Teen Pregnancy by Race

Teen pregnancy by race and ethnical groups is often researched, as teen pregnancy affects the whole society. Teen pregnancy has been declining in the last 20 years in USA, yet they are still an issue in many states. The Centers for Disease Control report on teen pregnancy rates shows that there are great disparities from state to state. Teen pregnancies are not that much dependent on race, as on state. This is to show that not the ethnic group is the only factor, but rather there are regional and state specific reasons for increase in teen pregnancies.

In most states teen birth rates are highest for Hispanic and then for Non-Hispanic black. Yet in West virginia there are more of white teens than of Hispanic.

Research does not relate teen pregnancy by race alone, but rather to the socioeconomic conditions and the education. There is a view that in state where there is sex education in the curriculum and teens get an understanding of their options, the make better decisions than when they are just told not to do it. Guttmacher Institute research shows that when students receive a broad picture of their options and receive sex education and HIV education, and are not just told to be abstinent before marriage, they make wiser decisions and are less likely to get pregnant.

When we think of teen pregnancy by race, we consider the teen birth rates which are generally higher for Hispanic and non-Hispanic black teenagers than for non-Hispanic white. In 2007, the teen pregnancies for Hispanic teenagers is about 8%, for non-Hispanic white is about 3%, and for non-Hispanic black is 6.5%. The teen pregnancies among non-Hispanic black is more than double. It is interesting, however, that in states with large proportions of Hispanic and non-Hispanic black teenagers the overall teenage birth rate is not higher. This is counter intuitive. This shows that other socioeconomic factors might be of higher importance for teen pregnancies than race alone.

Factors such as family status, mother of the teenager education, social inclusion, academic achievement, stress experiences, violence and abuse have an impact, and are concealed in the statistics of teenage pregnancy by race.

Non-hispanic white teenagers have highest teen birth rates in Southeast. At the same time teen birth rates are high across the southern United States. Teen birth rates of non-Hispanic white teenagers are lowest in the Northeast, upper Midwest and in California -- less than 1%. While white teen birth rates are 5 time more in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi.

Non-Hispanic black teen birth rates are highest in Southeastern along the Mississippi River and upper Midwestern states. Non-Hispanic black teenager pregnancies range from less than 4% in Hawaii, Massachusetts, and new York, to more than 8% in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

Teen birth rates among Hispanic is quite high across much of the United States. They are lowest in California, New York, New Jersey and Florida -- about 3.8% , and are about 6% in Maine, Montana, new Hampshire, new York, and Wet Virginia. While they reach 12% in Southeastern states -- Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Teen Pregnancy by Race Lowest teen birth rates are reported in the Northeast, and upper Midwest states, such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, where they are about 2.5%, while in states across the Southern United States (Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) they are 6%.

States where education includes also information about contraception, skills for healthy sexuality, avoidance of coerced sex, healthy decision making and family communication, have better chances of reducing teen pregnancies than ones in which there is no education, just warning.

Teen pregnancies and birth rates are uniformly higher in Southern states and lower in Northern and Midwestern states. The teen pregnancy rates are not much different in states with predominantly Hispanic and non-Hispanic black population, which comes to tell that socioeconomic factors, education and family stability are just as important, and even more than race alone for the prevention of unwanted teen pregnancies.

The average teen pregnancy rate for US is around 7% for teens aged 15-19. The abortion rate is around 2%. The miscarriage rate is about 1.4% -- 14 in 1000. So for every 1000 pregnant teens, 40 will give birth, 19 will abort, 14 will miscarry.

Teen pregnancies and birth rate are not a function of race, class, personal character, hormones, lack of control, the media, music, video, TV.

People with experience and long-term observation notice that teen birth rates are related to the following:

adult birth rate;
poverty;
sex abuse and early secularization;
violence;
lack of educational about sex, health, family, HIV;
lack of reproductive health care for teens;
lack of choices;
economic attraction.

As you see, teen pregnancy by race studies can be misleading, if other factors are not considered. Girls who have fewer options and feel dependent are forced into social corners and pregnancy is a response. The best solution and best way to reduce teen pregnancies is to offer girls the prospects of a bright future, meaningful goals for personal and career development, other than being a mom.

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