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1993.09.30 :  Teen Pregnancy Rate

Contact:  CDC Press (404) 639-3286
September 30, 1993

     More than one million teen-agers were pregnant in 1990, but
the rates vary greatly from state to state, the Centers for
Disease Control reported today.  Of the 40 states included in the
analysis of 1990 state teen-age pregnancy and birth rates,
Georgia had the highest rate of teen-age pregnancy and North
Dakota, the lowest.
     "Across the United States, in every state, there are too
many young women becoming pregnant and becoming mothers too
soon," said U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, M.D.  "Teen-
agers, their babies, their families and society pay an enormous
cost for these unintended, unplanned and unwanted pregnancies,"
she said.  Studies show that 8 out of 10 teen-age pregnancies are
unintended.  
     The new report presents pregnancy and birth rates for teens
by state.  Pregnancy rates, which in this study are based on the
sum of live births and induced abortions, were compared for the
40 states and the District of Columbia which had data on
abortions.  These rates vary widely by state, from 56 pregnancies
per 1,000 teens aged 15-19 in North Dakota to 111 in Georgia. 
Live birth rates ranged from 31 per 1,000 teen-agers in New
Hampshire to 81 in Mississippi.  
     Pregnancy and birth rates for black teens were generally
higher than rates for Hispanic and white teens.  The report notes
that these differences may reflect factors such as socioeconomic
status, access to family planning and abortion services and the
use of contraception.
     Drawing also on data from other studies, the CDC analysts
point out that, despite a goal to reduce teen-age pregnancy in
the United States during the past decade, pregnancy and birth
rates for states were higher in 1990 than those in most other
developed countries. Additionally, other research has shown that
nearly three quarters of births to teen-agers are unintended.  
     The adverse health, social and economic consequences of
teen-age childbearing are well recognized.
     Public costs relating to teen childbearing between 1985 and
1990 totaled $120 billion (AFDC, Medicaid, and food stamp
spending).  It is estimated that of this amount, $48.1 billion
could have been saved if each birth had been postponed until the
mother was at least 20 years old.  Public spending on family
planning services is very cost effective, the CDC researchers
noted: for every dollar spent, an average of $4.40 is saved by
averting expenditures on medical, nutritional and welfare
services.
     The report on teen-age pregnancy and birth rates appears in
the October 1 issue of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report.