NM ranks 49th in teen birth rate

KOAT - According to a new Center for Disease Control national report, New Mexico has its lowest teen birth rate since record-keeping started in 1940. While officials said it may be good news, New Mexico still ranks second in the nation in teen pregnancies. "I feel the results the CDC put out is great news for New Mexico. We're headed in the right direction," said Dr. Catherine Torres, New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). Teen birth rates have decreased across the nation, and NMDOH said prevention programs, such as the New Mexico Teen Pregnancy Coalition (NMTPC), are paying off. But more needs to be done. "We actually train the parents. 'This is how to talk to your child about sex.' (We teach) them how to get an open line of communication," said Vanessa Deanda, of NMTPC. Deanda, who was a teen mom herself, said she now has a 15-year-old daughter. "We have a very open relationship, and she talks to me about how she is feeling about a particular boy," Deanda said. NMDOH said one group it is also targeting heavily is Hispanics, because they have the highest birth rates and a slower rate of decline than any other ethnicity in New Mexico. Read More News New Mexico

NM ranks 49th in teen birth rate