Trends in teenage pregnancy. A comparison of Douglas County, Nebraska, and national statistics.
Teenage pregnancy is a significant health and economic problem in the United States. However, both national and Nebraska statistics show that teenage fertility rates and the percentage of teen births vs. total births are decreasing. The national rate decreased from 19% in 1975 to 13.7% in 1984. The Nebraska rate paralleled the national rate, decreasing from 13% in 1977 to 9.7% in 1984. The Douglas County, Nebraska, rate also decreased, from 21.8% in 1978 to 17.5% in 1985. These trends have been noted for both black and white teens and are statistically significant. The percentage of abortions and births to unmarried teens vs. nonteens has also decreased both nationally and statewide.
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska 68131.
Anderson
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D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000639:trends; D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009329:Nebraska; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D014481:United States; D044465:White People