U.S. Teen Pregnancy Rate at Historic Low

The U.S. teen pregnancy rate has plummeted 40% between 1990 and 2008 (the most recent data available) and is now at a historic low, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

It was announced Wednesday, June 20, by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

Meanwhile, a public education campaign aimed at reducing unintended pregnancy among young adults.

The campaign, Beforeplay, is targeted to the 18- to 29-year-old age group and seeks to initiate more conversation about sexual health and family planning through an interactive website, social media, events and statewide advertising. (Read: Beforeplay to Reduce Unintended Pregnancy)

Also, a survey reveals that for many young adult women, an unplanned pregnancy could alter the course of their future plan. And statistics show that there were more than 3 million unintended pregnancies in the United States alone, with the highest incidence occurring with women 20-24 years old in 2006. (Read: Why Young Women Must Plan Their Pregnancy)

The teen pregnancy rate in 2008 now stands at 70 per 1,000 women age 15-19; down from its 1990 peak of 117 per 1,000.  Other highlights from the report include:

• Between 1990 and 2008, rates of teen pregnancy have declined by almost one-half among non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, and by about one-third among Hispanic teens.
• Although rates have declined among all racial and ethnic groups, 2008 pregnancy rates for non-Hispanic black (122 per 1,000 age 15-19) and Hispanic teens (112 per 1,000 age 15-19) were two to three times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic white teens (45 per 1,000 age 15-19).
• Between 1990 and 2008, pregnancy rates declined for teens of all ages—the rate for those age 10-14 is the lowest ever reported; the rate for those 15-17 declined by almost half; and the rate for those 18-19 declined by about one-third.

“The impressive declines in teen pregnancy have been both wide and deep,” said Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. “The rates have gone down in all 50 states and among all racial/ethnic groups. The steady declines in teen pregnancy represent one of the nation’s great success stories of the past two decades and the thanks go to teens themselves.”

You can visit www.TheNationalCampaign.org for more information and visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr60/nvsr60_07.pdf to view the new report.

Photo courtesy: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy