Income Inequality and Teen Pregnancy by Landon Lee

The rate of Teen birth in the United States has remained high. According to a Population Reference Bureau of 2012, there is 24.4 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 19.  The rate of Teen birth is higher then developed countries (Hunter, Lori). High fertility among American teens may be related to Income Inequality (Hunter, Lori). I hypothesis that communities with low-income inequality will exhibit a higher teen birth rate, compare to high-income communities. I believe low-income will have a higher teen rate, because resources are low in poverty level.

An analysis by national survey suggested that high-income teenagers are most likely to prolong pregnancy as oppose to low-income teens. Teenagers with higher income families have a higher socioeconomic status and money to oppose a pregnancy with abortion.  Teens in the Unites States are far more likely to give birth than any other country in the world.  American Teenagers are two and half times more likely to give birth compare to Canada, and 10 times more likely then teens in Switzerland (Kearney, Melissa). In addition, greater income inequality has been linked to a higher rate of teen pregnancy. Over centuries it has been theories that higher income inequality is associated with poorer health and resources.  

A study was conducted by Rachel Goal to analyze the correlation of income inequality and Teen pregnancy during 2001. Data from 1990 U.S Census was used to analyze the relation of income inequality. The correlation was computed among 10% of the wealthiest and 10% of the poorest in America.  To analyze inequality 90:10 decile share ratio was used. Larger ratio indicated a greater income inequality.  A 90:10 radio indicated a highly correlated inequality measure (Gold, Rachel).  In addition, a mutineer regression was used for the independent association between capital income in thousand of dollars, and birth rates for younger then (15-17) and older then 18-19 (Gold, Rachel).  According to the graphical data. High-income families had a 35 birth per 1,000 women ages 15 to 17. Medium-Income families had a 39 birth per 1,0000 women ages 15-17, and Low-Income families had a 54 birth per 1,000 ages 15-17. The difference of high and low inequality was 20 births per 1,000.  Older teenagers with Low-income ages 18-19 had a 116 birth per 1,000 women. Medium-Income families had 100 births per 1,000 women. High Income had 90 births per 1,000 women.  The difference was a 56% among high and low-income women (Gold, Rachel).   

According to the University of Maryland research, Culture despair is the partial reason why teenage girls in American become pregnant (Hunter, Lori). Specific places become characterized by persistent poverty, because of lack of opportunity, education, social isolation and exclusion from job network (Hunter, Lori). When low-income women perceives that socioeconomic success is not achievable, she is more likely to embrace motherhood in her current position instead of education (Hunter, Lori). However, when there is hope for economic advancement, women have a desire to delay motherhood and invest in social capital and education (Hunter, Lori).

In addition, teenage birth rates and state-level income inequality have an effect on children.  Girls in Mississippi have children tree times more often then those in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.  In 2009, the teenage birth rate in Mississippi was 64.2 per 1,00 women ages 15-19 (Kearney, Melissa). However, in 2005 the teenage birth rate in Mississippi was 61 per 1,000 women ages 15-19.  Mississippi has been the top teenage childbearing for the past 2 decades.  Income inequality is persistent among geographical states (Hunter, Lori).

Greater social Inequality leads to poor health behaviors and higher stress levels. This leads to greater vulnerability to stress and less opportunity to health resources. (Gold, Rachel).  According to Ecological Analysis, “Higher social stress and associated negative psychological affects could promote a weaker sense of self-worth or purpose among teens, affecting sexual health behaviors and reproductive choices” (Gold, Rachel).  Teenagers in America with low-income turn to childbearing, because socioeconomic success is not achievable. Low-Income women are more likely to embrace motherhood as oppose to education.  I personally think teenagers with Low-Income may embrace motherhood to have social economic help.  When a teenager girls becomes pregnant she is no longer consider a child, but an adult in society. The women may turn to the boyfriend’s family for financial support.

Teenagers in low-income families are more likely to become pregnant, because a small relative proportion of the community resource affords health for the poor. Which leads to limited access to contraceptives or abortion facilities. Nerveless, social-inequality in teenagers impacts their health behaviors and choices. An adult age 13-18 may indulge in risky sexual behaviors because contraceptives are unaffordable to them (Gold, Rachel).  Overall, there needs to be an improvement in health care, and education for low-income students. Schools in low-income communities have low funding, and attendance. There needs to be an overall improvement in the educational system, and more opportunities for the poor. Teenage girls in Low-Income families need to feel a sense economic, and education opportunity, to not turn to motherhood at such an early age.  My hypothesized, was correct Teenagers in Low-Income had a significant teen birth rate in comparison to high-income communities.  Teenagers are more likely to indulge in risky sexual behavior without social, and economic opportunity. Health Care for the poor, and state social inequality plays a big factor in teenage pregnancies.  In addition, Low-Income have less resources and money available for contraceptives, and reproductive choices.

                                                Word Cited

Gold, Rachel, et al. "Ecological Analysis Of Teen Birth Rates: Association With Community Income And Income Inequality." Maternal & Child Health Journal 5.3 (2001): 161-167. CINAHL Complete. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.

Hunter, Lori M. "U.S. Teen Birth Rate Correlates With State Income Inequality." U.S. Teen Birth Rate Correlates With State Income Inequality. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.

Kearney, Melissa S, and Phillip B Levine. "Why Is The Teen Birth Rate In The United States So High And Why Does It Matter?." Journal Of Economic Perspectives 26.2 (2012): 141-166. Business Source Elite. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.