(New York) – More U.S. women in their 20s and 30s are having children without getting married, and Latinas share the highest rate, a study released yesterday by the National Center for Health Statistics reports. The report revealed there were 106 births to every 1,000 unmarried Hispanic women, 72 per 1,000 blacks, 32 per 1,000 whites and 26 per 1,000 Asians.  The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) issued the following statement.

“Women have the right to have children whenever they think this is appropriate for their unique, individual circumstances, whether they’re married or not, and to have social systems in place that support their decision,” said Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Deputy Director of the National Latina Health Institute. “This is particularly true for Latinas, who are twice as likely as non-Latinas to live in poverty and therefore less likely to have access to medical care and other essential services.”

Gonzalez-Rojas said it is important not to present single motherhood as a problem. Women have different reasons not to marry. For women in same-sex relationships, marriage is not an option in most states. She also urged public officials to take every opportunity to provide economic opportunity, health care access and education to all women, so that those wishing to be mothers can raise healthy and happy children.

“Economic injustice and broken social systems are what cause children to grow in unstable households, not single motherhood,” Gonzalez-Rojas said.