Exploring the predictors that may influence the variations in teen birth rates by state

Despite a significant decline of 44% in the U. S. teen birth rate from 1999-2010, the continuing wide range of state specific rates (15.7 to 55.0 per thousand) has raised concern about identifying factors influencing state level variation. This study examined the relationship between sex education, abortion policies, socio-demographic factors and access to health services and state-level teen birth rates. Data for the analysis were obtained from nationally representative surveys which provided the following state-level information: natality and bridged race population , policies on sex education and parental consent for abortion, proportion of counties without abortion provider, number of abortion providers, average freshman graduation rate, gini coefficient, degree of religiosity, and political preferences. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between these factors and teen birth rate at the state level. Teen birth rate was directly associated with number of uninsured adults (p < 0.001) and level of religiosity (p < 0.001); and inversely associated with average freshman graduation rate (p = 0.054) and the supply of abortion providers in the state (p = 0.011). The wide variation in teen birth rates across states and state specific determining factors makes implementation of health policies difficult reducing the application and effectiveness of adopted policies.