Latest Stats show reduction in Teen Births for US and West Virginia

The state of West Virginia has posted drops in its teenage birth rate (for females 15 through 19) since 1990 according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This trend has been evident in both West Virginia and the U.S. -- with West Virginia showing a greater decline than the country as a whole.

The West Virginia teen birth rate declined 5.2% from 57.3 (births per 1,000 females ages 15-19) to 54.3. The national teen birth rate has gone from 59.9 (births per 1000 females ages 15-19) to 58.9. This report from the National Center for Health Statistics did not include 1995 data; but according to the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, 1995 data indicated that the 1995 West Virginia rate was 4.8% lower than the 1994 rate.

How these statistics have played out in Region VIII is shown below. Data for 1990 through 1995 indicate a 19.7% decline in the teen birth rate from 63.9 (births per 1000 females aged 15-19) to 51.3.

 

 

Region VIII West Virginia
1990 63.9 57.5
1991 61.6 56.3
1992 60.4 54.2
1993 53.1 54.0
1994 48.5 52.0
1995 51.3 51.7

Due to the rural nature of most of the counties in Region VIII, it is advisable to look at 5 years averages of births per 1000 females aged 15 through 19:

County

 1990-1994 1991-1995
West Virginia 54.8 53.6
Region VIII 57.5 55.0
Berkeley 70.8 66.9
Grant 57.1 54.0
Hampshire 66.1 63.0
Hardy 59.4 54.3
Jefferson 47.9 47.2
Mineral 41.7 38.5
Morgan 61.9 66.7
Pendleton 44.6 39.3

The percentage of births to unmarried teens in increasing in both the U.S. and West Virginia. National, the percentage of teen births to unmarried teens aged 15-19 increased from 67% in 1990 to 76% in 1994. In West Virginia, the percentage of teen births to unmarried teens increased from 53.6% in 1990 to 63.6% in 1995.

The new federal welfare reform laws will force the states to reduce births to unmarried teens or lose eligibility for welfare funds.

Source: WV Bureau for Public Health Health Statistics Center

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