Teens growing up in conditions of poverty are known to be at the highest risk for early pregnancy.[7] In addition, pregnancy rates differ for young women of different racial and ethnic groups; marked changes in the rates of each group have occurred over the last 40 years. Data from 2004 indicate that Hispanic teens aged 15 to 19 years had the highest birthrates of their age group (82.6 live births per 1000), in contrast to black teens (62.7) and European-American teens (26.8).[8] Two thirds of all births in the age range 15 to 19 years were to 18- to 19-year-old women. Numerically, births to young women under age 15 represented a small proportion of overall births; however, in this age group, black mothers have consistently had the highest rate.[3] Birthrates also varied geographically, with the highest rates of teen pregnancy in Washington, DC (83.5) and Mississippi (72.5) and the lowest rate in New Hampshire (24.0) in 1999.[1] Geographic rates generally reflect the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status of those living in the area.

Early childbearing is associated with educational disadvantages.[7] Girls who become pregnant as teens are educationally behind their peers before the pregnancy, and girls with intellectual disability appear to be at particularly high risk of pregnancy.[9] [10] In addition, the educational aspirations of girls who bear childen appear to be lower than those of their peers; such teens do not regard early pregnancy or parenting as undesirable life options.[11] [12] [13] Other associations with pregnancy in teens include increased rates of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; early initiation of sexual activity; family history of adolescent pregnancy in the mother or in siblings; and adverse childhood experiences such as abuse, exposure to violence, substance abuse, mental illness, criminal household member, or having divorced or separated parents.[14] [15]

Fathers of infants born to teen mothers have the same backgrounds and many of the same characteristics as their partners, although many of the men are older and are legally adults. In most instances, male sexual partners are approximately 3 years older than their female partners, whatever their ages. In some racial and ethnic groups, the age difference between fathers and their teen partners may be greater than average.[16] [17] Each state has its own definition of statutory rape, and some pregnancies clearly fit into this official category, although most teen mothers view their sexual activity as voluntary and consensual. The younger the pregnant teen is, the greater the likelihood will be that the pregnancy is a result of either forced sex or statutory rape.[18] In general, the men who father the infants of teen women are frequently from disadvantaged socioeconomic classes, are often educationally behind their peers, are more likely to have legal difficulties, are more likely to use illegal substances, and are more likely to acquire a sexually transmitted infection than age-matched peers. If they work, these men usually have lower-paying jobs than their age-matched peers.[16] [17] [19] [20] [21] Many of these young men have mothers or sisters who were pregnant as adolescents. These characteristics may not apply to young men whose pregnant partners choose to terminate their pregnancies.