Births rising among young Utahns, especially Hispanics

Births among Utah's young Hispanics rose significantly in 2006.

The state Health Department says 105 of every 1,000 young Hispanic females gave birth that year. That's up from 100 per every 1,000 in 2005. The mothers were ages 15 to 19.

Utah's adolescent health coordinator, Jennifer Mayfield, says it's a "huge" increase.

The state's overall teen-birth rate rose in 2006 for the first time in 10 years. Thirty-one of every 1,000 young females gave birth, up from 29 in 2005.

Utah's rate is below the national figure for young moms, which is 42 per 1,000.