Oklahoma ranks second in teenage birth rate

Oklahoma comes in second place, but not in a positive contest.

The National Center for Health Statistics released a new report showing our state has the second-highest rate of births among 15-to-19 year olds in the country.

The number of teen births in Oklahoma for 2013 was 5,233, which is a decrease of 545 from 2012.

In 2012, the rate of teenage births in the state was 47.3 per 1,000 women and girls.  Oklahoma was second only to New Mexico, which had 47.5.

Despite decreasing numbers, the report shows other states are seeing their numbers decrease faster.

The national average for 2012 was 29.4.