ADOLESCENT CHILDBEARING
Birth rates among adolescents continued to decline
in 2001, reaching a record low for ages 15-19. The
live birth rate per 1,000 15-19 year old adolescent
females declined by 26 percent since 1991, to 45.9
per 1,000 in 2001. The birth rate for the youngest
teens, those aged 10-14, also declined by 11 percent
since 2000, to 0.8 per 1,000. Birth rates are highest
among the oldest adolescents, at 75.8 births per 1,000
adolescent females ages 18-19, compared to younger
adolescents, at 25.3 births per 1,000 adolescent females
ages 15-17.
In addition to age, birth rates among adolescents
vary considerably by race and ethnicity. Birth rates
for adolescents 15-19 were 41.7 for whites, 73.1 for
blacks, 92.4 for Hispanics, 65.7 for American Indians,
and 20.5 for Asian or Pacific Islanders. All race
and ethnic groups saw a decline in adolescent births
between 2000 and 2001. Although the birth rate among
black adolescents is high compared to most other racial
and ethnic groups, the largest decline in adolescent
birth rates between 1991 and 2001 has been among black
teens. The overall rate of adolescent childbearing
by black teens ages 15-19 fell by 37 percent over
the last ten years. The birth rate among Hispanic
adolescents fell the least from 1991-2001, by 13 percent,
leaving Hispanic teens with the highest birth rate
among the five racial and ethnic groups.
 [d]
[d]
|
