Teen Fertility
| Most
recent CO value (2005) |
CO
rank (2004) |
CO
value (2004) |
Best
state (2004) |
Best
state value (2004) |
HP
2010 target |
39.3/1,000* |
36/50 |
43.9/1,000* |
New
Hampshire |
|
43/1,000 |
Indicator Definition
Births to teens (ages 15 – 19 years), per 1,000.
Teen
fertility rate
in Colorado6* |
 |
|
 |
| Teen
fertility rate by race in Colorado7 |
 |
|
Indicator Significance
Since 1990, there has been a consistent decline
in the teen pregnancy rate in the United States.
However, as a country, the United States has the highest rate
of teen fertility among industrialized nations, nearly double
that of Canada and eight times higher than Japan. The rate of
decline has been very gradual with a mere 1 percent decrease in
the teen pregnancy rate from 2003 – 2004.
Teenage childbearing presents a challenge to
both teen mothers and their children. Only one-third of teen mothers
will complete high school. Women who give birth as teenagers face
a significant disadvantage when competing in the job market and
significantly increase the likelihood of raising their children
in poverty. Children born to teen mothers also experience increased
health risks including low birth weight and a range of developmental
delays and disabilities. Teen pregnancy has been estimated to cost
the United States $7 billion each year in excess health care costs.1
Colorado Specifics
Estimates indicate that a baby is born to a
teen mother every four hours in Colorado. According to the National
Campaign to End Teen Pregnancy, teen pregnancy-related expenses
cost Colorado taxpayers at least $167 million in 2005.2 Teen pregnancy
in Colorado disproportionately affects the Hispanic community. In
2005, 62 percent of all teenage births were to girls of Hispanic
origin. While the fertility rate has decreased for white, Asian,
and American Indian teens, it has changed little for Hispanic teens.3
Promising Initiatives
In Colorado
The Colorado Adolescent Maternity Program (CAMP)
is one of the oldest programs in the United
States focused on teen pregnancy. CAMP is a
source of prenatal care, delivery and postpartum care. The program
views its participants as “resources to
be developed and not as problems to be managed.” Its unique
Little Sisters and Daughters Program involves
the 12- to 14- year-old siblings of the teen
mothers participating in CAMP. These younger teens meet with mentors
who establish trust so that experiences can be shared, while also
engaging them in discussions about future goals, including pregnancy
prevention. The goals of CAMP are to provide comprehensive prenatal
care, decrease high-school drop out rates, and to prevent abuse
and neglect of at-risk siblings and daughters who are at increased
risk of teen pregnancy.4
Elsewhere
The United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Wisc.,
dedicates $900,000 each year to programs designed
to prevent teen pregnancy. The United Way has developed its own
Teen Pregnancy Prevention information campaign that brings issues
related to teen pregnancy to the public’s attention. A United
Way report, If Truth be Told, provides a comprehensive evaluation
of programs throughout the state to objectively assess best practices
and success stories. The United Way also has created an Oversight
Committee of more than 30 community members to direct the public
information and media campaign.5
Teen fertility
rate8
Text
- “New
Report Shows Teen Births Drop To Lowest
Level Ever,” Nov. 21, 2006
- “By the Numbers,” National
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
- “The State
of Adolescent Sexual Health in Colorado 2007,” Colorado
Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy,
Parenting and Prevention
- University
of Colorado Health Sciences Center
- United Way
of Greater Milwaukee
Charts
- Source: Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment,
Vital Statistics, 2000 – 2005
* Note: Teen fertility
rates from the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment (CDPHE) differ slightly
from rates from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention ’s
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
used to rank states. The numerator used by
CDPHE includes births reported after data
has been sent to NCHS. For the denominator
CDPHE uses population estimates from the Colorado
State Demography Office; NCHS uses population
estimates from the Census Bureau. The 2004
value for Colorado from NCHS was 43.9/1,000
compared with 40.8/1,000 from CDPHE.
- Source: Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment,
Vital Statistics, 2005
- Source: Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, National
Vital Statistics System, 2004
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