"California’s continued success in reducing adolescent births is an excellent example of public health at work,” Smith said. “By providing adolescents the knowledge, tools and resources to make healthy choices, we can have a positive effect on their options for a successful future."
The adolescent birth rate decreased among all racial and ethnic groups between 2000 and 2013. Over this time, adolescent birth rate dropped among Hispanics from 77.3 to 34.9, among African Americans from 59.1 to 28.3, among Whites from 22.3 to 9.3, and among Asians from 15.0 to 4.3.
Despite declining birth rates, disparities persist in adolescent childbearing in California. African American and Hispanic adolescents were 3.0 and 3.8 times, respectively, as likely to give birth as White females. In addition, the adolescent birth rate varies considerably across counties, from a low of 8.1 in Marin County to a high of 49.1 in Kern.
California has a number of programs aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy and improving pregnancy outcomes. The State of California funds the Information and Education Program, the Personal Responsibility Education Program authorized through the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and the Adolescent Family Life Program for expectant and parenting adolescents. In addition, the State provides no-cost family planning services to eligible males and females, including adolescents, through the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (PACT) Program.
For more adolescent birth data, visit CDPH’s website: LINK here with the new data.
