California sees 52% drop in teenage pregnancies-biggest decrease in the US (San Francisco: condo, statistics)

[18Montclair]

California may be leading the nation in a variety of negative categories, from the size of its budget deficit to traffic congestion, but it’s also first in reducing pregnancy among teenage girls, according to a new study by the Guttmacher Institute.

Calfornia, Guttmacher found in its review of pregnancy statistics, had the nation’s steepest decline in teen pregnancy rates between 1992 and 2005, down 52 percent.

San Francisco Sentinel » Blog Archives » CALIFORNIA LEADS THE NATION WITH DROP IN TEENAGE PREGNANCIES

[Charles]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

That's an awful big cut, it's almost hard to believe.

[Voyageur]

Originally Posted by Charles

That's an awful big cut, it's almost hard to believe.

A big cut, but:
* it's over a span of 13 years, and
* California's rate was the highest at the beginning of the span
* and it only deviated by 15% from the decline nationally over that span

[HeyHolliday!]

Funny how states that have heavily promoted abstinence only education have actually seen teen pregnancies increase. Southern states have seen the biggest increases. Just another example of social conservatism failing miserably.

[smokingGun]

What's also reassuring is that "teen abortions declined a whopping 66% from their peak in 1988 to 2005 (from 76 to 26 per 1,000)." And this is in the face of huge demographic changes brought about by the influx of Latino families to the state.

[mysticaltyger]

That is good news, but the stats are old. In the last few years, teen pregnancies in the US (not sure about CA) have started to tick upward again. I hope it doesn't become a long term trend.

I might add that despite people whining about the Millenial Generation or Gen Y or whatever people are calling them, they seem to be less prone to social ills than my generation (Gen X).

That said, the US teen preganacy rate is still the highest in the developed world. Not good.

[Bluesmama]

I'm curious. . . .

What is the "welfare" status in California right now???

[majoun]

Don't know about the whole state, but San Francisco has competed with Seattle for having the lowest teen pregnancy rate in the US for some years now.

[Lifeshadower]

Originally Posted by majoun

Don't know about the whole state, but San Francisco has competed with Seattle for having the lowest teen pregnancy rate in the US for some years now.

First, you actually need teenagers in order to have teenage pregnancies

On the real though, I do know some girls who got pregnant from 16-18, but they got abortions. I don't know if that's counted in the statistics or not, but it does happen.

Generally speaking though, I don't know very many people who have kids right now at my age (I'm 20, about to be 21). I know of one or two marriages, but not kids.

This is a good development, but we still have a long way to go. I'll do my part by not being a teenager anymore

[steel7]

Maybe teen girls are using protection more (birth control pills,the patch & condoms).