By the Numbers

Teen Pregnancy

3rd highest teen birth rate

In 2020, Louisiana had the 6th highest teen birth rate in the nation.

13% of births were underweight

Of all births to females under 20 years of age in 2020, 13% were low birthweight and 16% were repeat births.

3x more likely

The daughters of young teen mothers are three times more likely to become teen mothers themselves.

Slower changes in teen pregnancy rate

From 1991 to 2019, the national teen birth rate dropped 73%, while the rate in Louisiana for the same time period dropped only 63%.

Pregnancy is a leading cause of dropout

Nationwide, 30% of teen girls who have dropped out of high school cite pregnancy or parenthood as a reason.

Only 50% of teen mothers

Who have a child before age 18 complete high school by age 22 and less than 2% attain a college degree by age 30.

STDs

3rd highest rate of primary and secondary syphilis.

In 2018, Louisiana had the third highest rate of reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis among young people aged 15–19 in the United States.

Ranked 4th in reported cases of gonorrhea.

In 2018, Louisiana ranked 4th in the United States for the rate of reported cases of gonorrhea among young people aged 15–19.

Ranked 2nd in reported cases of Chlamydia.

Louisiana ranked 2nd in the nation of reported cases of chlamydia among young people aged 15–19 in the United States in 2018.

Ranked 3rd for HIV infection rate

Louisiana’s HIV infection rate among young people aged 13–19 ranked 3rd in the United States in 2018.

Ranked 4th for AIDS

In 2018, Louisiana’s AIDS rate among young people aged 13–19 ranked 4th in the United States.

It's Time for Change.

Sources

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