Teen Pregnancy

In 2009, the number of births to teenage mothers was 409,840 — a birth rate of 39.1 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19. This indicates that the long-term downward trend in teen birth rates has resumed.

CDC has identified teen pregnancy prevention as a winnable battle. With additional effort and support for evidence-based, cost-effective strategies that we can implement now, we will have a significant impact on our nation's health.

The teen pregnancy briefing folder provides a snapshot of the context and background for this priority area, as well as descriptions of some of the systems, policy, and programmatic interventions pursued by CDC and our public health partners at the federal, state and local levels. This information will be updated periodically as new data or relevant information becomes available.

For more information or if you have questions about the materials provided here, please contact drhinfo@cdc.gov

Teen Pregnancy Briefing Materials:

• Introduction letter from CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden [PDF - 97KB]
• PowerPoint slides, which can be tailored for your use by adding specific data, case studies, and other useful information [PPT - 5.64MB]
• At-a-glance, which provides an overview of the major issues, CDC's role in teen pregnancy prevention, and future directions and opportunities
• Vital Signs, which provides the latest findings on what can be done to prevent teen pregnancy and why this is a public health priority

Supplemental materials include:

• Brochures
  • Tool Kit for Teen Care [PDF - 272 KB]
• Scientific articles
  • U.S. Teenage Birth Rate Resumes Decline – Data from the Natality Data File, National Vital Statistics System
  • Reasons for and Challenges of Recent Increases in Teen Birth Rates: A Study of Family Planning Service Policies and Demographic Changes at the State Level
  • Promoting Science-based Approaches to Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Proactively Engaging the Three Systems of the Interactive Systems Framework [PDF - 355 KB]
  • The Association Between Sex Education and Youth's Engagement in Sexual Intercourse, Age at First Intercourse, and Birth Control Use at First Sex
  • Winning Campaign: California's Concerted Effort to Reduce Its Teen Pregnancy Rate [PDF - 66 KB]
  • U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2010 [PDF - 1.35 MB]
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health of Persons Aged 10–24 Years — United States, 2002–2007
• Community Guide Recommendations
  • Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention