Rates of Teens Giving Birth at Historic Low

Jun 05, 2014 at 12:15 pm by bryan


The downward trend on teen birth rates in the U.S. took another step last year, falling by 10 percent to a historic low.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the most recent drop, the teen birth rate is now down nearly 60 percent since hitting its peak in 1991.

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The analysis also shows progress among younger and older teens, and among all racial and ethnic groups. While the teen birth rate has dropped significantly in all 50 states over the past 20-plus years, state-specific 2013 numbers for Tennessee are not yet available.

The birth rate for women in their early 20s also declined last year to a historic low, while the rates for those in their 30s and 40s increased as more women are delaying motherhood.

2008-2011 Numbers for Tennessee:

Tennessee was ranked 10 out of 51 (50 states + the District of Columbia) on 2011 final teen births rates among females aged 15-19 (with 1 representing the highest rate and 51 representing the lowest rate). On a similar scale – where 1 is the highest teen pregnancy rate and 51 is the lowest – Tennessee was ranked 13 out of 51 (50 states + the District of Columbia) in pregnancies to females aged 15- 19 in 2008.

Source

Partner Station WMSR
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

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