A new report say the birth rate for teens in the state has fallen to its lowest point on record.

    The annual Massachusetts birth report released on Monday also showed a slight drop in infant mortality and an increase in the number of new mothers who were breastfeeding. The Department of Public Health statistics are from 2010, the most recent year available.

    According to the report, the teen pregnancy rate was 17.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15-19, a 12 percent drop from the previous year.

    The report says the 2010 infant mortality rate was 4.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 4.9 the previous year.

    A record high 83 percent of new mothers were breastfeeding, a 1 percent increase from 2009.

    Gov. Deval Patrick called the report ``good news for Massachusetts families.''  (Associated Press)

 

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