Spatial Analysis of Teen Births in North Central Texas

The United States has the highest teen birth rate among western industrialized countries and the highest levels of pregnancy among adolescents (Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1994). While the rate of teen births is high throughout the country, considerable variations exist between and within regions. Texas is one of the 5 leading states with the highest teen birth rates to mothers less than 18 years of age. This research provides a detailed analysis of births to mothers aged between 10 and 19 years in North Central Texas counties. Due to the modifiable area unit problem and to provide a finer geographical scale of analysis, teen births in Dallas County zip codes were examined as a special case study. Statistical and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis reveal that race/ethnicity, education and income are significant factors in teen births in the region. Single parent households and receipt of public assistance were not statistically significant. Suggestions for reducing vulnerability to teen births are presented.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2001

Author dc:creator

• Donkor, Faustina Fosua

Contributors dc:contributor

• Oppong, Joseph R.
• Atkinson, Samuel F.
• Schoolmaster, Andrew
• Urrutia-Rojas, Ximena
• Ferring, C. Reid

• Teenage mothers -- Texas -- Statistics.
• Childbirth -- Texas -- Statistics.
• teen births
• Dallas County
• United States
• spatial analysis

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Donkor, Faustina Fosua
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 51978011
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3056/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc3056

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc3056