Updates on Teen Pregnancy: The Statistics

January 27, 2011

Updates on Teen Pregnancy: The Statistics

Teen Pregnancy News

As teens all over the country resumed school after winter break, we think about ways to keep girls in school. Unfortunately, for teen moms education comes second in their lives:

• Parenthood is the leading reason why teen girls drop out of school; it’s difficult to juggle homework and a baby.
• Less than half of teen mothers graduate from high school and fewer than 2% earn a college degree by age 30.
• Children of teen mothers do worse in school than those born to older parents—they are 50% more likely to repeat a grade, less likely to complete high school than children of older mothers, and perform lower on standardized tests.
• About one quarter of teen moms have a second child within 24 months of the first birth—which can further delay their ability to finish school or maintain a job.

Support girls’ education by supporting adolescent pregnancy prevention! Resources and more information available at: stayteen.org and TheNationalCampaign.org.

Teen Birth Stats

Resident teen (15-19 yrs.) birth rates are the lowest they have been since 1990, when the teen rate was 34.1 births per 1,000.

Year Teen Births (15-19 yrs.) Population Estimate (15-19) Teen Birth Rate                                                                            

2004         463                                 22,108                       20.9
2005         431                                 22,209                       19.4
2006         468                                 22,507                       20.8
2007         495                                 22,331                       22.2
2008         472                                 22,160                       21.3
2009         393                                 22,539                       17.4

Source: John Burley, Public Health Analyst, Department of Health, 2010

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Outreach Specialist Sarah Hoffert believes these statistics are important to Lund because:

“LFC’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Panels serve as part of a larger effort that Vermont is making to support teens making healthy, informed decisions around sexuality and sexual health. When schools are supported in teaching teens and youth age-appropriate information about healthy relationships and sexuality, teens are better prepared to make informed decisions around sex now and in the future. LFC Teen Pregnancy Prevention panels serve as an element of many schools’ wellness weeks and/or sexuality education; we present at over 50 middle and high schools, colleges, and youth organizations each year to provide vital information about the realities of being a pregnant or parenting teen and how to prevent teen and young adult unintended pregnancies.”

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