Teenage Pregnancy Within The United States

(1) After the legalization of abortion in 1973, birth rates for US females 15 to 19 years old decreased sharply until 1986, when rates again rose steadily until 1991. Decreases have occurred every year since 1992, although these decreases are viewed with much optimism, the teenage birth rate in 1996 (54.7 live births/1000) was still higher than the rate for 1980.(2).
             There are large differences among female adolescents of different racial and ethnic groups. Whites have considerably lower rates of adolescent births (39.3 per 1,000 15-19-year-olds in 1995) than Hispanics (106.7) or African Americans. Whereas childbearing rates in White and African American adolescents have shown substantial declines, rates for Hispanic adolescents have risen steadily in the past 15 years. Although Latina adolescents have lower rates of early sexual experience, they are less likely to use birth control and, once pregnant, are less likely to abort than are White or African American adolescents. (3) .
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             Trends in birth rates and abortion rates among adolescent females age 15 to 19 years. (4). .
             II. Teen Pregnancy and Risk Factors .
             Early childbearing among teens can put both mother and baby at risk. Young teens who have babies are likely to drop out of school, be single parents, and are at great risk of having another child within 24 months. (5).
             Potential risk factors for a teenage girl to become pregnant include: early dating behavior (dating at age 12 is associated with a 91% chance of being sexually involved before age 19, and dating at age 13 is associated with a 56% probability of sexual involvement during adolescence); early use of alcohol and/or other drugs, including tobacco products; dropping out of school; lack of a support group or few friends; lack of involvement in school, family, or community activities; perceiving little or no opportunities for success; living in a community or attending a school where early childbearing is common and viewed as the norm rather than as a cause for concern; growing up under impoverished conditions; having been a victim of sexual abuse or assault; or having a mother who was aged 19 or younger when she first gave birth.