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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The number of babies born in Kansas City is on the decline after nearly two decades of being on the rise. Births dropped by about three percent between 2007 and 2009. Gerald Hoff, with the health department, says he doesn't have an exact reason for the recent change.
"Best guess is people can't afford to have kids or choose not to because of this economy," says Hoff.
Hoff says the decline in Kansas City mirrors state and national trends. The recent drop mainly occurred among women ages 15 to 29. The city hit an all-time high, with more than 8,000 births, between 2005 and 2007.
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