A Health Surveillance Update on Canadian Children and Youth

Teen Pregnancy

Babies of teenage mothers are at increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and death during infancy.

Teen pregnancy is considered a major public health problem in many countries. Teenage mothers are less likely to complete their education and are more likely to have limited career and economic opportunities.⁽⁷⁾ Furthermore, their babies are at increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and death during infancy.^(8,9) The teen pregnancy rate is the number of pregnancies occurring per 1,000 teenage females per year. The number of pregnancies consists of the number of live births, stillbirths and abortions. However, the 1996 data presented here and the international comparisons include only the number of live births in the numerator.

In Canada in 1996, there were a total of 21,597 live births to mothers aged 15-19 years for a rate of 22.1 per 1,000.⁽¹⁰⁾ In addition, there were 227 babies born to mothers aged 10-14 years. Over the past two decades, there has been a decline in the live birth rate for teens aged 15-19 years, from 35.6 per 1,000 in 1974 to 22.1 per 1,000 in 1996. During this same period, the number of induced abortions in this age group has increased and may partly explain the observed decline in the number of live births. Figure 5 depicts the Canadian rate of live births to teenage mothers from 1974 until 1996. The available time trend in rates of induced abortions in this age group is also included.⁽¹¹⁾

Source: Bureau of Reproductive and Child Health, LCDC, based on Statistics Canada data^(10-11)

There are variations in teen pregnancy rates among countries.⁽¹²⁾ Unicef's 1998 The Progress of Nations presents a global average teen pregnancy rate of 65 live births per 1,000 females aged 15-19. As depicted in Figure 6, Canada's 1995 rate of 24 live births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 is higher than rates in Japan, Switzerland, Sweden and Finland. However, the Canadian rate remains lower than that in many countries, including New Zealand and the United States.

Source: The Progress of Nations, 1998⁽¹²⁾

Data limitations
There are several limitations in the presentation and interpretation of teen pregnancy data. The available 1996 Canadian data, as well as the international comparisons, only include the number of live births in the numerator. Yet, in 1994, the number of live babies born to women aged 15-19 years only represented approximately 51% of all teen pregnancies. A failure to accurately account for all teen pregnancies, including terminated pregnancies, may limit the interpretation of time trends and international comparisons. As well, categorizing teen pregnancies by the age group 15-19 years fails to acknowledge the different implications of pregnancy at 15 years of age compared to pregnancy at 19 years of age.

Summary
With the exception of 1987-1992, the rate of live births to women aged 15-19 years has been declining since 1974. However, the number of abortions in women of this age continues to rise. This increase suggests a failure to provide accessible, effective contraception for teenagers. Future efforts to prevent teen pregnancies must be accompanied by accurate tracking of all pregnancies and their outcomes in this particularly vulnerable age group.

Unless referenced otherwise, teen pregnancy statistics are the product of the Bureau of Reproductive and Child Health, LCDC⁽¹⁰⁾

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