CDC Report Shows Historic Low in Teen Birth Rate

from the inbox earlier this week:

New CDC Report on Historic Low in Teen Birth Rate Shows Sex Education and Contraception Work, Says Planned Parenthood

A report out today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that teen birth rates have continued to decline across nearly all ethnic and racial groups, reaching a historic low in 2012 — the lowest teen birth rate since 1940 (the year when teen birth data began being collected). The birth rate in the U.S. for teens 15-19 years old was down six percent in 2012. Since 2007, the teen birth rate in the U.S. has dropped almost a third (from 41.5 births per 1,000 teenagers 15-19 years to 29.4 births). Since 1991, it has dropped by more than half (from 61.8). 

“Today’s report underscores the critical importance of high-quality sex education and access to affordable contraception for teens,” said Dayle Steinberg, CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

“While this progress is a great win for public health, the U.S. still has the highest teen birth rate of any developed country in the world. It’s imperative that we continue to provide young people with accurate information and access to services to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.” Planned Parenthood works every day to prevent teen pregnancy. Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania and other affiliates provide sex education programs in schools and communities across the country to more than a million people including parents.