Calling Captain Obvious: Teen Pregnancy highest in abstinence only states

[LynneSin]

States with ‘abstinence-only’ sex ed programs rank highest in teen pregnancies


A study has shown that while the U.S. is currently enjoying a steady decline in the number of teen pregnancies, states with sex ed and health classes that stress “abstinence-only” education rank the highest in the numbers of underage pregnancies, according to a post at Think Progress.

The current rate of teen pregnancies, about 35 per 1,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19, is the lowest on record since the CDC began to track these statistics in 1940. The CDC attributes the improvement to pregnancy prevention efforts and education.

However, 37 states currently mandate that all sex education include information on abstinence, 26 of whom insist that abstinence be taught as the main method of pregnancy prevention. Studies have indicated that abstinence-only programs may end up deterring contraceptive use among teens who do have sex, whereas teenagers who have been taught a comprehensive sex ed curriculum are “60 percent less likely” to become pregnant or get someone else pregnant

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/04/11/states-with-abstinence-only-sex-ed-programs-rank-highest-in-teen-pregnancies/

[Proud Public Servant]

1. That just proves that abstinence-only education works

It's incredibly effective at keeping kids ignorant of contraception, just as it was intended to be.

[LynneSin]

2. Would almost be perfect until they need government assistance to make end meet

Then it's all their fault.

It's almost like the GOP sets people up for failure and then blame them for failing.

[Typical NYC Lib]

8. "They who have put out the eyes of the people reproach them for their blindness."

Can't revall who said that.

[Whiskeytide]

9. Almost???

Almost??? Isn't that Republican 101 at The Heritage Foundation?

[hifiguy]

3. Iam shocked, shocked, I tell you.

Everyone surprised by this fact stand on your head.

[Major Hogwash]

4. Studies like these should primarily focus on underage teen pregnancy rates.

Rather than including all teenaged women in these studies.

Women that turn 18 years old are adults, and should be treated as such.
The same goes for 19-year old women.
I don't think these studies should include the numbers from pregnant adult women.

[belcffub]

6. yeah... I always wanted to see and age breakdown

I assume if they have the data they can break it down by age... seems like it would be more usefull..

[TheMightyFavog]

5. Yeah, and my state just repealed the law requiring comprehensive sex ed curricula...

I hope this recall will be successful!

[GOTV]

7. I wish they included a list of all states ...

... I was going to repost this somewhere but with only three states specifically called out it's easy to doubt for those prone to doubt the obvious.

[RZM]

10. The data points to demography and not education as the main reason for these disparities

The national teen pregnancy rate is 71 per 1000. Broken down by race, the black and hispanic rates are about the same, at 123 and 125, respectively. The white rate is about 1/3 of that, at 43.

Mississippi and New Mexico actually have pretty normal rates by race. Mississippi's white rate is a bit higher than the average (60), while the black and hispanic rates are a bit lower (114 and 116).

New Mexico's white and hispanic rates are almost exactly the same as the national rates (44 and 127). Its black rate is actually significantly lower (79).

So, all things being equal, these states should be around the middle of the pack. Demography is the reason they aren't. Mississippi is about 40 percent black, while New Mexico is 46 percent hispanic. Even though the rates for all groups are about normal in both states, their overall rates are skewed because the minority share of the population in both states is far greater than the national share.

It's the same story at the bottom of the list. While the study I link to doesn't have racial data for New Hampshire, it's a heavily white state. Next door Vermont is actually 49th on the list, even though its white rate (40) is very close to the average and only 4 points lower than New Mexico's. It's near the bottom because the state is almost entirely white.

Minnesota ranks 47th, even though its black and hispanic rates are actually higher than the national average (132 and 139). But its white rate is pretty low (29) and since it's an overwhelmingly white state, it's near the bottom of the list too.

www.guttmacher.org/pubs/USTPtrends.pdf