(Community Matters) the good news, the teen birth rate declined nationally. “the lowest reported since record-keeping began in the 1940s. . . rates also fell across all teenage ethnic groups the report says.” Less good news, Texas is no. 4, though I believe I’m reading that all states but Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia.
1. Mississippi 55
2. New Mexico 52.9
3. Arkansas 52.5
4. Texas 52.2
5. Oklahoma 50.4
6. Louisiana 47.7
7. Kentucky 46.2
8. West Virginia 44.8
9. Alabama 43.6
10. Tennessee 43.2
“The authors of today’s report attribute the declines to strong pregnancy prevention messages aimed at teens. They also point to data from the National Survey of Family Growth (conducted by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics) which shows increased use of contraception at first initiation of sex and the use of dual contraceptive methods (i.e., condoms and pill) among sexually active female and male teenagers.”
Community Matters 