Annotated Bibliography
Compiled by Jessica Montás & Erica Moreno
Introduction
The United States continues to have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates among industrialized nations and Latinos are leading the pack with the highest rate of all ethnic groups. For the most part, the Latina teen pregnancy and birth rate has declined over the past decade. Nevertheless, it is still the case that 51% of Latinas get pregnant at least once before the age of 20; compared to the national average of 35% (Vexler & Sullentrop, 2006). The reasons why Latinas are getting pregnant at a higher rate then their non-Latino peers are both complicated and numerous. Population growth estimates show that by the year 2020, one in five teens in the U.S. will be Latino; indicating that it is imperative that this country plan effective and well-funded pregnancy prevention programs that target Latinos (Perushek, n.d.). Uncovering why Latinas are getting pregnant at a higher rate is essential to understanding exactly how to go about mitigating this crisis.
