May 7th is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, an event targeted at helping teens think ahead about what actions they can take to avoid pregnancy.

The good news about teen births is that the numbers have dropped to historic lows, both in the US and in Wisconsin. The number of teen births in Wisconsin dropped by 42% between 1999 and 2012, according to figures released by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

In Wisconsin, the counties with the smallest share of total births occurring to teens in 2012 were:

• Ozaukee, 1.8%
• Vernon, 2.0%
• Marquette, 2.2%
• Iowa, 2.2%
• Pepin 2.4%

The counties with the highest share of total births occurring to teens were:

• Lincoln, 10.1%
• Rock, 10.2%
• Adams, 11.5%
• Menominee, 15.4%
• Sawyer, 15.4%

The KIDS COUNT Data Center has more information on teen births in Wisconsin, including data on teen births by county. The Data Center makes it easy to find information on individual counties, or make charts like the one below for your own use.

Nationally, teen childbearing in the U.S. cost taxpayers $9.4 billion in 2010, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. According to the National Campaign, “Most of the costs of teen childbearing are associated with negative consequences for the children of teen mothers, including increased costs for health care, foster care, incarceration, and lost tax revenue.” In Wisconsin, the cost to taxpayers for teen births has declined markedly in recent years as the number of teen births has dropped, but still amounts to over $140 million a year.

The reduction in teen births is the result of strong pregnancy prevention messages to teens and increased contraceptive use among teenagers, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Still, the amount the public spends on family planning nationally ($2.7 billion) is dwarfed by the costs of teen pregnancy ($9.4 billion).

The extraordinary decline in teen births is good news for children, families, and taxpayers. We should continue to build our past success by making sure teens have the tools they need to avoid pregnancy.

Tamarine Cornelius