Teen Pregnancy Up in the U.S.--Surprise!

[3113]

Teenage births have increased in the U.S. for the first time in 14 years, according to numbers released Wednesday by the National Center for Health Statistics. The findings are “remarkable” and “statistically significant,” said Stephanie Ventura, chief of reproductive statistics at the NCHS, a federal agency within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Some people may speculate there's 'prevention fatigue' out there. Perhaps teens aren't paying attention anymore to prevention programs, or have changed their attitude. Maybe prevention programs need to change. But we don't have any statistics about that,” she said....More than half of the states in the nation saw an increase in teen births, meanwhile.

“The number of births to teenagers 15-19 years rose 5 percent to 435,436 in 2006, compared with 414,593 in 2005. This was the largest single-year increase in the number since 1989-1990,” the report said. The teen birthrates were highest among Hispanics females, followed by blacks, American Indians, whites and Asians. Rates increased significantly in the 12-month period in 26 states, “representing nearly every region of the country,” the NCHS found. The birthrates were highest in Mississippi, followed by New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. They were the lowest in New Hampshire.

“It takes a lot for a state rate change to be significant in one year. We saw those changes in 26 states. In the previous year, only Tennessee saw a change,” observed Ms. Ventura. Teen birthrates in 21 states remained unchanged; only three states (New York, North Dakota and Rhode Island) plus the District reported declines in teen births. “Teenage pregnancy and childbearing are ongoing public concerns and the focus of considerable public policy debate. Babies born to teenage mothers are at elevated risk of poor birth outcomes, including higher rates of low birth weight, preterm birth, and death in infancy,” the study said, noting the public costs of teen mothers top $9 billion annually.

Guess that abstenince-only idea didn't work--either that or Juno, Stephanie Meyer's last vampire book, and Bristol Palin there were evidence of a hip new trend among teens.

Rest of the story here. So how did your state do?

 

[glynndah]

I like the sponsored link on that page:

1 flat stomach rule: obey

I cut out 2lbs of body fat per week by obeying this 1 old rule.

One-Flat-Stomach-Rule.com

 

[trysail]

"Three generations of imbeciles are enough."

-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Buck v. Bell, 274 U.S. 200, 207 (1927) (endorsing Virginia's eugenics program).

 

[rgraham666]

Here's something I regard as just as significant.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20090107/capt.57d18ca157e2453bb66afdf11a5b870f.teen_births_fix_gfx135.jpg?x=399&y=345&q=85&sig=yDDouDdc5Yt4hYIEdsBYog--

And how they voted.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/statemapredbluer1024.png

There isn't an exact match. But it's close.

 

[cloudy]

Hey! Not all of us are idiots. Please stop stereotyping.

I think you'd find, if you looked, that women tend to get married at an earlier age here, so that probably accounts for a significant number.

Poverty and access to doctors is another contributor.

I don't think it has a damn thing to do with how someone votes.

Contrary to what seems to be the popular opinion, we have universities here, I haven't seen anyone barefoot outside their home - ever, and most here have their refrigerators inside.

eta: I'm sorry, Rob...I know it's not intentional, but that kind of thing pisses me off no end. I really wish people that talk trash about the south would at least have spent some time here first.

Here's something I regard as just as significant.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20090107/capt.57d18ca157e2453bb66afdf11a5b870f.teen_births_fix_gfx135.jpg?x=399&y=345&q=85&sig=yDDouDdc5Yt4hYIEdsBYog--

 

[voluptuary_manque]

No, Rob, it isn't political. Go back and look at the statistics from a demographic point of view. Teenage birthrates are hightest at the bottom of the economic strata. Also, the highest rate is among Latinas (predominately Mexican origin) who are overwhelmingly Catholic so preaching safe sex to them is a waste of time. The same girls would, in other times, be married at 16 instead of single mothers at 16. The behavior isn't going to change with a new administration, only with a new pope!

 

[rgraham666]

I was just making an observation on voting patterns and the teen pregnancy rate.

I was not putting any one or any area of the U.S. down!

Son of a bitch! I'm getting tired of being smacked every time I voice an opinion.

 

[Katyusha]

I was just making an observation on voting patterns and the teen pregnancy rate.

I was not putting any one or any area of the U.S. down!

Son of a bitch! I'm getting tired of being smacked every time I voice an opinion.

