The rates of teen births have decreased by 57 percent over the last two decades, according to The National Center for Health Statistics.
Data for the research was gathered from birth certificates, according to a Kid's Doctor report. The report further says that "the teenage birth rate for American teenagers fell 9% from 2009 to 2010. The national level is 34.3 teenage births per 1,000 women between the ages of 15-19, the lowest since 1946." However, the United States still has the highest teen pregnancy rates in the western industrialized world.
Across all states, teenage pregnancy rates have dropped over the last 20 years. The data was taken to include women between the ages of 15 and 19 and was based on information in 2012. Though, in the Southwest and South, other research shows that more births are occurring. In New Mexico, 47.5 out of 1,000 teenagers will have babies. This is high compared to the New Hampshire rate of 13.8 out of 1,000 teens.
The highest rate of teen pregnancy occurred in 1957. During the 1940s and 1960s, women were encouraged to marry younger as a result of the severe drop in population after World War II, according to a report from Liberty Voice. In contrast, today, many now are encouraged to focus primarily on careers and education.
Teenage pregnancy is correlated with several factors, such as education, welfare, poverty, and physical and mental issues, according to Kid's Doctor.
Another report found that the rate of teens having sex also saw a slight decrease in comparison to trends over the last 20 years, and that more teens were careful to use contraception, such as condoms and birth control. Teenagers understand more about babies and sex, and are more likely to use protection every time.
The decline in teenagers giving birth is indeed very good news.
