Birth rates among unmarried girls ages 15 to 19 years old increased for the first time in fifteen years, from 40 per thousand in 2005 to 42 per thousand in 2006. That translates to about 20,000 more babies, according to the Center for Disease Control.

In 1970, unwed teenagers accounted for more than half of all unwed mothers. Today that number is one-quarter, because of an increase in births among unwed women in their 20s and 30s.

The CDC commented that the increase could be just a statistical blip, but noted that the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers is also rising.

Youth Care, a residential treatment program for troubled teens, offers a program for pregnant teens where they can continue to earn school credits and learn how to take care of themselves and their child.

Labels: pregnancy, teenage_mothers, unwed_mothers