How widespread is teen pregnancy?
In 1995, one in 20 of Washington State s teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 17 became pregnant; one in 35 had a baby (3,121 births). Of those giving birth, 17 percent had a prior pregnancy. This age group was chosen because: 1) they are of school age, 2) pregnancy to teens younger than age 15 is a rare event, and 3) the 15-17 year old group are at the highest risk for poor birth outcomes. The pregnancy rate* for 15 to 17 year old teens in Washington State has been declining since the late 1980s. The abortion rate has also declined. Who is at high risk for teen pregnancy? Early sexual behavior among teens may be influenced by many complex factors such as poor quality family relationships, non-voluntary sexual experiences, poverty, lack of supportive adult role models, and negative outlook on the future. These influences may also interact with other factors such as substance use, risky sexual behaviors (e.g., multiple partners, poor contraceptive use), and low academic achievement.
