|
11/16/07
The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News reported on Nov. 5 that Texas teens now lead the nation in number of first and second births, according to recent research conducted by the nonprofit group Child Trends. According to the research, Texas' teen birth rate only reduced by 19 percent between 1991 and 2004, while the U.S. teen birth rate dropped by one-third. In 2004 alone, 24 percent of the state's teen births were the teens' second pregnancies. Although the teenage birth rate has been decreasing since 1991 and reached a record low in 2004, nearly one-fifth of teen births in 2004 in the U.S. were repeat births - births to teens who had already brought at least one other pregnacy to term. The report also noted that states with higher proportions of repeat teen births were primarily concentrated in the South. The state with the lowest repeat teen birth rate was Vermont.
The article indicates that Texas policies on teen pregnancy prevention are out-of-step and ineffective. Texas law does not require schools to provide sexuality education. If a course is taught, it must discuss abstinence as the preferred behavior for unmarried persons and teach that condoms and contraceptives are ineffective at disease and pregnancy prevention. However, abstinence-only sex education classes are not required to present the health benefits of contraceptive and condom use. Texas law also requires teens to obtain parental consent before receiving contraceptives whenever possible, prompting many teens to avoid reproductive health services until it's too late to prevent an unintended pregnancy or STIs.
Earlier this year, Texas Department of Health and Human Services found that the state Medicaid program pays for more than 1 in 2 births in Texas. The Medicaid program in Texas is overburdened already with costs concerning unintended pregnancies - and this trend is expected to continue because of the lack of access for many Texas women to adequate, preventive health care and information.
On the other hand, the article points out that California experienced an even greater reduction in teen pregnancies – 47% - in the same period. Why? The article attributes the difference to different sex education programs and legal barriers to teens' access to reproductive health care services.
California law allows schools to teach comprehensive sexuality education, which discusses the benefits of abstinence but also provides information on condoms and contraception. California family planning programs also don't require parental consent before a teen can access contraceptives.
The Child Trends report suggests that improved access to contraception and information can help reduce repeat teen pregnancies and teen pregnancy overall.
Help Texas Teens Get REAL Sex Education! The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, introduced by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), would provide funding to states for medically-accurate, comprehensive sex education that includes information about both abstinence and contraception that teens need to protect themselves. Urge your Congressmembers today to support the REAL Act – click here and send an e-mail through our current advocacy campaign.
| 
