A new study has raised concerns for Kentucky families, as the state continues to rank among the highest in the nation for teen birth rates. Despite a national trend showing the U.S. teen birth rate at a record low, Kentucky is significantly above the national average. There is much work to be done.

Concerning Teen Pregnancy Trends in Kentucky

Birth injury lawyers at Birth Injury Lawyers Group released the Top 10 states with the highest teen pregnancy birth rates in the United States. Kentucky is 4th with the highest rate of women giving birth between the ages of 15 and 19, with 21.8 births per 1,000 women. The state recorded 16.9 births per 1,000 women aged 35 to 49, the fifth lowest rate in the US. This data proves that action is necessary for communities, policymakers, and educators to work together to address the issue of teen pregnancy. We’re all in this together to protect the most vulnerable.

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Takes Action

According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, they’re working to reduce teen pregnancy through curricula promoting abstinence and sexual risk reduction, media campaigns, and grants supporting local health departments in 63 counties with the greatest need. Those efforts will provide teens with the knowledge, resources, and support necessary to make informed decisions about their sexual health, ultimately helping to lower teen birth rates.