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Indicator: Teen Birth Rates

Data and Data Discussion provided by Communities Count

Figure 1: Birth Rates Among Females Ages 15-17 Years

Figure 2: Teen Births By Region and School District

Figure 3: Teen Birth Rates By Neighborhood Poverty Level

Figure 4: Teen Birth Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Upstream Indicators
  •   Higher Education Rates --- The educational level of King County residents has steadily increased over the past 25 years with more people getting high school diplomas, some college experience, and bachelor's degrees.   (view data graph)
  •   Health Insurance Coverage --- In King County, 15.5% of adult residents, 190,000 lacked health insurance in 2004. This is the highest percentage recorded since data began being collected in 1991. (Chapter 11, Health of King County 2006)   (view data graph)
  •   Freedom from Discrimination --- Indicator information is based on three surveys conducted in 2001 2004, and 2007. There were no significant changes over the three survey years for the county as a whole. However, there are differences in reporting of experiencing of discrimination according to age, race/ethnicity,and smaller geographic areas.  (view data graph)
  •   Income Distribution --- In the two decades between 1979 and 2007, income has shifted from the four lower income groups to the highest income group.   (view data graph)
  •   Pollution in Neighborhoods --- It appears that some neighborhoods, particularly those with lower income levels and greater racial diveristy, are more at risk of pollution from Toxic Release Facilities, hazardous waste sites, and other sources.  (view data graph)
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Downstream Indicators
  •   Happiness --- Seattle ranked 45 out of 185 cities surveyed for emotional health in 2008. In 2009, Seattle ranked 83 out of 185 cities in emotional health. Seattle ranked 39 out 185 for Life Evaluation in 2008 and 35 in 2009.   (view data graph)
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Related Goals

Sustainability Snapshot:

Infants born to mothers under age 18 have increased risk of death and low birth weight. Both the mother and the child tend to have fewer educational, economic and social opportunities. The younger the mother, the more likely such problems will occur. Although teen birth rates have dropped, they remain higher among African Americans, Native Americans/Alaskan Natives and Hispanics/Latinos and in low income neighborhoods.

Sustainability Trend:

Since 2002, teen birth rates have not changed.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Births per 1,000 population, Females Ages 15-17 King County, 1990-2003

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

Teen birth rates in King County declined from a peak of 23.9 per 1,000 in 1992 to 9.6 per 1,000 in 2006. Since 2002, teen birth rates have not changed. Washington State showed a similar pattern of decline in rates beginning in 1992, then leveling off in 2003. The 2006 teen birth rate for Washington State was 15.2 per 1,000 (data not shown). Since 1990, teen birth rates have declined in Seattle, North, and East Regions. In South Region, rates have declined since 1992 but remained unchanged beginning in 2003.

From 2004 to 2006, average teen birth rates in South Region and Seattle were higher than in East Region and North Region. Average teen birth rates were higher in the Tukwila, Highline, Auburn, Renton, and Federal
Way School Districts than King County as a whole. Since 1990, birth rates among teenage girls in the highest poverty neighborhoods of King County have steeply declined. Since 2002, rates in the highest poverty neighborhoods have been equal to rates in medium poverty neighborhoods. The rates in high and medium poverty areas continue to be above the rate in low poverty neighborhoods. Recent trends suggest that the declining rate may be leveling off in the medium poverty neighborhoods.

Since the early 1990s, teenage birth rates among American Indian/Alaska Natives and Asian/Pacific Islanders have declined. Among Hispanics/Latinas, the rate increased beginning in the late 1990s. Among African Americans and whites, teenage birth rates also experienced declines until the early 2000s, but these declines have not continued. Average teen birth rates from 2004-2006 were higher among Hispanics/Latinas (53.4 per 1,000), American Indian/Alaska Natives (23.6 per 1,000), and African Americans (19.1 per 1,000) than among whites (9.0 per 1,000) and Asians reporting a single race (4.6 per 1,000). Rates were also higher for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (25.9 per 1,000). Starting in 2003, data are available separately for Asians and for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders. Asian/Pacific Islanders combined had a rate of 6.5
per 1,000. Teens reporting more than one race had a slightly higher-than-average birth rate.

Data Source and Limitations

Data on the number of live births in King County was contributed by Communities Count (www.communitiescount.org) and iis collected through birth certificate records by the Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics. For this indicator, only maternal age is considered. Data on the age of the father is under-reported on birth certificate records. Starting in 2003, the birth certificate was revised. Mothers can now report more than one race and data are available separately for Asians and for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders. Where numbers are very small, data are not shown. Individuals’ confidentiality cannot be assured and rates are not stable when based on very small numbers.

 

The geographic boundaries of King County, the four regions, school districts, and the high, medium and low poverty areas are defined by aggregating census tracts or census block groups used in the 2000 census.

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