Texas leads U.S. in teen birth rate

[varun]

Source: USA Today

HOUSTON (AP) — Texas had the nation's highest birth rate among teenagers ages 15 to 19 in 2004, according to a newly released study of children's health. The Kids Count study, which is updated annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore, said the Texas rate of 63 births per 1,000 teens remained the same from 2003 to 2004.
Texas tied New Mexico and Mississippi for the top spot in 2003, but both of those states saw their rates decline in 2004. The average rate nationally was 41 births per 1,000 teens in 2004...

...Observers were divided on whether Texas' emphasis on abstinence in sex education contributes to the state's relatively high numbers. A 1995 law requires school districts to emphasize abstinence in sex education classes.

"It's a touchy subject," said Robert Sanborn, president of Children at Risk. "We can preach abstinence quite a bit, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't affect some kids, and apparently it's really not working in Texas."...



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-07-25-teen-births_N.htm?csp=34

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Abstinence only education does not work...

[Solly Mack]

1. Remember the Condom!

[tech3149]

2. If something doesn't work and you don't try to find an alternative

that's just plain stupid and you can't fix stupid.

[Doctor_J]

3. Abstience only - another great idea from the great state of Texas

I wish those "Republic of Texas" loons would get their way and form their own country.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. Teenagers are going to copulate

Just like the majority of their mothers and fathers did when they were teenagers. Why do these parents think that their child will be different, somehow better, than they themselves were?

[Jane Austin]

5. And is last in children covered by health insurance,

according to an article I saw in the Ststesman yesterday.

Texas, our Texas,
All Hail the Mighty State.

Texas, our Texas,
So Wonderful so Great.

Etc, etc.

Or so we learned in grade school.

Maybe it's time for a new state song.

[meow2u3]

6. The Forbidden Fruit theory at work

If you tell teens not to do something (have sex, do drugs, drink, stay out past midnight), especially while talking down to them, they will defy you and do what you tell them not to do because of the blanket prohibition imposed.

On the other hand, if you merely point out the possible (or should I say, probable) consequences of risky behaviors such as teen sex, drugs, booze, etc., and let the kid make an informed decison, chances are they are less likely to do what we don't want them to do.

[Felinity]

7. Ho hum.

Wake me up if something surprising happens.

(Signed) Jaded in Austin

[Ilsa]

8. Texas is a big anti-abortion state because there are so many

religious backers of anti-choice here. Teens just go ahead, get preggers, and have the babies. The docs are quite busy delivering them, for reduced rates, of course, and same for the hospitals. Which means the new mom and baby will barely get what they need.

Yes, abortion is still legal here, but I suspect one has to go to larger cities for one unless they have enough money for a "D&C" at the hospital.

[girl gone mad]

9. I'm sure this will be an excuse for more Texas bashing.

No doubt the high number of immigrants in the state is a contributing factor.

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. Naw, not bashing Texas.

Just bashing the numbskulls that run it.

[hvn_nbr_2]

11. Do immigrants have higher rates of teen pregnancy?

I don't know, but I think I'll keep a bag of :popcorn: handy.

[girl gone mad]

16. Well, according to the study..

the OP is referring to, hispanic teens are 3 times as likely as anglos to have a baby. The abortion rate is also slightly lower among hispanics, possibly due to their Catholicism, but also perhaps it's an issue of limited access.

[defendandprotect]

20. Catholics get abortions at the same rate as anyone else --

so, I'd guess the problem is access --

[onewholaughsatfools]

15. well facts don't lie

i say the reason is, because there are too many baptist churches in texas

[mitchtv]

18. I'll bet there's more immigrants in Calif

[silverlib]

12. More More Texans saying "Thank God for Mississippi"

Now the people in Mississippi can "Thank God for Texas."

[BearSquirrel2]

13. Not working in TEXAS ...

It doesn't work anywhere. Society has been telling kids to keep it in their pants since recorded history. Hormones act up, girls get pregnant and then there are the shotgun weddings.

When teens use contraception it stops the pregnancy rate. It also reduces the rate of STD infection. All of these increase the amount of choices these teens have later in life. What part of this would be desirable to a foam at the mouth conservative?

[onewholaughsatfools]

14. seems the kids in texas got their jiggie going on.

now to teach them how to use raincoats during sex

[BlooInBloo]

17. Texas is no worse than the north. Texans tell me so.

[defendandprotect]

19. The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" approach to human sexuality -- !!!!