 |
Teen Pregnancy in California:
Facts at a Glance
Teen Birth and Pregnancy Rates
- The rate of births to teenagers in the U.S. fell
to 45.9 per 1,000 births in 2001. This number shows a 26 percent decline
since 1991 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Births:
Preliminary Data for 2001").
- The reduction in U.S. teen birthrates from 2000
to 2001 was greatest among African-American teenagers (8 percent).
Since1991, the rates for black teenagers have dropped 37 percent.
Between 2000 and 2001, birthrates for teens declined among all race
and ethnic groups, including non-Hispanic white teenagers (7 percent);
Asian or Pacific Islander (5 percent); American Indian teens (3 percent);
and Hispanic teens (2 percent). Progress was greatest among younger
teens. The birthrate for teenagers 15-17 years fell 8 percent in 2001
and has dropped 35 percent since 1991. The rate for teens 18-19 years
of age dropped 4 percent and has fallen 20 percent since 1991 (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, "Births: Preliminary Data
for 2001").
- In California, 52,966 teenagers ages 15-19 gave
birth in 2001, down from 55,467 in 2000. Of these, 36,051 were to
Latinos, 10,429 were to white and other or unknown ethnicity mothers,
4,634 were to African-Americans and 1,852 were to Asians/Pacific Islanders
(California Center for Health Statistics, 2001).
- California teen birth rates are between 4 and
12 times higher than rates for France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands
and Japan ("No Time for Complacency - Teen Births in California,"
Public Health Institute, 2003).
- Though California teen pregnancy rates have been
declining overall in all race/ethnic groups since 1990, birth rates
for white/other teens in Sacramento and Fresno counties have grown
in the past year. Births to white/non-Hispanic teens rose slightly
in Sacramento from 731 in 2000 to 759 in 2001 and in Fresno from 372
in 2000 to 474 in 2001 (California Center for Health Statistics, 2001).
- Due to changing demographics and growth of the
teen population, the California Department of Finance predicts that
the recent decline in California's teen birth rate will begin to reverse
within the next three years ("No Time for Complacency - Teen
Births in California," Public Health Institute, 2003).
- Within five years the annual number of teen births
in California is expected to increase by 23 percent ("No Time
for Complacency - Teen Births in California," Public Health Institute,
2003).
- In 2000, approximately 20 percent of California's
teen births were repeat births, or births to teens who had already
given birth at least once (California Department of Health Services,
Birth Records).
Teen Sexual Behavior
- Overall, students in grades 11 and 12 (51.9 percent
and 60.5 percent respectively) were significantly more likely than
students in grades 9 and 10 (34.4 percent and 40.8 percent respectively)
to have engaged in sexual intercourse (Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, 2001).
- Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of sexually active
15-17 year-old women have partners who are within two years of their
age; 29 percent have sexual partners who are 3-5 years older, and
7 percent have partners who are six or more years older (Family Planning
Perspectives, 1999).
Economic Consequences
- Total societal costs of teen births in California
for the year 2000 were $3.3 billion ("No Time for Complacency
- Teen Births in California," Public Health Institute, 2003).
Factors Affecting Teenage Sexual Activity and Birth Rates
- While no single effective approach has been identified,
a recently published comprehensive review of evaluation research on
programs to prevent teen pregnancy found that "more programs
to prevent teen pregnancy are making a real difference in encouraging
teens to remain abstinent or use contraception when they have sex."
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Vital Statistics
Report, 2001)
- Findings from the National Longitudinal Study
on Adolescent Health (AddHealth), a large-scale, congressionally mandated
survey of students in grades 7 through 12, have suggested that enhancing
the connections of teenagers to their family and home, their school,
and their community is essential for protecting teenagers from a vast
array of risky behaviors, including early onset of sexual activity
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Vital Statistics
Report, 2001).
- Teens, and younger youth in particular (ages
12-14), cite parents as much more influential (31 percent) than friends
(8 percent) when it comes to decisions about sex ("With One Voice
2002: America's Adults and Teens Sound Off About Teen Pregnancy,"
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy).
- One out of four teen girls say their parents
have discussed sex, love and relationships with them "not nearly
enough," ("With One Voice 2002: America's Adults and Teens
Sound Off About Teen Pregnancy," The National Campaign to Prevent
Teen Pregnancy).
- Several national surveys have reported that teenage
sexual activity has leveled off and there are higher rates of contraceptive
use at first intercourse (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
National Vital Statistics Report, 2001).
-
-
|
|
