Montana Teen Birth Rate Increases

The state birth rate increased 9 percent last year marking the biggest single year increase since 1990, Colleen Lindsay, supervisor for the Women’s and Men’s Health Section for DPHHS, said Wednesday. The previous high was a 3.4 percent increase in 2004. The 2007 figures won’t be available until next year.

“It’s too soon to determine the exact cause of the increase, but we’ll be taking an in-depth look at this over the next several weeks,” Lindsay said. “What we can say for sure is that there will not be one simple answer, but many factors that influence teen pregnancy and birth.”

Montana is still below the national average, but the gap may be closing as last year there was only a 3 percent increase in the teen birth rate nationwide. Before 2006, Montana’s birth rate had been relatively stable, recording its lowest level in 1999 at a rate of 36 per 1,000 teens. Montana’s current birth rate is 40 per 1,000 teens.

DPHHS will be analyzing the state data ranging from when teens are having sex, how many sexual partners a teen reports, whether or not they are using alcohol or drugs during sex and what contraceptive services they access and use to protect themselves from pregnancy.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) compiled by the Office of Public Instruction, is the state’s best indicator of teen risk behavior. According to YRBS, more Montana teens disclose binge drinking than any other state. YRBS trends indicate that more Montana teens are drinking in general and, that teens are drinking at a younger age. “It’s hard to make good choices when you are under the influence of alcohol,” Lindsay said. “This may place more teens in a situation they aren’t prepared for, including having sex.”

Access to medically-accurate information and birth control are also ways to prevent teen pregnancy. Montana’s Family Planning Program provides affordable, confidential education and birth control to 29 communities across the state. All clinics educate teens about sexual behavior, including abstinence, how to discuss their choices with family and how to avoid sexual abuse. “Not everyone lives in a community with a family planning clinic, so DPHHS is currently seeking a Medicaid waiver that would expand family planning services across the state,” Lindsay said.

The Medicaid family planning waiver would expand Medicaid coverage of family planning services to eligible Montana women at higher income levels than current Medicaid allows.

“Although DPHHS is working to decrease teen pregnancy, studies indicate that families and communities are the most influential people in a teen’s life,” Lindsay said. “I’d like encourage communities across Montana to work together to decrease teen pregnancy.” -Department of Public Health and Human Services