Adolescent Pregnancy and Childbearing: Levels and Trends in Developed Countries

About 20 years have elapsed since those studies were done. During this period, many changes that might influence teen-age reproductive behavior and how it is viewed have taken place within the in-dustrialized world. The proportion of births to unmarried women has risen,2 and nonmarital childbearing is more accept-able, both among adolescents and among women older than 20. Access to contra-ception and abortion in developed coun-tries has improved, despite setbacks in some countries.3 Additionally, attention to sexuality education (from both conserva-tive and liberal perspectives) has in-creased.4 The radical transformations in the political structures of the countries of east-ern Europe have affected their economies and their youths ’ prospects and repro-ductive behaviors, as well as their health care systems.5 Significant changes have also occurred in the systems of health care cov-erage in other developed countries.6 Susheela Singh is director of research and Jacqueline E. Darroch is senior vice president and vice president fo