Exploring the Predictors that may Influence the Variations in Teen Birth Rates byState
Deepthi Moparthi, MBBS, MPH, M. Elizabeth Fore, Ph.D., Monica Mispireta, MD, MHS, Ph.D. (C)., Neill F. Piland, Dr.P.HIdaho State University, Master of Public Health Program
This study found that, when keeping all other factors constant •Teen birth rate was directly associated with number of uninsured adults (p < 0.001) •Teen birth rate was directly associated with level of religiosity (p < 0.001) •Teen birth rate was inversely associated with average freshman graduation rate (p = 0.054)•Teen birth rate was inversely associated with the supply of abortion providers in the state (p = 0.011).
•No statically significant relationship between policies on sex education and parental consent for abortion with the teen birth rates by state.
Source: CDC/NCHA. National Vital Statistics System, 2010
Bivariate Analysis of Variables
Bivariate Analysis
Factors
β-coefficient*
95%Confidence Interval
p-value**
State Policy
Abstinence only sex education 2.727 -1.761 7.216 0.228Comprehensive sex education 1.909 -2.743 6.561 0.413
Required Parent Consent for Abortion 2.844 -0.818 6.507 0.125
Economy
Gini Coefficient 0.898 0.113 1.682 0.026
Education
Average Freshman Graduation Rate -0.355 -0.551 -0.160 0.001
Social Factors
Religiosity 0.424 0.298 0.549 0.000
Political Preferences - Democratic statePolitical Preference – Republican State -6.578 -9.468 -3.689 0.000
Health Services
Percentage of uninsured 0.784 0.438 1.131 0.000
Percentage of counties without a known abortion provider 0.088 0.029 0.146 0.004
Number of abortion providers per state -0.014 -0.350 0.008 0.210
Multivariate Analysis of Variables with Significant Outcome
Multivariate Analysis
Factors Predicting Teen Birth Ratesβ-coefficient*
95%Confidence Interval
p-value**
Education
Average Freshman Graduation Rate -0.131 -0.264 -0.021 0.054
Social Factors
Religiosity 0.379 0.141 0.325 0.000
Health Services
Percentage of uninsured 0.309 0.233 0.666 0.000
Number of abortion providers -.0143 -0.025 -0.003 0.011
Birth rate for women aged 15 – 19. By state for 2010
*β-coefficient shows the strength of association**P<0.05 is said to be significant
Introduction
The U.S. teen birth rate declined in 2010, reaching a historic low at 34.3 births per 1000 women aged 15-19. Despite the steady decline in birth rates, the United Nations reports that the teenage pregnancy rate in the United States continues to be nearly nine times higher than the majority of other developed nations (Hamilton, Martin, Ventura, 2011). Numerous factors were said to contribute to high rate of teenage births in the U.S. Various individual-level factors that are attributed to the disparities in teen birth rate include, race and ethnicity, family structure, single parent household, and behavioral factors such as early sexual activity
Despite a significant decline of 44% in the U. S. teen birth rate from 1999-2010, the continuing wide range of state specific rates from 15.7 per 1000 teens in New Hampshire to 55.0 births per 1000 teens in Mississippi in 2010 has raised concern about identifying factors influencing state level variation. Teen birth rates were higher in South and Southwest and lower in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. No data is available on possible disparities in teen birth rates of states with various economies, education, social, health care services, and policies of states with regards to sex education programs and abortion policies requiring parental consent.
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between sex education, abortion policies, socio-demographic factors including education, poverty, conservatism and religiosity, and access to health services and state-level teen birth rates. The findings will impact future policy and funding decisions.
Results
Discussion
Teen birth rates of states with high teen birth rates have lower high school graduation rates, are more religious, and have more uninsured patients and fewer abortion providers. These factors might have played a significant role in the differences in teen birth rates of states. Sex education policies and policies on parental consent for abortion did not have a significant relationship with the teen birth rates by state.
The wide variation in teen birth rates across states and in state specific factors makes implementation of health policies difficult thereby reducing the applicability and effectiveness of adopted policies.
Strengths and Limitations
This study explored the impact that these significant factors could cause in the implementation of various preventive measures and policies to reduce teen birth rates indicating the need for states to address the concerns and perceptions of their conservative populations when planning and implementing prevention programs. As the data obtained for this study included all the population of the U.S., the results of this study can be generalized to all of the U.S. population. The study was limited to the data and information provided by the primary sources. Furthermore this was an ecological study. Individual factors which are beyond the scope of this ecological study could not be assessed.
Top Related