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Everything's bigger in Texas: One of the most interesting and notable examples of this phenomenon comes out of Texas, which, according to ThinkProgess, has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the country and a track record of strict abstinence-only education. Even with declining birth rates nationwide, the Lone Star state has lagged behind, but that didn't stop them from doubling down their efforts on something that was already not working.
Last year, Texas reportedly spent $1.2 million on a website aggressively preaching abstinence-only education, omitting any mention of contraception.
Mississippi has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country, with 50 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 in 2011 — compared with 31 per 1,000 nationally. A third of all babies born in Mississippi are to teenage mothers. Access to contraceptives is low, especially in some rural areas where drug stores have been known to refuse to sell condoms to minors.
Alarmed by the high poverty and low education rates tied to teen pregnancy, the business community pushed the Legislature to pass a bill compelling districts to implement sex education by the 2012-13 school year.
But parts of the law designed to appease conservatives in this deeply religious state have stymied those who want to teach about safe sex.
Teen mothers are much more likely to drop out of high school and to skip college entirely. They struggle more financially and emotionally. Not to mention the fact that preventing teen pregnancies in Arizona could save the state $180 million a year.
Who else joins us at the top of the list? New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. What do we all have in common? Beautiful sunsets and abstinence-only education. Since I’m pretty sure the sunsets aren’t to blame, let’s talk about sex (education).
1. A 2007 federal study on abstinence education found that these programs had no impacts on the rate of teen sexual abstinence.
2. The United States leads the world in teen pregnancy rates and teen birth rates. Compared to France, the US numbers are more than tripled.
3. Teens in states that prescribe more abstinence education are actually more likely to become pregnant.
4. Only 13% of teens in the United States have had sex by the age of 15.
5. By the age of 19, 70% of teens have engaged in sexual intercourse at least once.
6. 82% of the teen pregnancies that occur every year are unintended and 59% of them end in a successful birth.
7. Every year, roughly nine million new STIs occur among teens and young adults in the United States.
8. 1 in 4 teens in the US receives information about abstinence without receiving any information or instructions about birth control.
9. Among teens aged 18–19, 41% report that they know little or nothing about condoms.
10. 75% say they know little or nothing about the contraceptive pill.
originally posted by: Southern Guardian
Mississippi is another State, holding the number one title for teen pregnancies in the United States.
originally posted by: Bone75
Mississippi also has the highest percentage of black residents in the nation, so be careful with your criticism... some may see it as racist.
originally posted by: WeRpeons
a reply to: Southern Guardian
Next step, Texas will probably be purchasing Chasity belts and distributing them throughout their school system.
originally posted by: Southern Guardian
While teen pregnancies continue to decline in the nation overall, there are a number of states that continue to lag behind the rest of the nation when it comes to unwanted teen pregnancies. Most of these states have two things in common, Republican controlled governments that continue to heavily promote abstinence only education. Texas for example:
Everything's bigger in Texas: One of the most interesting and notable examples of this phenomenon comes out of Texas, which, according to ThinkProgess, has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the country and a track record of strict abstinence-only education. Even with declining birth rates nationwide, the Lone Star state has lagged behind, but that didn't stop them from doubling down their efforts on something that was already not working.
Last year, Texas reportedly spent $1.2 million on a website aggressively preaching abstinence-only education, omitting any mention of contraception.
mic.com...
Mississippi is another State, holding the number one title for teen pregnancies in the United States. Fortunately they are beginning to see the mess abstinence only education is causing:
Mississippi has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country, with 50 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 in 2011 — compared with 31 per 1,000 nationally. A third of all babies born in Mississippi are to teenage mothers. Access to contraceptives is low, especially in some rural areas where drug stores have been known to refuse to sell condoms to minors.
Alarmed by the high poverty and low education rates tied to teen pregnancy, the business community pushed the Legislature to pass a bill compelling districts to implement sex education by the 2012-13 school year.
But parts of the law designed to appease conservatives in this deeply religious state have stymied those who want to teach about safe sex.
articles.latimes.com...
Arizona:
Teen mothers are much more likely to drop out of high school and to skip college entirely. They struggle more financially and emotionally. Not to mention the fact that preventing teen pregnancies in Arizona could save the state $180 million a year.
Who else joins us at the top of the list? New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. What do we all have in common? Beautiful sunsets and abstinence-only education. Since I’m pretty sure the sunsets aren’t to blame, let’s talk about sex (education).
The stats are clear, it doesn't work:
1. A 2007 federal study on abstinence education found that these programs had no impacts on the rate of teen sexual abstinence.
2. The United States leads the world in teen pregnancy rates and teen birth rates. Compared to France, the US numbers are more than tripled.
3. Teens in states that prescribe more abstinence education are actually more likely to become pregnant.
4. Only 13% of teens in the United States have had sex by the age of 15.
5. By the age of 19, 70% of teens have engaged in sexual intercourse at least once.
6. 82% of the teen pregnancies that occur every year are unintended and 59% of them end in a successful birth.
7. Every year, roughly nine million new STIs occur among teens and young adults in the United States.
8. 1 in 4 teens in the US receives information about abstinence without receiving any information or instructions about birth control.
9. Among teens aged 18–19, 41% report that they know little or nothing about condoms.
10. 75% say they know little or nothing about the contraceptive pill.
healthresearchfunding.org...
So why do people continue to promote abstinence only Education? What does it even teach kids?? It baffles me. One would think the best way to minimize the rate of abortions and unwanted pregnancies is to ensure people have the knowledge and access to contraceptives? This goes right back to many who wish to close down essential providers like Planned Parenthood, who by the way devout the vast majority of their time to preventing unwanted pregnancies from happening in the first place.
While I am pro-choice, I believe in the end it's the choice of the woman as it's HER body, I'd still much prefer avoiding unwanted pregnancies from happening in the first place. Like it or not, we're humans, we're creatures of habit, we're susceptible to our urges. Nothing is going to change this. Telling people simply 'not to do it' and making efforts to bar them from taking necessary precautions only makes the situation worse. I don't understand why people continue to ignore this very apparent fact.
originally posted by: ownbestenemy1
a reply to: Southern Guardian
Is the education really either -- or? Meaning it is abstinence and abstinence only with no other information -- and -- vice versa,"education" highlights all aspects of sexual education? Or is abstinence glossed over?
Additionally, research shows that abstinence-only strategies could deter contraceptive use among teenagers, thus increasing their risk of unintended pregnancy.
For example, take the states with the highest and lowest teen pregnancy rates. Mississippi does not require sex education in schools, but when it is taught, abstinence-only education is the state standard. New Mexico, which has the second highest teen birth rate, does not require sex ed and has no requirements on what should be included when it is taught. New Hampshire, on the other hand, requires comprehensive sex education in schools that includes abstinence and information about condoms and contraception.
originally posted by: WeRpeons
a reply to: Southern Guardian
Next step, Texas will probably be purchasing Chasity belts and distributing them throughout their school system.
Self Control.
People may want to check it out some time.
Abstinence works.
Even the people that are educated still get HIV and have abortions.