KIDS COUNT Indicator Brief: Reducing the Teen Birth Rate

Compared to women who postpone childbearing until they are older, teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school and to live in poverty. At the same time, their babies are more likely than other children to be born at a low birth weight, face health problems and developmental delays, perform poorly in school and experience abuse or neglect.

Like young women, young men are vulnerable to poor outcomes when they create unwanted or too-early pregnancies. Today, there is widespread recognition that efforts to combat teen pregnancy need to focus on both sexes. Most states now sponsor one or more initiatives to help prevent unwanted or too-early fatherhood.