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4.2.2 Total Live Births by Females Ages 15-19 and the Birth Rate per 1,000 Females of the Same Age (by Age Group)
Why is this important?
There are many undesirable health, social, and economic consequences of teen pregnancy. Infants born to mothers under age 18 have an increased risk of death and of low birth weight. Both the mother and the child will likely face fewer educational, economic, and social opportunities. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimate that teen pregnancy accounts for more than $9 billion per year in costs to taxpayers for increased use of social services, healthcare, increased incarceration rates among children of teenage parents, and lost tax revenue due to lower educational attainment. Teen pregnancy is a strong risk factor for dropping out of high school, and the children of teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school as well. The younger the mother is, the more likely such problems will occur.
Teen pregnancy prevention is one of the six top priorities of the CDC. Many of their teen pregnancy prevention initiatives target racial and ethnic minorities, as together black and Hispanic youth comprised nearly 60% of U.S. teen births in 2008. Children living in conditions of risk, including foster care and the juvenile justice system, are other priority populations of the CDC. Race/ethnicity teen pregnancy data are not tracked in Washington State.
This indicator measures the total live births by teenagers ages 15-19 in Walla Walla County. It also offers the teenage birth rate per 1,000 female residents of the same age in two age categories: ages 15-17 and ages 18-19. Washington State and the U.S. are offered as benchmarks. Additional information, including the actual number of teen births in each age category for both the county and the state, can be found in the “Download Data” section.
Where are we?
During 2023, there were a total of 23 live births by females ages 15-19 in Walla Walla County, decreasing from 95, or by 75.8% since 2000.
During 2023, the birth rate per 1,000 females ages 15-17 in:
- Walla Walla County was 3.4, decreasing from 36.3 in 2000.
- Washington State was 3.5, decreasing from 20.4 in 2000.
- The U.S. was 5.5, decreasing from 26.9 in 2000.
During 2023, the birth rate per 1,000 females ages 18-19 in:
- Walla Walla County was 16.6, decreasing from 42.2 in 2000.
- Washington State was 18.0, decreasing from 67.6 in 2000.
- The U.S. was 24.6, decreasing from 78.1 in 2000.
Data Sources
County and State Teen Pregnancy Data - Washington State Department of Health: Community Health Assessment Tool (CHAT)
- For questions about CHAT data, contact Kelley Cullen, Ph.D., Data Analyst, Community Indicators Project - Eastern Washington University
National Teen Pregancy Data - FastStats - Teen Births
- Under "Key Birth Statistics", select "Births: Final Data for (current year)"
Population Data - Washington State Office of Financial Management: Estimates of April 1 population by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin
- Under “Age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin” and “Data Tables”, select “County (ages 15-19 by single year)” and then “Total”
Note: The Community Health Assessment Tool (CHAT) is restricted for use by:
- Assessment staff at Local Health Jurisdictions (LHJs)
- Washington State Department of Health
- Tribal health agencies
- Other state government agencies engaged in public health activities.