Childhood Asthma: A Growing American Epidemic
Asthma, the leading chronic illness for children in the U.S., affects one out of every 15 kids. The highest rates of asthma are found in non-Hispanic black children living in families with incomes below the poverty level. (August 2001)

U.S. Diversity Visas Are Attracting Africa's Best and Brightest
In the United States, many people equate immigration with a growing Hispanic population. But new sources of immigrants have emerged in the past decade — including several African countries — and well-educated professionals constitute a growing segment of the newcomers. (Population Today, July 2001)

The Rise — and Fall? — of Single-Parent Families
The yearly increases in single-parent families that defined the U.S. landscape for more than 40 years have ended. Over the last five years, the share of children born to unmarried mothers has stabilized, and the share of children living in single-parent families has stabilized and inched downward. (Population Today, July 2001)

First Glimpses From the 2000 Census (PDF: 2.2MB)

 The latest census was full of surprises: The census counted nearly 7 million more people than the U.S. Census Bureau had estimated, and it still may have missed as many as 3 million. And for those minding the budget: The 2000 Census cost less than anticipated. This Population Bulletin looks at some of the major findings of the 2000 Census as of April 2001, and considers the importance of these trends not only to demographers, journalists, business people, and politicians, but to all Americans. (BUL56.2, June 2001)

Former U.S. Census Bureau Director Ken Prewitt Ponders Census 2000
Kenneth Prewitt, former director of the U.S. Census Bureau, spoke with PRB about the 2000 Census and its implications for social policy in the United States. Prewitt oversaw preparations for and the execution of Census 2000 as the bureau's director from October 1998 to January 2001. (June 2001)

Reinventing USAID?
A prominent member of Congress has proposed abolishing the U.S. Agency for International Development. Now a former director of population programs at USAID is joining the call for reform. (Population Today, May/June 2001)

The Child Population: First Data from the 2000 Census (PDF: 177KB)
This KIDS COUNT/PRB report provides an overview of American children based on the first data released from the 2000 Census. (AmeriStat, June 2001)

Human Papillomavirus in Canada
There is a special need in Canada to pay more attention to HPV. For Canadian women, the estimated prevalence rate for HPV ranges from 20 percent to 33 percent for both the non-cancer causing and cancer-causing types of the virus, and between 11 percent and 25 percent for the cancer causing types alone, according to Health Canada, a federal government agency. (May 2001)

Human Papillomavirus: A Hidden Epidemic in the United States
The human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. Various strains of HPV cause the great majority of cases of cervical cancer. Despite this fact, public ignorance about the virus is high. (May 2001)

The Road to Census 2000: A Chronology of Key Issues (PDF: 273KB)
This report, covering activities from February 1996 through March 2001, charts the progress of activities and controversies involving Congress, the Executive Branch, and the courts that affected the design, operations, cost, content, and results of Census 2000. This report, part of a series on the Census 2000, has been guided by the recommendations of an expert advisory group of data users and child advocates, brought together by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Population Reference Bureau. (AmeriStat, April 2001)