PREGNANCIES

U.S Latin Teen Pregnancies

U.S Latin Teen Pregnancies

Introduction

The Latino population is the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the United States today, representing 13 percent of the total population. Cultural and economic barriers, however, have limited access to health care and teen pregnancy education and prevention programs for the Latino population. Consequently, Latinas have the highest teen birth rate of all major racial/ethnic groups in the U.S., resulting in an increasing number of young Latina mothers and children who are especially vulnerable to poverty, lack of health care, and welfare dependence.

Successful pregnancy prevention efforts for this population must address their unique cultural concerns through programs that offer comprehensive, diverse approaches to curbing teen pregnancy(Kauffman, et al., 2006). In the next twenty years, the Latino teen population will grow by 60 percent while the total teen population will grow by only eight percent. By 2020, one in five teens will be Latino, and by 2050, approximately one-quarter of the U.S. population will be Latino.

History

Although the overall U.S. teen birth rate decreased 28.5 percent in the 1990s, it only decreased 15 percent for Latinas. Black, non-Hispanic teenagers had the greatest decline at 32 percent. Although black teens are more likely than Latinas to become pregnant, they are also more likely to have an abortion, which accounts for their lower birth rate.

Latinas had the highest teen birth rate of all major racial/ethnic groups in the United States, 83 births per 1,000 teenage women aged 15-19 in 2002, a rate nearly twice as high as the national rate of 43. Birth rates were highest for Latinas of Mexican descent (94.5), followed by those of Puerto Rican descent (61.4), and pregnant, they are also more likely to have an abortion, which accounts for their lower birth rate.

Thirty one percent of the births in 2002 to teens aged 15-19 were to Latinas(Bertrand, 2006). About 43 percent of mothers ages 15-19 were white, 24 percent were black and 2 percent were from other racial or ethnic groups.

Young Latina mothers are likely to face quite different circumstances than white, non-Hispanic mothers; not only do they have lower educational and income levels, but they are also more likely to be concentrated in high poverty neighborhoods. Additionally, Latino cultural norms tend to be more family-oriented, favoring strong family ties and higher levels of fertility.

Current Status

“Latino teens have the highest rate of teen pregnancy and births among all racial/ethnic groups”, according to the results of a study released today.

The survey- commissioned by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and the National Council of La Raza- concluded that the overall teen birth rate in the U.S. has grown for the first time in fourteen years.

In addition, the influence of parents on Latino teens is vital. Nearly half of Latino teens say parents most influence their decisions; far more than friends (14%), religious figures (3%) and the media (2%). But almost three-quarters say that parents send different messages on sex to sons compared to ...