Free Contraceptives Reduce Teen Pregnancy, which is an Indicator of Children’s Health

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Colorado (21% Latino) began providing free long-lasting reversible contraceptives in 2009 for teens and low-income women.  By 2013, rates in unplanned pregnancy and teen pregnancy plummeted.

Economist Isabel Sawhill said, “If we want to reduce poverty, one of the simplest, fastest and cheapest things we could do would be to make sure that as few people as possible become parents before they actually want to.”

Teen pregnancy is associated with childhood obesity because teen mothers are less likely to finish high school or go to college and more likely to be poor and have worse health outcomes.  Additionally, kids born to teen mothers are less likely to go to college and more likely to be poor and have worse health outcomes.

Teen parents are more likely to become obese and remain obese later in life.  Research suggests that obese parents pass their habits to their children.

Breastfeeding is thought to prevent overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes; however, teen mothers are less likely to breastfeed than older mothers.

Unfortunately, the Colorado legislature rejected continued funding for this program.  Although, private funding will extend the program through the next legislative session.

Click here to read more about the program to provide long-lasting reversible contraceptives.