Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Births to Teen Mothers
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Teen Births by County of Residence, Ages 15-17 Years, New Jersey, 2018-2022
Why Is This Important?
Teenage pregnancy and childbearing are ongoing public health concerns and the focus of considerable public policy debate. Babies born to teenage mothers are at elevated risk of poor birth outcomes, including higher rates of low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant death. The limited educational, social, and financial resources often available to teenage mothers add to their higher risk profile.
Definition
The number of live births to females in a specific age group per 1,000 females in the age group.
Data Sources
- Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
(https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/) - Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/) - National Vital Statistics Reports, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/nvsr.htm)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | The number of live births to females in a specific age group |
| Denominator: | Estimated number of females in the age group |
How Are We Doing?
Births to teens of all ages and races/ethnicities have been declining for decades and continue to do so. The original as well as the more stringent revised Healthy New Jersey 2020 targets were achieved by all racial/ethnic groups. The teen birth rate in Cumberland County, however, is significantly higher than the rates of every other New Jersey county.
How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
Teen birth rates in New Jersey, as well as the rates among those 20-29 years old, are substantially lower than in the nation as a whole.
What Is Being Done?
The Division of Family Health Services in the New Jersey Department of Health administers programs to enhance the health, safety and well-being of families and communities in New Jersey.
More Resources
Visit the NJSHAD Birth Data Query to create your own tables, graphs, and maps of teen birth rates by race, ethnicity, and county for 1990 onward.
National Center for Health Statistics: