NEA HIN Commemorates the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Teen birth rates are declining in the United States; 273,105 babies were born to teen girls aged 15–19 years in 2013, which is a 10 percent drop from 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Birth rates also fell 13 percent for teens aged 15-17 and 8 percent for ages 18-19. Although this decline has been steady over the past two decades, teens are still engaging in sexual activity and teen girls are still getting pregnant.

Teen pregnancy has a tremendous impact on the educational, social, and economic lives of young people. Early parenting reduces the likelihood that a young woman will complete high school and pursue the necessary postsecondary education needed to compete in today’s economy. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, only 38 percent of teen girls who have a child before age 18 get a high school diploma and 30 percent of teen girls who have dropped out of high school cite pregnancy or parenthood as a reason.

Today marks the annual observance of the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Although birth rates among teen girls are declining, 1 in 4 girls will still get pregnant at least once before they turn 20 according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. In order to substantially continue to decrease the rate of teen pregnancy in the U.S. coordinated strategies that equip youth with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancy and provide them access to reproductive healthcare are needed. These approaches should be evidence-based and geared towards meeting the needs of all children.

For more information on teen pregnancy prevention, please visit:

Posted by JeNeen M. Anderson

on May 6, 2015

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