Well...a lot of this country's poorer states are southern states; there's a correlation between poverty and pregnancy at a young age. But I think the main thing actually isn't their poverty levels or their *general* political leanings; it's how easily accessible they are by Latinos; specifically Mexicans, and that's the demographic with the highest rate of teenage pregnancy. So that distribution doesn't really surprise me.

It also wouldn't surprise me if political leanings play a role as well, but if it does I think it's a very small one.

 

[cloudy]

I was just making an observation on voting patterns and the teen pregnancy rate.

I was not putting any one or any area of the U.S. down!

Son of a bitch! I'm getting tired of being smacked every time I voice an opinion.

I could have been more tactful, so I apologize.

In my defense, I can't count the number of times I've seen the south characterized here as a bunch of backwards Republicans. It tends to make one defensive after awhile.

 

[starrkers]

I was just making an observation on voting patterns and the teen pregnancy rate.

I was not putting any one or any area of the U.S. down!

Son of a bitch! I'm getting tired of being smacked every time I voice an opinion.

It's exhausting, isn't it?

And they wonder why there's less people around any more.

 

[snap1415]

Don't look at me. I've been home quietly whacking it.

 

[snar]

So, wait a minute... all of the slutty teenagers are in the Bible belt? What the Hell am I doing in California?! (kidding.... )

 

[Jack_Samuel]

why is this song going through my head just now...

every sperm is scared, every sperm is good
if a sperm is wasted god gets quite irate... bloody monty python

 

[sadangel]

No, Rob, it isn't political. Go back and look at the statistics from a demographic point of view. Teenage birthrates are hightest at the bottom of the economic strata. Also, the highest rate is among Latinas (predominately Mexican origin) who are overwhelmingly Catholic so preaching safe sex to them is a waste of time. The same girls would, in other times, be married at 16 instead of single mothers at 16. The behavior isn't going to change with a new administration, only with a new pope!

VM--I don't really think that Rob was saying that it was a political thing. I think the two graphs were more of a visual that there appears to be perhaps a correlation between different states (the people's voting habits) and teen pregnancy. I just don't think he was saying "See, this is why." I do agree that teenage birthrates ARE higher in the states that the people are poorer in. I used to live in Michigan, in a TINY town. Our county had the second highest rate of domestic violence in the entire state. Our county was also one of the poorest. There WAS a correlation to the two, and I wonder if there isn't some truth to it, in regards to teenage pregnancy. (Our county also had one of the highest rates of teen pregnancies for the state) [I don't know if I could even begin to find the study that had been done, I believe statewide a number of years ago. Someone researched it, and I'll admit; I'm too lazy to go and look it up right now. Maybe some time]

I was just making an observation on voting patterns and the teen pregnancy rate.

I was not putting any one or any area of the U.S. down!

Son of a bitch! I'm getting tired of being smacked every time I voice an opinion.

*gentle hug* Some of us realized you were just making an observation.

Well...a lot of this country's poorer states are southern states; there's a correlation between poverty and pregnancy at a young age. But I think the main thing actually isn't their poverty levels or their *general* political leanings; it's how easily accessible they are by Latinos; specifically Mexicans, and that's the demographic with the highest rate of teenage pregnancy. So that distribution doesn't really surprise me.

It also wouldn't surprise me if political leanings play a role as well, but if it does I think it's a very small one.

Just gonna say, I think political leanings can play a role, but do they? I don't know. It would be an interesting study to do.

It's exhausting, isn't it?

And they wonder why there's less people around any more.

*sigh* Yeah.

 

[MarshAlien]

Guess that abstenince-only idea didn't work--either that or Juno, Stephanie Meyer's last vampire book, and Bristol Palin there were evidence of a hip new trend among teens.

Rest of the story here. So how did your state do?

So the book was Juno and Bristol's mom worked in Juneau? Hmmm.

 

[Vermilion]

So the book was Juno and Bristol's mom worked in Juneau? Hmmm.

I wonder what planet was in ascendance...?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

3113

And you think irresponsible teens who refuse to abstain will use birth control? Something like half the darlings dont graduate high school.

Could be that a lot of the teen pregnancies inthe South are linked to skin color.

 

[sadangel]

3113

And you think irresponsible teens who refuse to abstain will use birth control? Something like half the darlings dont graduate high school.

Could be that a lot of the teen pregnancies inthe South are linked to skin color.

*biting my tongue*That was a very offensive statement.

