| Rates of teenage pregnancy in Canada are some of | | | | as many this time, 45%, ended in abortion. Indeed, in |
| the highest in the developed world, though the | | | | 1994, Canada saw the highest annual number of |
| numbers are below those of the United States and | | | | teenage abortions in the previous two decades with |
| the United Kingdom. In 1994, approximately 47,800 | | | | 21,000 teenagers choosing this option to end their |
| pregnancies were recorded for adolescents who | | | | pregnancy. Teenagers actually represented 20% of |
| were between 15 and 19 years old. Of this number, | | | | the total number of abortions performed in 1994, and |
| roughly 21,000 women chose abortion, about 2,000 | | | | represented just 6% of all live births. In 2003, the |
| had a stillbirth or miscarriage that required | | | | number of adolescent pregnancies ending in abortion |
| hospitalization, and 24,700 carried the pregnancy to | | | | rose to 50%. |
| term. The incidence of pregnancy in Canada in 1994 | | | | Rates of teenage pregnancy in Canada vary by |
| was lower than it was two decades earlier, but since | | | | province and territory. In 1994, the Northwest |
| 1987 it experienced an increase. | | | | Territories had the highest pregnancy rate among |
| Since 1994, however, teenage pregnancy in Canada | | | | adolescents with 137 per 1,000 women who were |
| has been decreasing. In 2003, 33,553 pregnancies | | | | between 15 and 19. Next came Yukon, with 88 |
| were reported for women who were younger than | | | | pregnancies per 1,000; rates among the provinces |
| 20, and this included live births, abortions, and | | | | varied from just over 60 per 1,000 in Manitoba and |
| stillbirths/miscarriages. The rate of teenage pregnancy | | | | Saskatchewan to just over 30 in Newfoundland, |
| in Canada, which comes out to about 27.1 per 1000, | | | | Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. Quebecs teenage |
| is highest among adolescents between the ages of | | | | pregnancy rate remains the lowest in the country. |
| 18 and 19; many of the pregnancies within this group, | | | | In order to curb the rate of teenage pregnancy in |
| however, are planned. The pregnancy rate in | | | | Canada, the country is looking to the Netherlands, |
| teenagers ranging from 15 to 17 is lower and the | | | | which has one of the lowest teenage pregnancy |
| rate among girls younger than 15 is even lower. | | | | rates, for suggestions. Based on observations, it |
| Equally important, there has also been a change in | | | | seems that sex education, open discussion of human |
| the resolutions of teenage pregnancies. In 1974, 66% | | | | sexuality in the mass media, easier access to |
| of adolescent pregnancies ended in a live birth, 26% | | | | contraceptives, education programs, and active |
| in abortion, and 8% in a stillbirth/miscarriage. In 1994, | | | | participation of parents and teenagers in such |
| on the other hand, the majority, 51%, of pregnancies | | | | programs are all strategies that could prove useful to |
| among teenagers still ended in live birth, but almost | | | | keeping the rate of adolescent pregnancy down. |