QuickStats: Percentage* of Preterm Births† Among Teens Aged 15–19 Years, by Race/Ethnicity — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2007–2014§

Weekly / August 5, 2016 / 65(30);790

The figure above is a line chart showing that during 2007–2014, the percentage of births among teens aged 15–19 years that were preterm declined for each racial/ethnic group, except for non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander teens, where the change was not significant. In 2014, the percentage of births that were preterm was higher among non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander teens (10.6% for both) than non-Hispanic white (8.6%), non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (8.2%), and Hispanic (7.9%) teens.

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* Percentages are calculated for singleton births only.

† Births occurring <37 weeks gestation are considered preterm. Preterm births are based on the obstetric estimate of gestational age.

§ The obstetric estimate of gestational age became available for national estimates in 2007.

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During 2007–2014, the percentage of births among teens aged 15–19 years that were preterm declined for each racial/ethnic group, except for non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander teens, where the change was not significant. In 2014, the percentage of births that were preterm was higher among non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander teens (10.6% for both) than non-Hispanic white (8.6%), non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (8.2%), and Hispanic (7.9%) teens.

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Source: National Vital Statistics System Birth Data. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/births.htm.

Reported by: Ashley M. Woodall, MPH, AWoodall@cdc.gov, 301-458-4748; Catherine Duran.

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Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Percentage of Preterm Births Among Teens Aged 15–19 Years, by Race/Ethnicity — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2007–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:790. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6530a7 .