Definition:
Pregnancies are the sum of the number of live births, reported induced terminations of pregnancies and reported fetal deaths of all gestations. The adolescent pregnancy rate is the number of pregnancies per 1,000 females in the stated age group. The adolescent live birth rate is the number of live births in an age group per 1,000 female population in the same age group. Rates are presented for adolescent pregnancies and live births for the age groups 10 through 14, 15 through 17, and 15 through 19 years.
Significance:
Assuming the responsibilities of parenting before one is financially, socially or emotionally prepared carries increased risks of later difficulties for the parent, the child and the community. Adolescent mothers are less likely than their non-parenting peers to complete high school and marry. They are more likely to have large families and live in poverty. Their children are at greater risk of infant mortality, poor health, lower cognitive development, worse educational outcomes, higher rates of behavior problems and higher rates of adolescent childbearing themselves. Adolescent childbearing also places a greater financial burden on society in terms of the increased supports required to assist these families (Kirby, 1997).
Healthy People 2010 objectives call for a national reduction in the adolescent pregnancy rate to 46 pregnancies per 1,000 females ages 15 through 17 years (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000). New York State has met this goal but continues to work toward reducing pregnancies in this age group. The New York State Department of Heath initiative, Prevention Agenda for the Healthiest State, has identified teen pregnancy as a priority indicator with a goal to reduce pregnancies in this age group to no more than 28 pregnancies per 1,000 females ages 15 through 17 by the year 2013.
Findings:
In 2007, there were 39,910 pregnancies to young women ages 15 through 19 years in New York State. The pregnancy rate for this age group was 58.4 per 1,000, an 18 percent decline from the 2000 rate of 71.0 per 1,000.
The decline in the adolescent pregnancy rate in New York State occurred among young women in both New York City and Rest of State. The rate of pregnancies for women outside of New York City declined from 49.7 per 1,000 women ages 15 through 19 in 2000 to 41.6 per 1,000 in 2007. Adolescent pregnancy rates in New York City also declined between 2000 and 2007 (101.8 and 83.9, respectively).
In 2007, pregnancy rates for New York State's youngest teens remained fairly low at 1.4 per 1,000 girls aged 10 through 14 years. Pregnancy among young women aged 15 through 17 declined from 44.4 per 1,000 in 2000 to 35.1 in 2007.
In 2007, there were 17,599 births to young women ages 15 through 19 years in New York State. The birth rate for this age group was 25.7 per 1,000, a 23 percent decline from the 2000 rate of 33.2 per 1,000.
The decline in the adolescent birth rate in New York State occurred among young women in both New York City and Rest of State. The rate of births for women outside of New York City declined from 27.5 per 1,000 women ages 15 through 19 years in 2000 to 22.3 per 1,000 in 2007. Adolescent birth rates in New York City also declined between 2000 and 2007 (41.4 and 31.0, respectively).
In 2007, birth rates for New York State's youngest teens remained fairly low at 0.3 per 1,000 girls aged 10 through 14 years. Births among young women aged 15 through 17 years declined from 18.7 per 1,000 in 2000 to 13.2 in 2007.
References:
Kirby. D. 1997. No Easy Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2000. Healthy People 2010 (Conference Edition in Two Volumes), Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Prevention Agenda for the Healthiest State 2008 - 2013. New York State Department of Health, August 2008.
(http://www.nyhealth.gov/prevention/prevention_agenda.)
KWIC
Indicator(s) and Narrative For: