U.S. Teen Pregnancy Rate at Historic Low

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By Jeremy Morris, Associate Editor, US Daily Review.

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).

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.”

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

According to a statement, “The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy seeks to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families. Our specific strategy is to prevent teen pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy among single, young adults. We support a combination of responsible values and behavior by both men and women and responsible policies in both the public and private sectors. If we are successful, child and family well-being will improve.”