Pregnancy Rates

Pregnancy rates in the years 2015-2016 have risen slightly when compared to previous years. In 2015 and 2016 there were a total of 42,655 pregnancies in and around the surrounding counties of Cherokee and 329,635 pregnancies in all of Georgia. Even though there was an increase in births, according to CDC studies in 2015, teen births went down in the United States.

CDC Report

Since the year 2007, there has been a decline of pregnancies in the 15-19 age group by 7-9% each year. Between the years 2007-2015 the age group of 20-24 has dropped 27%.

The report from the CDC shares evidence that age of mothers is rising in the United States. The report in January found that the average age when women had their first child increased from 24.9 in 2000 to 26.3 in 2014. Due to the technological advances in birth control such as emergency contraceptives (morning after pill) and long-acting reversible contraceptives (IUD, Implanon), it is easier to for women to delay pregnancy, which is reflected in the CDC’s statistics. The study also shows that women in their 30s-40s are having more babies.

Of the 42,655 pregnancies in Cherokee and in the surrounding counties in 2015-2016, only 14,220 were first-time pregnancies. The other 25,952 were repeat pregnancies. This is a 35% first pregnancy rate versus a 64% repeat pregnancy rate. This is showing that the more experienced and older women are having children. We could guess, due to the study’s findings, that as the education and resources available to young women continue to increase, the teen pregnancy rate will continue to decrease in the coming years.