Although the teen birth rate has declined substantially over the past two decades, teen childbearing remains a national concern. Child Trends' latest brief, Examining State-Level Patterns in Teen Childbearing: 1991-2009, uses state-level data to examine declines in the teen birth rate over 19 years. The brief describes variation across states during this timeframe, in the degree of decline and in patterns over time.
Surprisingly few studies have examined why declines in the teen birth rate have occurred. Although increased contraceptive use may have contributed to these declines, further research can help to identify whether particular policies may have also contributed to decreases in the teen birth rate.
Click here to read more. |
