Introduction
In 2010, an estimated 614,400 U.S. teenagers (ages 15-19) became pregnant, approximately
89,300 had miscarriages, and 157,500 had legal abortions (latest available data).1 The result was
that there were nearly 367,700 births to teenagers in that year. In 2012, 7.8% of all U.S. births
were to teens, and 17.1% of all nonmarital births were to teens.
According to a 2010 report:
Teen childbearing is associated with adverse health and social outcomes for teen mothers and
their children, although these outcomes often reflect preexisting social deficits. Compared
with women who delay childbearing until their 20s, teen mothers are more likely to drop out
of school and have low educational attainment; to face unemployment, poverty, and welfare
dependency; to experience more rapid repeat pregnancy; to become single mothers; and to
experience divorce, if they marry. Infants of teen mothers are more likely to be premature
and experience infant mortality. The children of teenage mothers do less well on indicators
of health and social wellbeing than do children of older mothers.2
In recognition of the negative, long-term consequences associated with teenage pregnancy and
births, the prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancies3 is a major goal of this nation. Reducing
nonmarital childbearing is one of the explicit goals that were stipulated in the 1996 welfare
reform law.4 Although the birth rate for U.S. teens has dropped in 21 of the last 23 years, it
remains higher than the teenage birth rate of most industrialized nations.5