Teen Birth Rates Remain High Among Hispanic And Black Females

In an April 2011 study, the Center For Disease Control (CDC) reported that "contraceptive use is lowest and teen childbirth is highest among Hispanic/Latinos and non-Hispanic blacks," but the numbers also suggest that this is true for youth of all "races and ethnicities who are socioeconomically disadvantaged."

And while the overall rate of teen pregnancy (the current national rate is about 41 births per 1,000) is going down, Latina rates of young motherhood remain high. According to figures from the CDC Vital Signs study, "in 2009, the national teen birth rate was 39.1 births per 1,000 females, a 37 percent decrease from 61.8 births per 1,000 females in 1991 and the lowest rate ever recorded. Latina birth rates were at 70.1 births per 1,000 females, black were 59.0 and,25.6 for white teens."

Several cultural factors might play a part in the high rates of teen motherhood in the Latino community. Sociologists say that many Latinos are Catholic and do not believe in birth control. In addition, in some Latino communities becoming a young mother is ingrained in the culture. Some of the young mothers interviewed in the Washington Post article, saw getting pregnant as a way of holding onto the fathers or gaining independence.

However, young motherhood has serious consequences for Latinas growing up in America. Teen mothers are less likely to finish high school, and even less likely to go to college. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy, 87 percent of teens and 90 percent of adults believe reducing teen pregnancy is a very effective way to reduce the high school dropout rate and improve academic achievement.

In addition, teen mothers are also more likely to live in poverty. Becoming a young mother often tends to make starting a professional life even more difficult. A study from NYU’s Women of Color Policy Network, states that, “Single mothers possess only 4 percent of the wealth of single fathers: $100 compared to $25,300 and ….Younger single mothers experience the greatest disadvantage in terms of wealth and assets. Over half of single mothers under the age of 40 have zero or negative wealth.”

Susan Sandoval is a mother, blogger, and witness to some of these issues in the Latino community. She is married to an El Salvadoran, and the daughter of a single mother from Los Angeles. She said the issue of young motherhood in the Latina community is complex, and that American society sends young people mixed messages about sexuality. American teens are bombarded with messages telling them to wait until marriage to have sex, even though almost half of the marriages end in divorce. They also grow up surrounded by messages in popular culture that tell them sex is cool.

On her blog, Ultimateoutcasts.com, she writes about how sexuality is often linked to commercialism and violence. In one of her articles, she talks about the billboard images she sees in Los Angeles which feature sexuality tied to alcohol and violent movies. Sandoval said this does not send young women a positive message about sexuality, and for many young people, their first sexual experience involves alcohol.

Sandoval says that many young Latina mothers may not understand or feel the real economic effect of having a child since their social safety net protects them, but the reality of being a single mother can be very different. Sandoval adds that single mothers face the economic stress of trying to get by on either low wages or welfare, as well as the stress of not having a stable relationship with the fathers.

She adds that mothers are often the most important person in their children’s life, and need to set the best example. “Many mothers come home tired from work, and complain, which sometimes illustrates motherhood as a negative experience. They need to show (their children) positive relationships and link the positivity of being a mother, with the positivity of sex,” she said.

This will lead young people to make responsible decisions about sexuality and reproduction, she adds.