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Perinatal Indicators - Teen Birth

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Why is adolescent pregnancy important?

The teenage years are a time for physical growth and development, emotional maturing and fulfillment of academic achievement. Pregnancy interrupts each of these normal developmental phases and causes many problems for the 'pregnant family'.

The physically immature girl is at risk for pregnancies complicated with premature and/or prolonged labor, anemia, poor nutrition, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy induced hypertension and maternal death¹. The psychosocial challenges facing pregnant and parenting adolescents include incomplete high school education, fewer employment opportunities, poverty, isolation and the lack of social support systems.

Infants of teen mothers are at increased risk of premature birth, low birthweight, infant death, developmental delays, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and early childhood accidents. As these children advance in age, they are less likely to adapt well in school and are found to have lower Intelligent Quotient (IQ) scores.^3,4,5

The risk of having a repeat pregnancy in the teen years is also a potential for additional poor outcomes. Sons born to teen mothers are 13% more likely to end up in prison while daughters are 22% more likely to become teen mothers⁶.

What does this mean for Los Angeles County?

• Almost 14,000 babies each year are born to women age19 or less.
• Pregnant teens are less likely to enter prenatal care in the first trimester than any other age group.
• About 1 in 5 teen (10-19) births in Los Angeles County occurred in SPA 6, South in 2005.
• In 2005, there were 2,895 teen births to teens aged 15-19 who reported a previous pregnancy in Los Angeles County. This is about 21% of all teen births.

Webpage authored by:
Ellen Silver, RNP, MSN,
Executive Director
Perinatal Advisory Council:
Leadership, Advocacy, and Consultation

2005 Data

Births to Teens Age 15 to 19 years-
LA County
    by Race/Ethnicity
    by SPA

LAC-DHS, Maternal, Child & Adolescent Programs

Births to Teens by SPA, zipcode, and community:
The Children's Planning Council

Births to Teens by SPA, zipcode, and community:
United Way of Greater Los Angeles

Births to Teens
Improved Perinatal Outcomes Data Reports California County Profiles

Run online queries for birthweight categories, prenatal care onset, ethnicity, and maternal age for LA County data:

Trends in Births to Teens for LA County and California
Annie E. Casey Foundation - Kids Count