The number of babies born to girls between the ages of 10 and 14 dropped to a record low in 2016, according to data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The number of births dropped to 2,253 in 2016 from 8,529 in 2000. The trend follows that of older teens, between the ages of 15 and 19, for whom birth rates have declined by 57 percent in the same period.
CDC scientists credited the decrease to data showing teens delaying sex and having sex less, as well as to the use of more effective contraception. For instance, the use of intrauterine devices, which remain in a female’s body for several years and are considered the most effective way to prevent a pregnancy, has increased.
Wednesday’s report indicated the decline in births among girls occurred among all races and ethnic groups, but the difference was sharpest among black girls.
Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the District of Columbia had the highest birth rates from 2014 to 2016. Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, and Utah had the lowest.
CDC scientists noted in the report that while the U.S. has seen a decrease in teen birth rates, they still remain higher than other developed countries.
