Recent statistics from the CDC confirm that after declining in the 90's, birth rates to teen parents increased by 5% nationally between 2005 and 2007. A similar pattern emerged in the State of Wisconsin. After a sustained move toward lower rates in the 90's, teen birth rates began trending upward beginning in 2004 and 2005. Recent increases in the prevalence of teen births in the nation and Wisconsin are reflected in Milwaukee's high birth rates to teen mothers.
Commonly cited statistics note that Milwaukee has one of the ten highest teen birth rates based on a comparison of 50 large urban cities. Data from the national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy also reveal that Wisconsin suffers from high rates of racial disparities in teen pregnancy rates.
Relatively high birth rates coupled with a multitude of health, economic and social consequences attributed to high teen birth rates make the need to address teen pregnancy an especially compelling public health issue. Historically, May has been recognized as teen pregnancy prevention month. Teen pregnancy prevention month has been used as a platform for educating the public about the costs of teen pregnancy.
The Center for Urban Population Health and our partners are committed to contributing to the ongoing work around this issue in Milwaukee. Recently the Center has worked on projects including: trends in teen birth rates, group prenatal care for vulnerable pregnant teens, the United Way teen pregnancy prevention program evaluation and a series of maternal child health initiatives.
