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Children and Family Health, Safety and Well-being INDICATOR: Teen
birth rate -
Number of teens ages 15-19 who gave birth per 1,000 teens Why
is this indicator important in Baltimore City?
The
teen birth rate is an indicator of economic stability and health.
This
is a standard indicator used nationally to gauge the health and economic stability
of this population.
What has been happening in Baltimore
City?
The teen birth rate decreased 18.2 percent between
2000 and 2003. In 2003, the teen birth rate was 68.2, and in 2000 the rate was
83.3.
The Baltimore City Health Department set a goal to ensure the
teen birth rate was less than 75 per 1,000 teens in 2005. As the data show, the
Health Department met and exceeded this goal two years earlier than expected.
Definition:
This indicator reflects the number of teens ages 15-19
who gave birth per 1,000 teens in an area.
Calculation
considerations:
There may be slight differences in
the rates as reported by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
(DHMH), Baltimore City Health Department, and the rate reported here. These agencies
use population projections estimates to determine the population of teens in the
area. The Alliance uses actual U.S. Census 2000 population data to calculate the
rate. The difference is within the margin of error.
Data for this indicator
come from birth certificates at hospitals and reported to the Maryland Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) for distribution to health departments of
the 24 counties and Baltimore City.
Data source: Maryland
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH)
Baltimore City Health Department
Analysis: Edwin Quiambao, Baltimore
City Data Collaborative/Family League of Baltimore Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators
Alliance staff
Years tracked:
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Geography: Citywide,
CSA, census tract
To access the Indicator: Download
Vital Signs 3 Activate
the interactive mapping system Obtain the
Vital Signs by census tract Download
Community Statistical Area profiles
For more information
about the Alliance and the Vital Signs, go to the website www.ubalt.edu/bnia.
To find out about your neighborhood, go to the
Vital Signs section.
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