I am white, but to be honest, most of the unwed girls I see walking around here, down south where I live are WHITE. Not black, not Hispanic, not other races. White.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

But most arent white.

 

[rgraham666]

*biting my tongue*That was a very offensive statement.

I am white, but to be honest, most of the unwed girls I see walking around here, down south where I live are WHITE. Not black, not Hispanic, not other races. White.

Don't pay any attention to Jimmy Bob, angel. He's a bully and gets off when you react to him.

 

[sadangel]

Don't pay any attention to Jimmy Bob, angel. He's a bully and gets off when you react to him.

I won't. I've now added him to ignore. I have no desire to converse with him again. Just had to say something!! It's in my nature!! To at least defend those who aren't here to defend themselves!!

Thank you.


angel

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Tell her, ROB. But those offensive ole factoids just wont go away....like dog turds in the dark.

Besides, my job is to alert readers that its not wise to dive into the shallow end of the pool where the Usual Suspects play. No doubt youve already taught SADANGEL how to slurp water from the commode. Its likely.

 

[JagFarlane]

Hmmmm well truthfully, I think this goes beyond politics and finances, its part of the culture.
For example, my then 15yr old cousin, white, middle class, devout Christian, Democrat, good student, with a family thats still intact and parents that are very caring. She now has a son. Her reason? She loved her boyfriend. Honestly, it happens.
Look at the environment that we are bringing up children in. They turn on the tv and sex is all over the place. Hell, just turn on MTV and they are bombared with sex 24/7. Most teen focused movies revolve around sex. The tv shows they watch, boy crushes on girl, girl crushes on boy, then one night they hookup and sleep together. What is this really telling them? That sex and love go one and one.
They read some romance novels, not all but enough of them, revolve around characters hooking up and sleeping together.
Add on top of that, that even this day, parents are still having a rough time approaching their teens and discussing sex with them. I remember a thread, I think in the Playground, about "The Talk" and the vast majority of people had very bad memories of it. For some reason they're still expected to all be virgins at age 18.
So you have a world that bombards them with the fact that sex is ok, great, and expected combined with parents and schools that push abstinence, sends a mixed message and hurts it even more. Why? The kids hide it, may forgo condoms because they are afraid a parent will find them.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Hmmmm well truthfully, I think this goes beyond politics and finances, its part of the culture.
For example, my then 15yr old cousin, white, middle class, devout Christian, Democrat, good student, with a family thats still intact and parents that are very caring. She now has a son. Her reason? She loved her boyfriend. Honestly, it happens.
Look at the environment that we are bringing up children in. They turn on the tv and sex is all over the place. Hell, just turn on MTV and they are bombared with sex 24/7. Most teen focused movies revolve around sex. The tv shows they watch, boy crushes on girl, girl crushes on boy, then one night they hookup and sleep together. What is this really telling them? That sex and love go one and one.
They read some romance novels, not all but enough of them, revolve around characters hooking up and sleeping together.
Add on top of that, that even this day, parents are still having a rough time approaching their teens and discussing sex with them. I remember a thread, I think in the Playground, about "The Talk" and the vast majority of people had very bad memories of it. For some reason they're still expected to all be virgins at age 18.
So you have a world that bombards them with the fact that sex is ok, great, and expected combined with parents and schools that push abstinence, sends a mixed message and hurts it even more. Why? The kids hide it, may forgo condoms because they are afraid a parent will find them.

But in Europe, with an even more sex-emphasis culture than here, the rate of teen pregnancy is minimal. Teenagers are, I imagine, expected to fall in love, have sex, fall out of love, find someone else . . . but do it with condoms in place! So all of the factors have a place. "Just say 'no'" doesn't work, loving families (who don't talk about sex) have a place, poverty and ignorance have a place . . .


However, I believe that the highest rate of unwed motherhood is found among women who are quite a bit older and who make the choice deliberately. Someone want to research that?

Says sad things about the average guy, I guess.

 

[jeninflorida]

Lol when has abstinence every worked? Geese, freaking fantasyland…how can one preach “don’t do what I did”…we should be teaching our youth not to get preggers or an std (worse yet AIDS)….

..what I’m more interested in is in the past few months what have been the liquor sales? I bet sales of sprits are through the rough (and condoms)..

Guess that abstenince-only idea didn't work--either that or Juno, Stephanie Meyer's last vampire book, and Bristol Palin there were evidence of a hip new trend among teens.

Rest of the story here. So how did your state do?