Births by Wisconsin teenagers drop, following national trend

MADISON — Births by Wisconsin teenagers are dropping, following a national trend.

The latest figures from state health officials show the birth rate to mothers ages 15-19 has dropped dramatically.

The rate of teen births in Wisconsin was 15 per 1,000 women ages 15 to 19 in 2016, according to an annual report by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The rate was nearly 31 per 1,000 Wisconsin teens in 2008.

But Wisconsin Public Radio reports the decline was not across the board. Births to Hispanic teenage mothers in Wisconsin rose to 33 per 1,000

The state report did not include births to very young mothers. But a previous study showed a decline in births to girls age 10-14.

The report also showed a slight increase in infant mortality in Wisconsin.