Research
Educational attainment and teen fertility rates are closely correlated. It has been shown that teens who have a child are less likely to finish high school and college than those who delay having their first child to the age of 20 (Hoffman, 2006). Additionally, teens who dropout of high school are at increased risk for early pregnancy. (Manlove, 1998). Hoffereth and Hayes (1987) found that teen mothers are not only at a higher risk of not finishing high school, these young mothers are at a greater risk for social and economic disadvantage throughout their lives in comparison to those who wait until after high school to have children. Research has shown that they are less likely to be employed, earn high wages, and remain married. In addition, these women are more likely to have larger families and receive welfare (p. 138).
A good portion of debate has sprung up whether teen fertility is the reason for stunted educational attainment or if the living conditions, including social and economic elements, surrounding these young women is the main cause for their lack of reaching educational goals. Research by Klepinger, Plotnick, and Lundberg (1995) found that early childbearing reduced the educational attainment of young women by one to three years. They concluded that, “public policies that succeed in reducing teenage pregnancy and childbearing would also increase the educational attainment of disadvantaged young women and improve their chances for economic self-sufficiency. Simply put, by controlling teenage fertility rates the odds of young women reaching significant academic milestones increases.
A good portion of debate has sprung up whether teen fertility is the reason for stunted educational attainment or if the living conditions, including social and economic elements, surrounding these young women is the main cause for their lack of reaching educational goals. Research by Klepinger, Plotnick, and Lundberg (1995) found that early childbearing reduced the educational attainment of young women by one to three years. They concluded that, “public policies that succeed in reducing teenage pregnancy and childbearing would also increase the educational attainment of disadvantaged young women and improve their chances for economic self-sufficiency. Simply put, by controlling teenage fertility rates the odds of young women reaching significant academic milestones increases.
Case Study: Center, CO
The teen fertility rate per 1000 in Saguache County (of which Center represents approximately 88% of the population) has dropped dramatically; however, it is still above the average rate for Colorado as a whole. Teen pregnancies have long plagued the school and community. It is not uncommon that students who become pregnant were born to a teen mother themselves. These students are less likely to finish high school and much less likely to go on to post-secondary education. In addition, if they do stay in school, their academic achievement is lower than their peers.
The chart to the right demonstrates the impact of intensive health education programming for this issue in the Center Community. The estimated rate of change (slope) for Saguache County is 3.37. This is a statistically significant decrease (p=.0027). The rate of change (slope) for Colorado is .71, also statistically significant (p=.0000). However, the difference in our rates of change is statistically signficant (p=.0022). This indicates that it is highly likely that reduction in our rate is likely to be directly attributable to the work we are doing in Center.
The chart to the right demonstrates the impact of intensive health education programming for this issue in the Center Community. The estimated rate of change (slope) for Saguache County is 3.37. This is a statistically significant decrease (p=.0027). The rate of change (slope) for Colorado is .71, also statistically significant (p=.0000). However, the difference in our rates of change is statistically signficant (p=.0022). This indicates that it is highly likely that reduction in our rate is likely to be directly attributable to the work we are doing in Center.
References
Colorado Department of Education. (2012). Overview of the 2011 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey: High School. Retrieved June 27, 2012 from
colegacy.org/.../Overview_2011-Healthy-Kids-Colorado-Survey.pdf.
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. Colorado Health Indicators. Retrieved June 26, 2012 from
http://www.chd.dphe.state.co.us/HealthIndicators/.
Healthy Kids Colorado Survey-Center Consolidated School District. (2005-2011). Individual reports prepared by Omni: Denver, CO. Compiled
by Katrina Caldon-Ruggles, MA, LPC, NCC.
Hoffereth, S.L. & Hayes, C.D. (1987). Teenage pregnancy and its resolution. Risking the Future: Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy, and
Childbearing. 8–92. 1: p. 138. Retrieved June 27, 2012 from http://sparky.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2702395.html#1.
Hoffman, S.D. (2006). By the Numbers: The Public Costs of Adolescent Childbearing. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy.
Klepinger, D.H., Lundberg, S. & Plotnick, R.D. (1995). Adolescent Fertility and the Educational Attainment of Young Women. Family Planning
Perspectives, 27(1). Retrieved from June 27, 2012 from http://sparky.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2702395.html#1.
Manlove, J (1998). The Influence of High School Dropout and Social Disengagement on the Risk of School-Age Pregnancy. Journal of Research on
Adolescence, 8(2): p. 187-220.
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. (2010). Why It Matters: Teen Pregnancy and Education. Retrieved June 27, 2012 from
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/why-it-matters/wim_teens.aspx.
colegacy.org/.../Overview_2011-Healthy-Kids-Colorado-Survey.pdf.
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. Colorado Health Indicators. Retrieved June 26, 2012 from
http://www.chd.dphe.state.co.us/HealthIndicators/.
Healthy Kids Colorado Survey-Center Consolidated School District. (2005-2011). Individual reports prepared by Omni: Denver, CO. Compiled
by Katrina Caldon-Ruggles, MA, LPC, NCC.
Hoffereth, S.L. & Hayes, C.D. (1987). Teenage pregnancy and its resolution. Risking the Future: Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy, and
Childbearing. 8–92. 1: p. 138. Retrieved June 27, 2012 from http://sparky.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2702395.html#1.
Hoffman, S.D. (2006). By the Numbers: The Public Costs of Adolescent Childbearing. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy.
Klepinger, D.H., Lundberg, S. & Plotnick, R.D. (1995). Adolescent Fertility and the Educational Attainment of Young Women. Family Planning
Perspectives, 27(1). Retrieved from June 27, 2012 from http://sparky.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2702395.html#1.
Manlove, J (1998). The Influence of High School Dropout and Social Disengagement on the Risk of School-Age Pregnancy. Journal of Research on
Adolescence, 8(2): p. 187-220.
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. (2010). Why It Matters: Teen Pregnancy and Education. Retrieved June 27, 2012 from
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/why-it-matters/wim_teens.aspx.