Health

Teen Birthrate In USVI Sees 24 Percent Drop Between 2010-2015

Teenage birthrate in the U.S. Virgin Islands dropped by an impressive 24 percent from 2010 to 2015, according to data from the 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book, produced by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and based on information gathered from local agencies. The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, which publishes an annual data book with detailed local data called "Virgin Islands in the Data Book",  will release a full report later this year. The drop in teen birth rate in the territory is significant because of the consequences associated with teenage pregnancy, which ultimately winds up costing taxpayers millions of dollars. Some consequences of teenage pregnancy include the following: Teenage births are associated with lower annual income for the mother. Eighty percent of teen mothers must rely on welfare at some point. Teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school. Only about one-third of teen mothers obtain a high school diploma. Teenage pregnancies are associated...