Teen births hit an all-time low in 2009. Thats according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the report, teen births in the U.S. dropped 37 percent over the past twenty years. The report also shows that fewer teens are having sex -- and those who are having sex are using one or more methods of birth control. The number of students using two or more methods of birth control nearly doubled from 1991 to 2009. Though we have made progress in reducing teen pregnancy over the past 20 years, still far too many teens are having babies, said CDC director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden. According to the CDCs report, approximately 410,000 teen girls gave birth in 2009. The CDC also shows a link between teen births and socioeconomic factors. For example, Black and Hispanic teen girls are 2 to 3 times more likely to give birth than White teen girls. Additionally, girls of teen parents are nearly 33 percent more likely to become teen parents themselves. The CDC report emphasizes the importance of sex education in reducing the number of teen births. Between 2006 and 2008, 65 percent of teen girls and 53 percent of teen boys learned about birth control and abstinence in formal sex education classes. Sex education curricula varies widely by state, however.
Dr. Amy Thompson, University of Cincinnatis assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology with a specialization in teen pregnancy, said school systems in the Northeast and upper Midwest, based on teen birth rates, may have more effective sex education programs than schools in the South.Thompson said school systems in the South should consider implementing the successful strategies currently in place in other school systems but also notes the importance of getting teens to understand the costs of teen births. According to the CDC, teen births in 2009 cost U.S. taxpayers about $9 billion.But financial stress isnt the only cost. Teen pregnancy is associated with poor high school performance or dropout and decreased earnings later on in life, Thompson said in a statement.According to the CDCs report, half of teen mothers earn a high school diploma by age 22, compared to 90 percent of teens without children.
CONTRIBUTE TO THIS STORY
