Before the year comes to an end, here is some good news. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the birth rate of teens and unmarried women have reached a "historic low."
According to Yahoo! Health, the agency released the data collected in 2014 and found that the teen birth rate has significantly declined in 2014. The birth rate of teens aged 15 to 19 years old is down 9 percent (compared to the record from 2013) or just 24.2 births for every 1,000 women.
This new data corresponds with the teen pregnancy rate that has been continuously declining for the past two decades. The Blaze reported that, since 1991, the birth rate of women within the ages of 15 up to 19 years old has declined 61 percent in total.
The CDC also revealed that birth rate for unmarried women (20 years old and above) has also dropped to 40.2 percent in 2014. This is the sixth consecutive year that a decline in this category was recorded.
Time explained that this downward trend in teen pregnancy and birth rate might be due to the fact that more birth control options are available to young people engaging in sexual activities. Further data confirmed that use of birth control pills among teenagers has risen in the past year.
The negative attitude of the public towards unplanned pregnancy might also be playing a pivotal role in the recent decline of birth rates. Jennifer Wider, MD, a health expert, told Yahoo! Health that TV shows and ad campaigns that highlight the difficulties of becoming a young mother might be causing this downward trend.
Birth rates for women in their late 20's, 30's, and 40's have risen in 2014. A research by Guttmacher, meanwhile, suggests that the "new normal" nowadays is all about women setting aside marriage and childbearing for a later date in order to pursue and thrive in professional careers.
