Preventing Teen Pregnancy
It is important to talk with your teenager about birth control and STD
protection. This month is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. Some
activities to prevent teenage pregnancy include surveillance, behavioral
research, and demonstration projects:
- The United States has the highest teenage pregnancy rate of all developed
countries.
- About 1 million teenagers become pregnant each year; 95% of those
pregnancies are unintended, and almost one third end in abortions.
- Public costs from teenage childbearing totaled $120 billion from 1985-1990;
$48 billion could have been saved if each birth had been postponed until the
mother was at least 20 years old.
- Birth rates during 1991-1996 declined for teenagers in all racial and
ethnic groups.
- Birth rates among teenagers vary substantially from state to state; some
states have rates almost three times higher than those of the states with
the lowest rates.
- 13 community partnerships in 11 states are implementing comprehensive,
integrated youth programs to prevent teenage pregnancies and related
problems.
- 8 nongovernmental organizations are supported to assist states to develop
and implement strategies to prevent pregnancy among teenagers.
For more information, please visit the following Centers:
Portions of the above information was provided with the kind permission of
the Centers For Disease Control.
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2002
