Source: US News
In Chicago, the number of teens who are giving birth has dropped significantly to an all-time low, according to a new report.
Researchers found that teen birth rate between 2011 and 2016 dropped by 47 percent, with the steepest drops among African American teengers. The data shows that for every 1,000 teenagers, 24 gave birth in 2016 compared to 46 in 2011, which also mirrors national trend of Americans having fewer children.
According to the Pew Research Center, the drop in numbers is largely due to better contraceptives that are available to teenagers and improved sex education.
“A record low number of teen births means more Chicago teens can focus on their educations, work towards their goals and create better futures for themselves,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, as reported by US News.
Teen birth rates varied greatly by economic class, however, with low-income teenagers having a birth rate of 34 percent, compared to 7.5 percent among more privileged teenagers.
Read Full Story: US News