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Show Births to Adolescents (Ages 15-19) The United States has the highest teenage pregnancy rate among developed countries. About one million American teenagers become pregnant each year, and 95% of these pregnancies are unintended.76 These pregnancies result in miscarriage, abortion, fetal death or live births to young women under 20 years of age.77 The Year 2000 Objective is to reduce pregnancies among females aged 15-17 to no more than 50 per 1,000 adolescents.78 The national teen birth rate has continued to decline for six years, resulting in an overall 16 percent decline from 1991 to 1997. All states recorded a decline in the birth rate of 15-19 year-olds between 1991 and 199779 Teenage mothers and their babies are at greater risk of adverse health consequences. Babies born to teenage mothers are more likely to be born preterm (less than 37 completed weeks of gestation), and more likely to be low birth weight (less than 2500 grams).80 Most teenage mothers are not prepared for the emotional, psychological, and financial responsibilities and challenges of parenthood.81 Neither are the teenage fathers. Table 98. Birth Rates for Females Under 20 Years of Age Utah United States Year Total 15-17 18-19 Total 15-17 18-19 1975 126.7 34.4 92.3 55.6 36.1 85.0 1980 136.6 36.3 100.3 53.0 32.5 82.1 1985 92.8 24.5 68.3 51.0 31.0 79.6 1986 94.7 25.1 69.6 50.2 30.5 79.6 1987 92.6 26.2 66.4 50.6 31.7 78.5 1988 92.8 27.3 65.5 53.0 33.6 79.9 1989 100.7 27.0 73.7 57.3 36.4 84.2 1990 104 25.8 78.2 59.9 37.5 88.6 1991 110.3 28.1 82.2 62.1 38.7 94.4 1992 106.4 27.7 78.7 60.7 37.8 94.5 1993 103 28.9 74.1 59.6 37.8 92.1 1994 104.4 28.3 76.1 58.9 37.6 91.5 1995 96.6 26.1 70.5 56.8 36.0 89.1 1996 97.1 25.1 72.0 54.4 34.0 86.5 1997 N/A N/A N/A 52.3 32.1 83.6 Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 47, No. 18, p. 25. [Online] Available <http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/data/nvs47_18.pdf>. National Center for Health Statistics, Monthly Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 45, No. Figure 43 Table 99. Birth Rates for Fathers, Under 20 Years of Age, U.S. Year 15-19 years *Rates are live births per 1,000 men. 1980 18.8 1985 18.0 1986 17.9 1987 18.3 1988 19.6 1989 21.9 1990 23.5 1991 24.8 1992 24.6 1993 24.8 1994 25.0 1995 24.3 1996 23.0 1997 22.2 Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 47, No. 18, p. 46. [Online] Available <http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/data/nvs47_18.pdf>. 76 Centers for Disease Control. [Online] Available <http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/teen.htm>. 77 Utah Department of Health. [Online] Available <http://www.health.state.ut.us/matchiim/main/Teen_preg/define.htm>. 78 National Center for Health Statistics, Healthy People 2000 Review, 1998-99. [Online] Available <http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/data/hp2k99.pdf>, p. 77. 79 National Center for Health Statistics, 1999 News Release Teen Birth Rate Down in All States, p. 1. [Online] Available <http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/releases/99news/99news/97natal.htm>. 80 National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 47, No. 12, p. 4. [Online] Available <http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/data/nvs47_12.pdf>. 81 Ibid. Ill |