According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one in five US teens who gives birth already has at least one other child from a previous pregnancy. The report notes that of the 365,000 births to US teens aged 15 to 19 in 2010, about 67,000 (18%).
The report notes that teen childbearing has potential negative health, economic, and social consequences for both mother and child. Repeat teen childbearing further restricts the mother’s education and employment possibilities. In addition, complications are higher. Compared with first births, rates of preterm and low birth weight are higher in teens with a repeat birth.
To determine the patterns of repeat childbearing and postpartum contraceptive use among teens, the CDC analyzed data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) from 2007–2010. The researchers found that, based on 2010 NVSS data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, of more than 367,000 births to teens aged 15–19 years, 18.3% were repeat births. From 2007 through 2010, the percentage of teen births that represented repeat births decreased by 6.2% between 2007 and 2010. Most of the repeat births (86%) were second pregnancies; however, some teens gave birth to a third, fourth, fifth, or sixth child before age 20. (Approximately 13% of repeat births were third pregnancies, and 2% were fourth or more pregnancies.)
The new report also found ethnic and geographic disparities. In regard to ethnic disparities in repeat teen births, the highest percentages were found among American Indian/Alaska Natives (21.6%), Hispanics (20.9%), and non-Hispanic blacks (20.4%); the rate was lowest among non-Hispanic whites (14.8%). Wide geographic disparities in the percentage of teen births that were repeat births also exist, ranging from 22% in Texas to 10% in New Hampshire. Other states with high repeat birth rates include Mississippi, Georgia, Arizona and Arkansas, and other states with low repeat birth rates include Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Wyoming.
PRAMS data from 16 reporting areas (15 states and New York City) indicate that 91.2% of teen mothers used a contraceptive method two-to-six months after giving birth; however, only 22.4% of teen mothers used the most effective methods: (an intrauterine device (IUD) or implant). Teens with a previous live birth were significantly more likely to use the most effective methods postpartum compared with those with no prior live birth (29.6% versus 20.9%, respectively). Non-Hispanic white and Hispanic teens were significantly more likely to use the most effective methods than non-Hispanic black teens (24.6% and 27.9% versus 14.3%, respectively). The percentage of teens reporting postpartum use of the most effective methods varied greatly geographically across the PRAMS reporting areas, ranging from 50.3% in Colorado to 7.2% in New York State.
The authors concluded that, although the prevalence of repeat teen birth has declined in recent years, nearly one in five teen births is a repeat birth. In addition, large disparities exist in repeat teen births and use of the most effective contraceptive methods postpartum, which was reported by fewer than one out of four teen mothers.
The report offered suggestions for reducing the incidence of repeat teen childbearing. They included linking pregnant and parenting teens to home visiting and similar programs that address a broad range of needs, and offering postpartum contraception to teens, including long-acting methods of reversible contraception. To reduce teen pregnancy, healthcare providers, parents, guardians and caregivers should have serious discussions with teens, both male and female, regarding abstinence, as well as the most effective types of birth control.
Comments