Non-marital childbearing is associated with many adverse outcomes for both the mother and the child. Most of these births are unintended. If these unintended births could be reduced it might improve children's prospects by enabling their mothers to get more education, earn more, and wait to have children within marriage. In this brief, the authors…

This paper examines two aspects of teen childbearing in the United States. First, it reviews and synthesizes the evidence on the reasons why teen birth rates are so uniquely high in the United States and especially in some states. Second, it considers why and how it matters. We argue that economists' typical explanations are unable to account for…

Discusses the research on illegitimacy in the United States and welfare's role in promoting it. The author examines where analysts agree and disagree in the debate and concludes with a discussion concerning black illegitimacy rates compared with the rise in welfare payment amounts. (GLR)

Describes an historical cohort study of 3,767 teenagers aged 12-16 years, enrolled in Arkansas Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Results indicate teenagers with sisters who bore children have elevated childbearing rate ratios. Suggests this group be targeted for family planning efforts. (SA)

This document gives information about teenage pregnancy and related issues. The document is divided into 10 sections and then further subdivided into components. The components contain prose summaries with statistical charts. Section 1, Sexuality Activity and Marriage, provides data on trends in premarital sex and marriage rates for black and…

This report is addressed to Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) sponsors to familiarize them with the issues concerning adolescent pregnancy, highlight innovative approaches in working with young parents, and offer suggestions on how to reach and serve young parents with CETA. The report focuses on the problems of young parents, both…

Examines trends in black and white fertility since 1920, differences in family planning between the groups, and the relationship of family planning to black/white fertility differences. Finds that unplanned out of wedlock births are the most important factor affecting differences in the fertility rates between blacks and whites. (Author/GC)

Out-of-wedlock birth rates have not fallen much at all among teenagers. New analyses of existing data sets indicate that becoming an out-of-wedlock parent is a process with three stages: commencement of sexual activity; conception among the sexually active; and pregnancy outcome among those who conceive. Public policy variables such as AFDC…

Although teenage pregnancy among Hispanics has reached alarming levels, researchers generally have not separated this population out for separate analysis. The data are incomplete, but this report is an attempt to address the need for specific information about Hispanic teenage pregnancy and parenthood by subgroup and state. Data are presented…

This report describes trends and differentials in births and birth rates for teenagers since 1970, and examines the demographic characteristics of the mothers and the health of their newborn children. A brief introduction and a review of highlights of the findings from National Vital Statistics System data is followed by discussions in several…

This fact sheet contains data on teen pregnancy. The folowing information is provided: teen birth rate, 1960-1992; number of births to teens, 1960-1992; percent of non-marital teen births, 1960-1992; births to unmarried women, by age group, 1992; international comparison on teen birth rate; abortion rate among U.S. teens, 1973-1990; pregnancy…

The fertility rate for the 12 months ending in June 1988 was an estimated 69.7 births per 1,000 women aged 18 to 44 years. Fertility rates during the 1980s have been stable. The statistics on childbearing and birth expectations of U.S. women contained in the detailed tables of this report are based on data collected in the June 1988 supplement to…

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia collected information on births of Hispanic parentage in 1983 and 1984. More than 92% of the total Hispanic population in the United States resided in those states at this time. This report summarizes the available demographic information and presents data on births of Hispanic parentage in the…

Compares changes in birth rates, sexual activity, abortion rates, illegitimate births, and incidence of giving babies up for adoption among White and Black adolescents and explores social and cultural influences on the racial differences. Presents suggestions for culturally related interventions in the area of teenage pregnancy. (Author/MJL)

Reports the results of an event history analysis of rapidly repeated pregnancies among a sample of 170 adolescents. Results show that the best fitting model for these girls included two proximate determinants of pregnancy, contraceptive use, and other factors. Findings indicate that such pregnancies among teenagers are somewhat predictable. (RJM)