California: Teen Birth Rate Continued to Decline, but "Work Remains to Be Done"

A state health report released Monday showed declines in the number of teen births and AIDS cases in California. "While this report shows that there has definitely been improvement, it also shows that work remains to be done," said a statement by Dr. Richard Jackson, state public health officer.

Results were mixed for Los Angeles County: It ranked second-to-last in the number of AIDS and syphilis cases, but fifth in the number of deaths from injuries and lung cancer. Most of the reported syphilis cases were among gay and bisexual men, many of whom were also HIV-positive.

"These findings are consistent with other studies that have documented a recent resurgence in risky sexual behaviors among some groups of gay and bisexual men," Los Angeles County Director of Public Health Dr. Jonathan Fielding said in a statement.

Births to females ages 15-19, which have been in a steady decline since 1996, continued to drop. From 2001 to 2003, the rate was 41.1 births per 1,000 females, the Department of Health Services reported. From 1998 to 2000, it was 48.6 births per 1,000 females.

AIDS diagnoses among persons 13 and older fell to 14.7 cases per 100,000 people from 2001 to 2003, down from 17.8 cases per 100,000 from 1998 to 2000.

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