Posted on 01/02/2011 6:25:46 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Despite record decreases in the rate of U.S. teens who have unplanned pregnancies, America still leads in the number of teen births compared to most Western European countries, according to census data.
U.S. figures collected in 2009 and released in December show that there was an average of 39 births per 1,000 girls, ages 15 to 19, 15 more than the European averages.
Europe averages reveal a 24 per 1,000 birth rate among mid to late adolescent girls. In secular France, the rate is 7 per 1,000. Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands all have birth rates below 10 per 1,000 girls.
Demographer Carl Haub told The Associated Press, "There may be more sex there than here" among teenagers. But the difference in the numbers, experts contend, is the U. S. youths’ inadequate access to pregnancy planning tools such as abortion.
In Sweden, where the rate of teen pregnancy is a 4 per 1,000, adolescents may lawfully obtain an abortion without parental consent. Thirty-five U.S. states have parental notification laws, requiring abortion providers to notify a minor’s parents prior to performing an abortion.
According to 2007 UN data, however, the United States has nearly the same abortion rate as Sweden, 20 per 1,000. Yet America has more than double the rate of teen pregnancies. America also has a higher rate of abortions than the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom.
Researchers also contend that American youths do not have adequate access to birth control and contraceptives.
Despite the United States’ leading number of teen pregnancies, the 2009 rate is the lowest on record in 70 years. States like Georgia are showing similar declines in the number of teen pregnancies within its high risk populations.
Deputy Southwest District Health Director Brenda Greene attributes local and national declines to an emphasis on teen involvement in non-sexual activities.
"The fact that we're focusing on teenagers and keeping them involved in other activities such as after-school programs, keeping them in school, career opportunities – more kids are having the opportunity to go to college – so I think they're focused on more things that are keeping them active,” shared Greene.
Some abstinence programs take a similar approach highlighting the positives academic achievement and community involvement over sex. The National Abstinence Education Association says their program is working and that teens want to learn more about abstinence.
“Teens are able to make good decisions, even in the midst of a sex saturated culture,” said NAEA executive director Valerie Huber, in a statement about teen pregnancy decreases.
Huber contends that abstinence programs must be empowered to provide teens with the tools to keep making good, healthy decisions.
What is the total of abortion, 100,000,000? No wonder.
Would be interesting to see this separated by race.
This statement alone should toss the results of this entire study into doubt. Have these researchers not set foot into most public schools in this country? Condoms are passed out like candy just about.
The reason for teenage pregnancy is cultural- not access to birth control. In Europe, family sizes are small giving the lack of affordable housing, tax and cost of living. People do no even consider families until their thirties. In the US, teenage pregnancy has become acceptable and sought out by many teens. Just watch any episode of 16 and pregnant.
My thoughts exactly.
Yes, our rural poor are driving this epidemic - 60 miles away from the nearest Walmart or pharmacy, and condoms costing about twenty dollars per act. No access at all, poor children.
Exactly. This is most likely not about access to birth control, but about differences in behavior among demographic groups.
It would be meaningful to compare the rate of Asian-Americans with that of other Asian populations, or the rate among white Americana to the white population in European countries. These aggregate rates tell us very little. But are useful for demagoguery, which is what social science is mostly about these days.
I always like to point out on these threads that the statistics include married teens, such as 18 and 19 year old wives. Which is hardly a disaster.
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