āThe Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division released Adolescent Births in California, 2000ā2018 . This report reveals that California continues to experience considerable success in reducing the number of births to females under age 20.
Key highlights include:
The number of births to California adolescent females ages 15-19 decreased by 70% between 2000 (n=55,373) and 2018 (n=16,891) despite a 15% increase in the size of this population during the period.
The overall birth rate for adolescent females aged 15ā19 declined by 74%, falling from 46.7 per 1,000 in 2000 to 12.3 per 1,000 in 2018.
While overall rates have been declining steadily, the data also indicate continuing racial disparities in adolescent childbearing, with Black and Hispanic youth giving birth at three and four times the rate of White youth, respectively.
Below are audio clips answering two frequently asked questions about California's adolescent birth rate.
Why does the adolescent birth rate continue to decline?
Published: 7/16/21 | Duration: 0:46 min
Download audio (MP3) | Transcript (PDF)
āWhy do some geographic areas in the state have higher birth rates compared to other geographic areas?
Published: 7/16/21 | Duration: 0:53 min
āDownload audio (MP3) | Transcript (PDF)
Below are YouTube videos with 2018 data.
āCalifornia Adolescent Birth Rate Overview - 2018 Data Release
Published: 7/16/21 | Duration: 0:58 min
The California adolescent birth rate continues to decline. Learn why the California Department of Public Health tracks adolescent childbearing in our state.
āCalifornia Adolescent Birth Rate Varies Across Counties ā 2018 Data Release
Published: 7/16/21 | Duration: 0:45 min
There are geographic inequities in adolescent childbearing in California. Learn which counties have the highest and lowest adolescent birth rates.
Disparities in Californiaās Adolescent Birth Rate ā 2018 Data Release
Published: 7/16/21 | Duration: 0:48 min
While the adolescent birth rate continues to decline, there are still substantial racial, ethnic and geographic inequities in adolescent childbearing across California.