Teen Fertility & Birth Rates

Date posted: 07/24/2007

Birth rates are the number of births per 1,000 total (male and female) population within specified age groups. Fertility rates are the number of births for a specified age group of females within a certain population or area per 1,000 total females in the age group (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment).

What this chart shows: Colorado & Larimer County Teen Fertility Rates (per 1,000 Females Age 15-17)

Data Source: Colorado Public Health and Environment Vital Statistics

See data table

What these data tell us:

Larimer County teen fertility rates for females ages 15 to 17 remained lower than those of the State (15.2 and 24.8, respectively). Rates for Colorado and Larimer County were better than the Healthy People 2010 objective for reduced pregnancies in this age group (43 per 1,000 females age 15-17). From 2001 to 2004, Larimer County rates had little variation, with the exception of a marked decrease in 2003. In Larimer County, numbers of births for this age group ranged from 55 births (2003) to a high of 103 births (2001). From 2001 to 2005, Colorado appeared to have a slight drop in fertility rates overall (25.3- 23.8), while Larimer County saw a decrease for 2001- 2003 and a reversal of this trend for 2003- 2005.

The National Center for Health Statistics, citing data from the National Survey of Family Growth, attributed national decreases in teen birth and fertility rates to delayed onset of sexual activity, increased contraceptive use, and decreased percentages of sexually experienced teens, both male and female (Centers for Disease Control, 2002).

What this chart shows: Colorado & Larimer County Teen Fertility Rates (per 1,000 Females Age 15-19)

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What this chart shows: Colorado & Larimer County Teen Birth Rates (per 1,000 Persons Age 15-19)

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What these data tell us:

From 2001 to 2005, Larimer County fertility rates, for females ages 15 to 19, were consistently lower than Colorado rates. Colorado rates averaged 42 births (per 1,000 females, ages 15 to 19), compared to Larimer County's average rate of 23.5 births (per 1,000 females, ages 15 to 19). Additionally, birth rates for Larimer County were lower than birth rates for Colorado (20.3 and 11.7 per 1,000 persons age 15-19, respectively) during this period. Colorado and Larimer County experienced overall decreases in both fertility rates and birth rates, with Colorado reducing teen births by 523 births and Larimer County reducing teen births by 27 births.

Additional Information:

On Compass -

• Birth Defects
• Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
• Children in Families - Single and Two Parents
• Drop-Out Rates
• Grandparents as Caregivers
• Infant Mortality
• Low Birth Weight Babies
• Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use
• Population by Age
• Population by Ethnicity
• Population by Gender
• Prenatal Care

Outside Compass -

• American Academy of Pediatrics: Annual Summary of Vital Statistics: 2005 - This report (released in 2007) found record highs for cesarean births and childbearing by unmarried women, and record lows for teen (aged 15-19) births in 2005.
• Larimer County Health Department/ Community Health Services Division - has several programs that support healthy pregnancies and infant care.
  • EPSDT - (Medicaid outreach services for children and pregnant women)
  • Maternity Assistance Program
  • Nurse/Family Partnership Program
• National Alliance for Hispanic Health
• National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (press refresh if you end up at a page that is unavailable)
• National Center for Health Statistics - Vital Statistics on Natality, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
  • Comprehensive reports on national teen birth rates from 1940-2000
  • Report entitled: Variations in Teenage Birth Rates, 1991-1998: National and State Trends
• Office of Minority Health
• Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
• The Urban Institute
  • "Childbearing by Teens: Links to Welfare Reform" - policy options considered by states to reduce teen childbearing
  • 'TANF and the Status of Teen Mothers Under Age 18' - explores the effects of changed TANF policies on teen mothers

Data Tables:

Colorado & Larimer County Teen Fertility Rates (Ages 15 to 17)

	Colorado		Larimer County
	Rate	# of Births	Rate	# of Births
2001	25.3	2340	18.7	103
2002	25.9	2439	15.9	89
2003	24.3	2304	9.8	55
2004	24.8	2357	14.8	82
2005	23.8	2281	16.9	92

See chart

Teen Fertility Rates by Age (Rate per 1,000 Females Age 15-19)

	Larimer County			Colorado
	Number of Births	Female Population	Rate	Number of Births	Female Population	Rate
2001	287	10,871	26.4	7,165	158,270	45.3
2002	262	11,131	23.5	7,238	163,352	44.3
2003	240	11,235	21.4	6,691	165,271	40.5
2004	267	11,306	23.6	6,773	166,932	40.6
2005	260	11,393	22.8	6,642	169,243	39.2

See chart

Teen Birth Rates by Age

(Rate per 1,000 Total Population Age 15-19)

	Larimer County			Colorado
	Number of Births	Total Population	Rate	Number of Births	Total Population	Rate
2001	287	21,884	13.1	7,165	328,813	21.8
2002	262	22,439	11.7	7,238	338,727	21.4
2003	240	22,557	10.6	6,691	341,737	19.6
2004	267	22,834	11.7	6,773	344,388	19.7
2005	260	22,969	11.3	6,642	348,573	19.1

See chart

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