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Adolescent Birth Rate Increases
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the national birth rate increased 3 percent between 2005 and 2006 among females ages 15 to 19. The rate grew sharply between 1986 and 1991 to record high of 61.8 births per 1,000 girls but steadily declined between 1991 and 2005. While the exact cause for the recent increase is not clear, some experts point to the ineffectiveness of abstinence-only programs. Read more:
Washington Post: Teen Birth Rate Rises in U.S., Reversing a 14-Year Decline
The National Campaign: Final 2006 Teen Birth Data Analysis
The National Campaign: Teen Birth Rates Ranked by State
Guttmacher Institute: Troubling Trend in Teen Birthrates Seen in New Federal Government Data
Study: Virginity Pledges Don't Work
A new study, published in the January issue of Pediatrics, found that virginity pledges may not decrease adolescent sexual behavior and may, in fact, decrease their safe sex practices.
Based on data from a 1996 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the study revealed that youth taking pledges were 10 percent less likely to use a condom or other contraceptive method than non-pledgers. Five years after taking verbal or written pledges, virginity pledgers had the same rates of premarital sex, sexually transmitted infections, and oral and anal sex activity as non-pledgers. Read more.
Rally Honors Roe v. Wade Anniversary
Last week reproductive justice advocates and allies celebrated the 36th anniversary of the historic Roe v. Wade decision at a rally on Federal Plaza in the Chicago Loop.
Hosted by the Chicago Abortion Fund, the rally highlighted the importance of access to safe, legal abortion and the need to repeal the Hyde Amendment, a 1975 law restricting Medicaid coverage of the full spectrum of reproductive health care. Read more and view a slide show of pictures from the event.
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