CDC - Teen Pregnancy Home - Reproductive Health

Teen Pregnancy The Importance of Prevention
Vital Signs Preventing Teen Pregnancy in the US
CDC-TV A Message to Health Care Professionals

The Importance of Prevention

In 2009, a total of 409,840 infants were born to 15−19 year olds, for a live birth rate of 39.1 per 1,000 women in this age group.1 Nearly two-thirds of births to women younger than age 18 and more than half of those among 18−19 year olds are unintended.2 The US teen birth rate fell by more than one-third from 1991 through 2005, but then increased by 5 percent over two consecutive years. Data for 2008 and 2009, however, indicate that the long-term downward trend has resumed.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Topics

About Teen Pregnancy

Teen pregnancy and childbearing bring substantial social and economic costs through immediate and long-term impacts on teen parents and their children.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention 2010–2015

As part of the President's Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, CDC is partnering with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health to reduce teenage pregnancy and address disparities in teen pregnancy and birth rates.

Parent and Guardian Resources

Your teen needs your help in understanding his or her feelings, peer pressure, and how to say no if he or she does not want to have sex.

Success Stories

Programs that work from states and community partners funded through the Promoting Science-Based Approaches (PSBA) programs.

On Other Web Sites

Dr. Wanda Barfield presentation on Teen Pregnancy and Reproductive Health.

CDC Medscape Commentary: Teen Pregnancy and Reproductive Health

Prevent Teen Pregnancy — www.cdc.gov/TeenPregnancy

Teen Pregnancy and Social Media

Take advantage of CDC social media tools to promote your teen pregnancy prevention efforts. A number of social media tools with credible, science-based teen pregnancy prevention messages are available. These free, easy-to-use communication tools can expand the reach of your health messages and help increase public engagement.

Related CDC Pages

Guidance Publications

Promoting Science Based Approaches to Teen Pregnancy Prevention Using Getting to Outcomes [PDF - 312KB]
This program has developed a clear process for building the capacity of our national, regional, and state-level grantees. Grantees give tailored trainings and technical assistance to their local partners who deliver science-based teen pregnancy prevention programs at the community level. The process is called "Promoting Science Based Approaches to Teen Pregnancy Prevention Using Getting to Outcomes (PSBA-GTO)", and is described in this document. It integrates the guidance and tools for program planning, implementation, and evaluation and is designed for the field of teen pregnancy prevention.

Adaptation Kits for evidence-based programs now available from the Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention!
ETR Associates and the CDC Division of Reproductive Health collaborated to develop adaptation tools and resources for evidenced-based pregnancy and STD/HIV prevention programs. The adaptation kits contain practical tools and resources to guide practitioners in making effective adaptations and maintaining fidelity to program core components.