Teen Birth Rate Increases in 2006
October 22, 2008Teen Birth Rate Increases in 2006
The birth rate for teens 15-19 rose by 3% in 2006, marking
the first increase in fourteen years.
The 435,427 births to teens also marks a 5% increase in the total number
of births to teens over 2005. A recent report from the National Campaign to
Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, notes that the rate of decline has slowed
each year since 2003 suggesting this uptick may not be a one-time anomaly. The
report, based on data from the National
Center for Health
Statistics’ birth data, found the increase was not concentrated in any
particular racial or ethnic sub-group. The report also examines available data
on teen’s sexual activity, contraception use and abortion rates and discusses
potential policy changes that may have influenced this increase.
To view the full report, please visit
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/TeenBirths_ExamIncrease.pdf