The birth rate for teens aged 15 to 19 years in the US declined 41% overall from 2006 to 2014, according to an analysis of birth rates among teens aged 15 to 19 years from 2006 to 2007 and from 2013 to 2014. Researchers also found:

• The greatest decline was for Hispanics (51%), followed by non-Hispanic blacks (44%), and non-Hispanic whites (35%).

• From 2006-2007 to 2013-2014, the overall birth rate for teens declined significantly in every state.

• The birth rate ratio also declined for black teens vs white teens in 28 states and for Hispanic teens vs white teens in 37 states.

• County-level teen birth rates for 2013-2014 ranged from 3.1 to 119.0 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 years.

• Unemployment was higher, and education attainment and family income were lower in counties with higher teen birth rates.

The authors concluded that community-level interventions that address social conditions associated with high teen birth rates might further reduce racial/ethnic and geographic teen birth disparities in the US.

Citation: Romero L, Pazol K, Warner L, et al. Reduced disparities in birth rates among teens Aged 15–19 Years—United States, 2006–2007 and 2013–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65:409–414. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6516a1.