Taos | 21.5% | 11.3% | 31.7% | 338 | 1,571 | |
| Torrance | 42.5% | 28.6% | 56.4% | 342 | 804 | |
| Union | 32.7% | 6.6% | 58.8% | Unstable | 72 | 219 |
| Valencia | 35.7% | 27.5% | 43.9% | 1,597 | 4,473 | |
| New Mexico | 27.2% | 26.0% | 28.4% | 136,010 | 500,037 | |
| U.S. | 22.5% | 22.3% | 22.7% | |||
Data Notes
This measure of child poverty includes all children aged 0 to 4 who are related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption (except a child who is the spouse of the householder). The householder is the person (or one of the people) who owns or rents (maintains) the housing unit. Poverty status is determined by comparing household income to poverty thresholds (income cutoffs). Thresholds vary by family size and number of children under 18 in the household. For instance, the poverty level for a family of four in 2019 is $25,750. The small-area percentages in poverty derive from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. 95% confidence intervals were calculated from the ACS 90% confidence intervals. The small-area and statewide population denominators derive from from the UNM GPS population estimates (using the mid-point year population estimates). The statewide and national percentages and the national population estimates derive from SAIPE estimates. Statewide totals and percentages will differ between estimates made using U.S. Census SAIPE and ACS values, due to rounding differences and dissimilar methodologies.Data Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. http://factfinder.census.gov.
- New Mexico Population Estimates: University of New Mexico, Geospatial and Population Studies (GPS) Program, http://gps.unm.edu/.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Data Integration Division, Small Area Estimates Branch, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE). http://www.census.gov/did/www/saipe/
References and Community Resources
[http://www.aecf.org/resources/the-2014-kids-count-data-book/ The Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book] [http://www.nmvoices.org/ New Mexico Voices for Children] [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su6302a6.htm Lead Screening and Prevalence of Blood Lead Levels in Children Aged 1-2 Years (CDC report)]More Resources and Links
Evidence-based community health improvement ideas and interventions may be found at the following sites:Additional indicator data by state and county may be found on these Websites:
- CDC's Prevention Status Reports for all 50 states
- CDC WONDER's DATA2020 data search tool.
- County Health Rankings
- Kaiser Family Foundation's StateHealthFacts.org
Medical literature can be queried at the PubMed website.
Page Content Updated On 05/02/2019,
Published on 05/02/2019
