Teen birth rate rises for the first time since the early 90s.

[wordsmythe]

Nice to know the $176 million you spent on abstinence programs was a good idea.

Winston-Salem Journal | Nation's teenage birth rate goes up for first time in 15 years


Nation's teenage birth rate goes up for first time in 15 years


THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


ATLANTA
The nation’s teenage birth rate rose for the first time in 15 years, surprising government health officials who had no immediate explanation.

The birth rate had been dropping since its peak in 1991, although the decline had slowed in recent years. Yesterday, government statisticians said that it rose 3 percent from 2005 to 2006.

U.S. health officials said that it was possibly a one-year statistical blip and not the beginning of an upward trend.

But several experts said that they have been expecting an increase. They attribute the rise to increased federal financing for abstinence-only health-education programs that do not teach teenagers how to use contraceptives.

Some key sexually transmitted disease rates have also been rising, including syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. The rising teenage pregnancy rate is part of the same phenomenon, said Dr. Carol Hogue, a professor of maternal and child health at Emory University
“It’s not rocket science,” she said.

The new report is based on a review of more than 99 percent of the birth certificates from last year by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A final report will be released next year, but the findings are not expected to change much, CDC officials said.

The new teenage birth numbers are based on the 15 to 19 age group, which accounted for about 99 percent of the more than 440,000 births to teenagers in 2006.

The rate rose to nearly 42 births per 1,000 women in that age group, up from 40.5 in 2005. That translates to an extra 20,000 births to teenage mothers in 2006, according to CDC data.

The CDC also reported that births to unwed mothers reached a record high in 2006, but that is part of a continuing upward trend and was expected.

Health officials cautioned that the rise in teenage births is not the chief cause of births to unwed mothers, however. Teenagers account for fewer than a quarter of unwed mothers, said Stephanie Ventura, the head of the CDC’s Reproductive Statistics Branch.

About 30 years ago, more than half of unwed mothers were teenagers.
Women in their 20s and 30s now represent the largest proportion of unwed mothers, Ventura said.

[Army_of_One]

Spending money on the abstinence program is a good idea but doesn't guarantee the birth rate will decline. One COULD speculate that had we had not have had the abstinence program the teen birth rate may have risen by 20%. The abstinence program is a small offset to what they are teaching in schools (handing out condoms/bc pills etc), the media (MTV, Movies, video games) and the lack of parental influence.

[lurker]

beanie babies?

[wordsmythe]

I can see how that would work for some people.

But if things are going steadily, and then you chance something, then the numbers change - well I can see how you'd look elsewhere for an answer.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by wordsmythe

I can see how that would work for some people.

But if things are going steadily, and then you chance something, then the numbers change - well I can see how you'd look elsewhere for an answer.

It's like fighting the war on drugs. We spend billions and billions and the amount of drugs keeps going up. If there is a spike or a change in the trend I am sure you look for the source but we can't immediately say the program is not working. If there is a reversal of the trend then they need to find out why and maybe refocus their efforts in a different direction.

[wordsmythe]

The war on drugs... that's your fall back example?

The war on drugs - the one that's been going on since the 80's and still has no significant improvement?

The war on drugs - the one that has made it possible for people to create synthetic drugs that are more harmfull than anything that was around in the 60's and has caused more harm than good?

That war on drugs?

Look.

Kids ****. They always have and always will.

They also rebel against what older people tell them. So telling them NOT to do it makes them want to do it. Then if they don't know how to protect themseves because all they've ever been told is DON'T they pay the price.

[TexKan]

I think it's lack of parenting skill - nothing more - most kids consider themselves grown at age 12 - parents let them act grown - why is the increase in birth rates such a surprise?

[K C Muffin]

I think of my generation as the "me" generation. We got in touch with our "feelings" as flower children and hippies and now we're just plain old too tired to give a rat's ass about what kids do. We remember what our parents tried to instill in us (responsibility) and a lot of us have failed to pass that on - because it might "hurt their little feelings". I see it from hubby all the time. He doesn't want to make his son wise up because it won't make him feel good. I'm thinkin'.....how does "grandpa" sound when the kid's 16? I was lucky enough to raise my kids in a small town during a time when values were still held near and dear and where I left off, the school and the other parents took over. I sure wouldn't want to be a parent now. I feel for all'a'ya'all.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by TexKan

I- why is the increase in birth rates such a surprise?

It's a surprise because it's been in decline since 1991 and for it to jump suddenly is...well surprising. It could be just a blip or the start of a new trend. Despite what people think of "kids these days" and all of the negative influencer's (liberal teachers/mtv etc) kids are actually making smarter choices overall. They are the millennial generation. They are more informed, more wired and more prepared for success. We have to know this stuff because that is the market we recruit.

Generations at Work: Managing Millenials

*The REALITY is that in the last two decades, the volume of serious teen violent crime declined dramatically.

*Teen pregnancy is falling at the fastest rate ever recorded. (With the exception of this year...that's why it's a surprise Tex)

*According to Mike Males, author of Framing Youth (Common Courage Press, 1999), “every reliable measure shows that compared to adults, modern adolescents use milder drugs. Teens take drugs in lower quantities. Teens use drugs less frequently. Teens use drugs in less risky settings. Teens are less likely to mix drugs with each other and with alcohol. Teens are particularly unlikely to drive after using alcohol or drugs.

Kids have more information now days and can make informed choices. How many of you guys on here had parents talk to them about sex/drugs and the negative aspects of doing those things early in life or at all. Kids here that today from the time they are small until forever.

[TexKan]

I'm just speaking from a "mom" point of view. It only has experience to quote - sorry!

Those are interesting points tho AOO - my feeling is that even though you may feel and quote children are more informed and less sexually active (up till now) I submit that perhaps there is a large group of kids that just shot into puberty and was so smart (and not fully raised) that they decided to put on thier knowledge hat and go to the prom.

Hell In my eyes they are all possible parents.......... what's the surprise with that???? Oh never mind - you aren't to that stage yet - you will get there - give it time.