Teenage pregnancy is strongly associated with family poverty and reliance on child welfare systems.  Children born of teenage mothers are significantly more likely to experience compromised health and well-being, including low education, low workforce readiness, and continued poverty. 

National data indicate that teen pregnancy rates have decreased substantially over the last decade in South Carolina and across the country.  In South Carolina, rates decreased by 14% between 1997 and 2007 overall; however, while rates between 1997 and 2003 decreased 22%, rates actually increased 10% between 2004 and 2007.  The table below demonstrates that in Spartanburg County, the 2007 pregnancy rate among 15 to 17 year olds was the lowest it had been in ten years; however, the pregnancy rate for 18 and 19 year olds was almost the highest it had been in the same time period.  Rates of teen pregnancy continue to be significantly higher among African Americans than among whites.

* Includes African American pregnancies and a small number of pregnancies occurring among other minorities.

The teen pregnancy rate for Spartanburg County in 2007 was 37.7 (per 1,000 females).  This exceeded the state teen pregnancy rate of 36.5, Charleston County’s teen pregnancy rate of 33.7, Greenville County’s teen pregnancy rate of 34.7, and Richland County’s teen pregnancy rate of 30.1. Taken alone, the 2007 data indicate that Spartanburg County has a higher teen pregnancy rate than peer counties and the state rate by age group for all three age groups.

*Counties are ranked in descending order by the rate of 10-19 year old pregnancies.  Rankings are based on rates before rounding

The number of teen pregnancies increased in Spartanburg County by 11% between 2004 and 2007.  Greenville County, Richland County and the state had higher numbers of teen pregnancies for the same time period, while numbers of teen pregnancies in Charleston County actually decreased.

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