teen birth rate. The statistics they have gathered from birth certificates state that the number of teens having babies and the amount of babies they are having is on the rise. In 2006, the last recorded data shows that the birth rate increased by 3%.

New York - The government has released new information about the teen birth rate. The statistics they have gathered from birth certificates state that the number of teens having babies and the amount of babies they are having is on the rise. In 2006, the last recorded data shows that the birth rate increased by 3%.
The increase occurred in teens ages fifteen to seventeen and seventeen to nineteen. The demographics for the increase was for whites, hispanics and blacks. The black teen population had the biggest increase.
The areas with the biggest increases were in the south and southwest, with the state of Mississippi having the biggest increase. New Mexico and Texas followed the trend. The lowest increases were in the northeast with New Hampshire having the lowest increase in teen births. The states reporting a decrease in teen births were North Dakota, Rhode Island and New York.
The reasons behind this increase are not totally clear but some of the reasons pinned down are: single or working parents leaving the teens unattended for long periods of time, more sex in the media and more acceptance of children born to unwed mothers. A final reason for the increase in teen births is the decline in the using of contraceptives. This is also very disturbing because it opens up young people to increases in disease.


This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 at 3:26 pm.
Categories: Science.

2 Comments, Comment or Ping

  1. Richard Neva

    I am not surprised one bit. The idea “just don’t do it” is absurd. This is a church stance that has screwed with sex for far too long. No wonder the kids are confused with natural urges. It is like dope was in the 60’s don’t smoke it or heroin will be next. We live in a mad world out of touch with reality. Can’t masturbate, can’t have conjugal sex, can’t have homosexual sex, just disregard it and it will go away, sure. I got bridge for you in Brooklyn I would love to sell to you!

    Jan 7th, 2009

  2. PJW5552

    Can’t help but notice the two leading states are both highly conservative and southern (MS and TX). I wouldn’t be surprised at all to find a link between the conservative Christian Rights views and teen pregnancy. Southern Conservative Christian views have all too frequently been rationalized based on religious dogma. Life is precious so all abortion is murder. We don’t want sex education in schools because it might encourage our kid’s natural temptations toward sex. No contraception for the same reason, just say “no”. It wouldn’t be so bad if those who don’t share their same viewpoints were given a choice. Unfortunately, the goal of the Southern Conservative Christian Right has been to remove the choice for everyone based on their own dogmatic religious views. I’m not surprised states with a strong Conservative Christian Right also have higher rates of teen pregnancy. I would bet Alaska, Oklahoma and South Carolina are not too far behind the MS and TX teen pregnancy rates.

    Jan 7th, 2009

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