Research on Teen Sexual Behaviors and Consequences
Year 2005 research shows a decreasing teen birth rate among other important teen sexual statistics.
Child Trends has released two new publications about teen pregnancy and sexual activity. The first, Facts At A Glance includes newly released data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), which is used to indicate trends in teen birth rates, numbers of births to teens, sexual experience, contraceptive use, sexually transmitted infections among others.
Good news continues regarding the teen birth rate. According to this research published in March 2005, teen birth rates from ages 15-19 continue to fall.
The teen birth rates (births per 1,000) for ages 15-19 are:
- 1995: 56.0
- 2000: 47.7
- 2002: 43.0
- 2003: 41.7
The teen birth rates (births per 1,000) for ages 15-17 are:
- 1995: 35.5
- 2000: 26.9
- 2002: 23.2
- 2003: 22.4
The teen birth rates (births per 1,000) for ages 18-19 are:
- 1995: 87.8
- 2000: 78.1
- 2002: 72.9
- 2003: 70.8
The study found a decrease in sexual experience among males and no significant changes among females. The study reveals the following concerning sexual experience among never-married teens ages 15-19:
- 1995: Males – 55% were sexually experienced
- 2002: Males – 49% were sexually experienced.
- 1995: Females – 46% were sexually experienced.
- 2002: Females – 46% were sexually experienced.
Click here to read this current fact sheet.
Hispanic Teen Pregnancy and Birth Rates: Looking Behind the Numbers
The introduction to this research brief gives important information regarding Hispanic youth and culture.
Overview: 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. 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 population projected to increase by 50 percent by 2025, compared with a projected 6 percent increase in the size of the overall teen population. While Hispanic teens now make up about 17 percent of the teen population, they are expected to comprise 24 percent in 2025.
Click here to read this current fact sheet.
Linda Klepacki, RN, MPH, is Focus on the Family’s Sexual Health Analyst.
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