Indicator 6:	Teenage birth rate
	Trend
	vs. Georgia

What does it measure?

This indicator measures the total number of live births per 1,000 females from ages 15 to 19 in Chatham County.

Why is it important?
Teenage childbearing poses a risk to the mother’s health and reduces the mother's opportunity with respect to building a productive economic work life. Furthermore, their children are more likely to perform poorly at school and to become teenage parents themselves. The measure provides some insight about the potential social well-being, economic opportunity, and educational attainment of these young adults.

How are we doing?
In 2008, the teenage birthrate Chatham County fell below the state rate for the first time since 2000.  However, while the state rate declined to 47.5 in 2009, Chatham’s rate increased to 55.2. This is a substantial increase from 48.4 in the previous year and a return to typical birth rates recorded since 2003. However, in 2010, birth rates in both Georgia and Chatham County hit all-time lows at 41.2 and 40.3, respectively.

TEENAGE BIRTHRATE PER 1,000 15- TO 19-YEAR-OLD FEMALES Source: Georgia Department of Community Health