Teen Pregnancy in Decline but Repeat Births in Teens a Concern

A latest study by U.S. researchers states that almost 20 percent American teens that gave birth have one or more babies already.

In 2010, more than 365,000 teens aged 15 to 19 gave birth and about 67,000 (18.3 percent) of those were repeat births, according to the April Vital Signs report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the study, repeat births among teens decreased by more than 6 percent between 2007 and 2010. However, the number of repeat births still remains high.

In 2010 American Indian/Alaska natives were among the highest (22 percent) to fall under the repeat teen birth category. Hispanics were 21 percent and blacks around 20 percent, said the study.

"Teen birth rates in the United States have declined to a record low, which is good news," CDC director Dr Thomas Frieden said in an agency news release. "But rates are still far too high. Repeat births can negatively impact the mother's education and job opportunities as well as the health of the next generation. Teens, parents, health-care providers and others need to do much more to reduce unintended pregnancies."

Wate.com quoted Dr Jill Rabin, chief of ambulatory care, obstetrics and gynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, "There are several excellent options available not only to continue to ensure that the current rate of teenage pregnancy continues to decline, but especially to prevent repeat pregnancies among adolescents.

"These include: linking pregnant and parenting teens to home-based and school-based programs, and support and funding for programs which offer a support net of services for these often socio-economically underserved teens, including clinical, nutritional and psychosocial support. This is truly a unique opportunity to open our national conversation about safer sexual health, birth spacing and birth control, especially the most effective method: long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Long-acting reversible contraception includes a device inserted into the uterus, or an implant in the arm lasting 3 to 10 years and has been deemed clinically safe for teens. These initiatives, including LARC, are a golden opportunity to enhance the long-term health of our teenagers."