Health Matters: Teen Birth Rate Drops

Teen births in the U.S. are on the decline according to a recent report by the centers for disease control and prevention. The CDC says the number of teen births has dropped 57 percent since the 1990s, with an estimated 4M fewer births among teens. The decline in birth rates has saved taxpayers $12B in 2010. This, since teen mothers are more likely to need food stamps, Medicaid and other government assistance. A child born to a teen mom costs taxpayers about $1,700 a year according to the CDC. The decline in teen birth rates occurred in all fifty states, with all race and ethnic groups seeing a decline in teenage parenthood. But despite the dramatic decrease, the u-s still has one of the highest teen birth rates among developed countries.