Teen birth rates across the U.S. (with map plus another link to the interactive map)

[Little Star]

2008 is the latest study on this issue, sorry.
Why is it so much higher in some areas of the country than in other areas? Is there any logical reason for this?



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2284531/New-Mexico-highest-rate-teen-pregnancy--New-Hampshire-lowest.html

A state-by-state look at birth rates among teen girls ages 15 to 19 in 2008, with data on the mother's race from 2007. Roll over a state to see the local teen birth rate.





Here is a link to the same study but with an interactive map you can play around:
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39727979/t/teen-birth-rates-across-us/

[JHB]

1. Digging back to the study, and from the interactive map...

...and just skimming, nothing that could count as detailed analysis:

1) The interactive map is for the birth rate, not the pregnancy rate shown in the graphic in the OP. Just clarifying they are related but not the same.

2) 2/3 of the pregnancies were to the 18-19 part of that 15-19 age range. I think that's an important distinction when to casual readers "teen" implies minors.

3) Race/ethnicity is a factor, but there is plenty of variation between states. Non-Hispanic white tends to be lowest (but not everywhere), Black and Hispanic rates tend to be higher, but all vary widely between states. Going by birthrate (many states don't have a breakdown of overall pregnancies by race/ethnicity), West Virginia looks like it may be the most "even", with W/B/H age 15-19 birthrates (per thousand) of 47/47/32. In (old) Virginia the rates are 24/49/60. In New Jersey it's 8/50/55, in Oregon 27/51/83, in Alabama 40/64/123.

4) The report (at least the version available online) doesn't break down by both age and ethnicity.

And I have to break off now...have other things that need to get done.

[Little Star]

2. Thanks for answering. For the life of me I just couldn't..

get what would cause that. In my head I said, teens are teens no matter what part of the country they live.

[Gorp]

3. Why is it that the states that are against birth control and sex ed have the higher rates?

Oh, wait. Dumb question. Never mind.

[Little Star]

4. Good point. Don't know why that thought missed my mind. Thanks.