The teen pregnancy rate has dropped sharply across all racial and ethnic groups, according to a recent study released by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, but disparities still remain.
The 57 percent drop in the teen pregnancy rate from 1991 to 2013 equates to four million less young people affected today, saving taxpayers roughly $12 billion in 2010, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, reported
U.S. News & World Report.
The campaign estimates the average cost to taxpayer for teen birth up to age 15 to be $1,700 a year.
Urgent: Do You Approve Or Disapprove of President Obama's Job Performance? Vote Now in Urgent Poll
"Cutting the teen birthrate is important for better health outcomes in infants and increased economic possibilities for teens," wrote Lindsey Cook, of U.S. News & World Report. "Babies born to teens have a greater risk for many complications, which are associated with high health costs. Teen mothers are also more likely to smoke during pregnancy."
The Washington Post reported that Asian-Pacific Islanders and African-Americans had the greatest declines in teen birth rates, falling 64 percent and 63 percent, respectively. While Hispanic teens have the highest rate among racial/ethnic groups at 46.3 per 1,000, it has fallen the fastest of all groups since 2007 at 39 percent.
The Post reported that the birth rate drops in the 10-14, 15-17 and 18-19 age categories all hit record lows in 2013. The rate dropped among ages 15-17 by 68 percent and in ages 18-19 by 50 percent.
The
CDC study said despite the historic drops in the teen pregnancy rate, there are still notable racial and ethnic disparities.
"In 2012, non-Hispanic black and Hispanic teen birth rates were still more than two times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic white teens, and American Indian/Alaska Native teen birth rates remained nearly twice as high as the white teen birth rate," stated the CDC teen pregnancy study.
"Non-Hispanic black youth, Hispanic/Latino youth, American Indian/Alaska Native youth, and socioeconomically disadvantaged youth of any race or ethnicity experience the highest rates of teen pregnancy and childbirth. Together, black and Hispanic teens comprised 57 percent of U.S. teen births in 2012; this proportion remained unchanged from 2011."
Urgent: Assess Your Heart Attack Risk in Minutes. Click Here.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.