Adolescent nutrition and preconception during pregnancy

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) estimates that 900,000 pregnancies occur each year amongwomen aged 15-19 and that most (85%) of these pregnancies are unintended, with many ending in abortion (1,2). The personal and public financial impact of adolescent (teen) pregnancies in the United States is estimated in the billions of dollars annually (3). Teen pregnancy rates have declined steadily over the past decade, with the largest declines (by race) in African Americans (37%), non-Hispanic whites (7%), Asians (5%), and Hispanics (2%) (4). The DHHS (2) reported that from 1991 to 2001, the birth rate for the 15-to 19-year-old population declined from a 62.1 to 45.9 per 1000. Although all 50 states reported declining teenage birth rates, there was considerable variability among the states, ranging from 50% in Vermont to 6% in Georgia.