More than 367,000 teenagers gave birth in the United States in 2010. Of these, 18.3 percent were repeat births, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports in the April 2 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. A repeat teen birth is the second (or more) pregnancy that results in a birth to a mother less than 20-years-old.
The CDC data identifies disparities among ethnic sub-groups and geographic regions in rates of repeat teen births. Native American/Native Alaskan, Hispanic and black teens were one and a half times more likely than white teens to have a repeat birth.
The rate of repeat teen births exceeds 20 percent in eight states: Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona. New York, New England, with the exception of Rhode Island, and Wyoming has repeat teen birth rates of less than 15 percent.
While 90 percent of new teen mothers report using birth control, most did not use the most effective methods. According to the CDC, the disparities between geographic areas suggest that teens in some states are facing barriers to accessing effective contraception.
Teens facing early parenthood, and their children, face health, economic and social difficulties, which increase with the birth of a second or third child. Young mothers are disadvantaged when it comes to pursuing education and employment. Incidents of pre-term births and low birth weights are higher with repeat teen births.
Teens that discuss relationships, sex, birth control and pregnancy with their parents are more likely to delay sexual activity and use contraception when they do become sexually active. The CDC website offers suggestions for parents on how to discuss these issues with their teenagers.
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