State, Valley teen birthrates decline

California has seen a drop in adolescent birthrates, according to a California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announcement on Monday. The Central Valley, however, is still higher than the statewide average.

The new state report indicates a record low of 15.7 births per 1,000 females between the ages of 15 and 19 as of 2016. Those numbers reflected an 11 percent decline compared to 2015, and a 66 percent decline since 2000.

“While we have more work to do, the decline in adolescent births is a sign that our efforts in California are working, said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith.

In Fresno County, the adolescent birth rate for 2016 was 27.5 births per 1,000 adolescent females, down from 29.1 in 2015 and 69.7 in 2000.

In Madera County, the rate for 2016 was 31, compared to 33.9 in 2015 and 70.6 in 2000.

The rate for 2016 in Kings County was 30.1, down from 32.8 in 2015 and 77.7 in 2000.

In Tulare County, the 2016 rate was 32.6, down from 34.4 in 2015 and 78.1 in 2000.

The adolescent birth rate decreased among all racial and ethnic groups between 2015 and 2016.

For 2016, Tulare County had the state’s highest reported adolescent birthrate. San Francisco had the lowest with 6.6 births per 1,000 females.