Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mortality Rate of Infants Born to Teen Mothers: United States, 2017-2018.

When compared with births among women aged 20 and over, teen pregnancies result in higher rates of neonatal and infant mortality, preterm birth, low birthweight, and maternal complications (1,2). Despite the declining birth rate for teenagers aged 15-19 since 1991, differences continue to occur in the mortality of infants born to teenagers by race and ethnicity and cause of death (1,3). This report examines 2017-2018 linked birth/infant death data from the National Vital Statistics System to describe the recent pattern in racial and ethnic differences in mortality and the leading causes of death for infants born to teen mothers aged 15-19.