Teen Pregnancy Rate on the Decline; Lowest Numbers Since 1973

The U.S. teen pregnancy rate is the lowest it has been in two decades, according to a report issued today by the Alan Guttmacher Institute. In 1995, there were 101 pregnancies per 1,000 females between the ages of 15-19, 14% lower than the 1990 peak of 117 per 1,000. The 889,980 teenage pregnancies in 1995 is the lowest recorded number since 1973, when there were 916,630.

Researchers attribute the decline to fewer teenagers having sex, more adolescents using contraceptives and growing use of the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera.

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Compiled by Times medical writer Thomas H. Maugh II