California\'s Teen Birth Rate Drops To New Low

The statewide rate of adolescent births has dropped to its lowest level every recorded, according to new data from the California Department of Public Health.

            Between 2000 and 2014, the birth rate among females between the ages of 15 and 19 dropped 55%, from 46.7 births per 1,000 population to 20.8 per 1,000. The nationwide birthrate also decreased, but remained higher than California's, dropping from 47.7 per thousand to 24.2 per 1,000 in 2014.

            The decrease was among all ethnic groups. The rate among Latinas dropped from 77.3 per 1,000 to 31.3; 59.1 per 1,000 to 24.6 among African-Americans, from 22.3 per 1,000 to 8.4 among whites, and 15 per thousand among Asian-Americans to 3.7.

            Much of the progress was made between 2007 and 2014. The births among those ages 15-17 dropped from 17,582 in 2007 to 8,525 in 2014, a decline of more than 53% in just seven years. Among those ages 18-19, births declined from 35,811 in 2007 to 19,703 two years ago. Births among females under the age of 15 also dropped by nearly two-thirds, from 663 in 2007 to 228 in 2014.

            State officials say continued education of adolescents about avoiding pregnancies has helped drive the birth rates down.

            California’s continued success in reducing births among adolescents is an excellent example of public health at work,” said CDPH Director Karen Smith, M.D. “We can have a positive influence on the lives of young people when we empower them with knowledge, tools and resources to make healthy choices.”

            The CDPH is still struggling with reducing the rates of repeat births among adolescents. It rose slightly for those between the ages of 15 and 17 between 2011 and 2014, although it is still down nearly 20% from 2000.

            Low-income rural areas of California are also challenged as well. Kern County had the highest birth rate statewide between 2012 and 2014, at 45.1 per thousand, more than double the statewide rate. Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Imperial Counties also had birth rates far higher than average. The state's wealthiest counties – Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara – had rates well below average.