GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-- The numbers in teens giving birth is at what's being called an historical low. That's according to the Centers for Disease Control.
A recent reportshows more than 277,749 babies born to teen mothers in 2013, compared to 304,004 born 1940.
In West Michigan, the County Health rankings, which are released every year, show teen births also down within a span of the last four years.
The studies measure births out of every 1,000 and teen mothers ages 15 to 19.
Seven counties saw a drop in teen births from 2010 to 2014. The biggest happened in Muskegon, Montcalm and Ionia counties.
Teresa Branson, deputy health officer with the Kent County Health Department, credits a few things to the drop in local numbers.
"What's working in helping in contributing to a decline in teen births are clinic-based programs geared to support teenagers, Abstinence Plus, and comprehensive sex education in schools in the community.”
The health department is also working to prevent repeat births to teens who’s bodies aren’t necessarily ready to carry a child.
"When young girls are getting pregnant and giving birth, there's a higher instance of having pre-term infants and low birth infants." Branson explained.
