Hispanic Teen Pregnancy and Birth Rates: Looking Behind the Numbers

Abstract

Teen pregnancy and birth rates for U.S. teens have declined dramatically in recent years. Yet for Hispanic teens, reductions in teen pregnancy and childbearing have lagged behind that of U.S. teens overall. This is of special concern because Hispanics represent the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. From 1990 to 2000, the Hispanic population grew by more than 40 percent, increasing from 9 percent to 13 percent of the total population. Moreover, between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population is projected to grow by another 34 percent-almost four times faster than that of the total U.S. population. 1 The rapid growth in the Hispanic population is expected to be even more dramatic for teens in the next 20 years, with the size of the Hispanic teen population projected to increase by 50 percent by 2025, compared with a projected 6 percent increase in the size of the overall teen population. 1 While Hispanic teens now make up about 17 percent of the teen population, they are expected to comprise 24 percent in 2025.

Depressive Symptoms and Violence Exposure: Contributors to Repeat Pregnancies Among Adolescents

“…A younger age pregnancy has been found to be viewed as a positive event by one in four Latina adolescents (Ryan et al, 2005). Latinas tend to initiate sex slightly later in their relationships but use fewer contraceptives (Ryan et al, 2005). This adolescent sample contained a higher percentage of older, Latina adolescents; therefore, findings may have favored adolescents involved in an early age marriage/ partnership desiring children.…”

“…For minority adolescents, coping with racial discrimination, acculturation, and comfort with self-identity may directly and/or indirectly associate with childbearing and depression (Brown, for some adolescents may reflect a normative value. A younger age pregnancy has been found to be viewed as a positive event by one in four Latina adolescents (Ryan et al, 2005). Latinas tend to initiate sex slightly later in their relationships but use fewer contraceptives (Ryan et al, 2005).…”

“…Older age adolescents may more frequently report marriage or cohabitation, thereby increasing the desire for a baby (Ryan, Franzetta, Manlove, 2005). Adolescents of African American and Hispanic ethnic and racial groups demonstrate differences in sexual risk behaviors and levels of support for early age partnerships, childbearing, and marriage (Alleyne- Green et al, 2012;Ryan et al, 2005).…”

Factors Associated With Parent Support for Condom Education and Availability

“…In program and policy discussion about teen pregnancy and STI prevention, much attention has been paid to Hispanic teens, largely due to this group's higher birth rate and lower levels of self-reported condom use, as well as a common belief that Hispanic parents tend to be more socially conservative (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012; Gilbert et al, 2004;Ryan et al, 2005). Based on these notions and several studies on parent-child communication (Jerman & Constantine, 2010;Romo, Cruz, & Neilands, 2011) we had hypothesized that non-Hispanic parents would be more supportive of CEA than would Hispanic parents, but we found the opposite to be true.…”

“…In addition, Hispanics have poor teen birth outcomes, use condoms less consistently, and are believed to be socially conservative and focused on family culture (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012;Gilbert, Jandial, Field, Bigelow, & Danielsen, 2004;Ryan, Franzetta, & Manlove, 2005). Two studies examining the relationship between Hispanic ethnicity and parent support for CEA did not detect an association (Bleakley et al, 2006;Eisenberg et al, 2009).…”