Trends in teenage pregnancy in Australia, 1971-1981

Between 1971 and 1981 the age-specific birth rate among Australian teenagers declined by 49%, faster than in any other age group. This is a reflection of several trends--a decline in the total number of pregnancies indicating better use of contraception, a marked decline in marital births as both the planned births and the ex-nuptially conceived births fell, and a rise in the rates of abortion among teenagers. Since nuptial births declined faster than ex-nuptial births the proportion of ex-nuptial births among teenagers rose from 32% to 57%. However, unmarried teenagers have consistently shown lower rates of ex-nuptial births than other age groups. The options available to young women faced with unplanned pregnancy appear to be changing in emphasis--abortion or single parenthood rather than adoption or forced marriage. The decline may have halted since 1980 and several social factors which may be contributing to the various trends are discussed.