Definitions:
The number and rate of births to girls age 15-17 per 1,000 females for that age group in a town or county. The rate is calculated by dividing the number females 15-17 years old who gave birth by the total number of all females in that age group in a town or county and multiplying by 1,000. The total number of girls 15 to 17 years old is estimated by applying the 2000 Census proportions to the population estimates from the Connecticut Department of Public Health for those years. Rates for towns in which fewer than five teens give birth are not calculated because of the unreliability of calculations based on small numbers.
Special Note: This indicator is different than the total number of babies born to women under 18 as a percentage of all live births.
The birth rate of 18 and 19 year-old girls is not reported because the number of females in this age group is skewed in towns with colleges. Similarly, births to girls under age 15 have been excluded because there are very few for this group (about 60 per year). The inclusion of females under 15 in the denominator would dramatically lower the rate, giving an underestimate of the risk for teen births to teenagers.
Data Source: Connecticut Department of Public Health, Published data, Table 4 (SFY 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2008); Connecticut Department of Public Health, Estimated Populations in Connecticut as of July 1, 2001, July 1, 2004, July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2008; U.S. Census Bureau 2000, Summary File 1. Table P12.
Footnotes:
LNE = Low Number Event. Percentage for towns in which fewer than five incidents occurred are not calculated because of the unreliability of small numbers.
Note: Maps use the natural break classification method, which reflects patterns
in the data by dividing the map into naturally occurring groups. Using statistical tools, this method
determines cut-off points for each group by identifying large gaps in data values.