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OFFICE STAFF

  

     Lamar Petties    Elder

        Grady Broadnex                 Youth Director     

 

TRICITY YOUTH RALLY 2008

 

 

 

 

ABSTINENCE EDUCATION PROVES EFFECTIVE IN GEORGIA

Teen pregnancy rates decline 41% after state adopts policy mandating abstinence education in public schools

ATLANTA, May 18, 2005:  According to numbers released earlier this month by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, pregnancy rates among Georgia teens, ages 15-17, declined 41 percent from 1994 to 2003. _Preventing teenage pregnancy is critical to the Department of Human Resources_ vision of Georgians living safe, healthy, and self-reliant lives,_ said Dr. Stuart Brown, acting director of the Division of Public Health.

Fortunately, Georgia is now below the national average and boasts the lowest rate in the Southeast, according to a survey of states conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in 2000.  _This is a huge victory in the fight against teen pregnancy in Georgia, considering that in the not too distant past the state was known for having one of the nations highest teen pregnancy rates,_ says Bruce Cook, president of Choosing the Best.  Choosing the Best abstinence education programs are being used in approximately two-thirds of Georgia school districts. 

The latest data also suggests this trend is continuing; from 2002-2003, there was a five percent decline in teen pregnancy in Georgia--double the national rate of decline for the same time period.

The decline in teen pregnancy and corresponding teen births has curbed spending of taxpayer money for related support services. Based on an estimated $10,000 per teen mom, Georgians experienced a cost savings of over $100 million.

Abstinence-based education is one of the key components credited by the DHR for these outstanding results. Prior to 1994, contraceptive education was the main prevention focus in Georgia.  However, in 1994 the Georgia Department of Education established a policy mandating abstinence education in public school systems, a direction that has been supported by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Parental involvement through sex education review committees chaired by involved parents was also established to supervise the selection and application of sex education programs in each school district. Teen pregnancy rates began declining in 1995 and have continued every year since.

_These new numbers clearly show Georgia_s abstinence-based sex education policy is on the right path and is a critical element in the struggle to end teen pregnancy. That_s good news for all Georgians,_ says Cook.

To read the full Georgia DHR press release or about other related abstinence industry news, please visit http://www.choosingthebest.org/press_room/index.html.

 

More Teens Choosing Abstinence....

More teens, both male and female, are choosing abstinence, according to a new study released on December 10 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).   The new research is contained in the National Survey of Family Growth released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.  The data show that sexual activity declined significantly for younger teenage girls and for teenage boys between 1995 and 2002, and that teen contraceptive use improved in significant ways.  According to the study, the proportion of never-married females 15-17 years of age who had ever had sexual intercourse dropped significantly from 38 percent in 1995 to 30 percent in 2002.  For male teens aged 15-17, the percent of those who were sexually experienced also dropped significantly, from 43 percent to 31 percent.   The number of older females aged 18-19 having sex increased slightly, from 68 percent in 1995 to 69 percent in 2002.   However, the number of older males aged 18-19 having sex decreased substantially, from 75 percent to 64 percent.  These and other data suggest that teenagers are delaying sex until somewhat older ages. There is much good news in these results,said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.  _More teenagers are avoiding or postponing sexual activity, which can lead to sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy or emotional and societal responsibilities for which they are not prepared. Bruce Cook, Founder and President of Choosing the Best, states, _These results validate that abstinence education is working.  When teens clearly understand the benefits of being abstinent and the risks of sexual activity, they are choosing what's best for their future abstinence._

Other findings of interest:

Nearly one third of teens (31% of boys and 29% of girls) have  not discussed sex, contraception, and/or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) with their parents.

Of those teens that have not had sex, the primary reason for   their decision was that it was "against religion or morals."

Adolescents have an 18% chance of having a child during      their teen years and most births to teens under age 18 are unintended (88%).

A small but significant minority of teens (13% of girls and        15% of boys) said they would be "pleased" if they got pregnant/got someone pregnant.

Nearly one in ten (9%) teen girls describe the first time they      had sexual intercourse as non-voluntary.  Many more teens    (66% of girls and 39% of boys) say they had "mixed feelings" about the first time they had sex or that they "didn't really       want it to happen at the time."

Overall, 31% of teen boys and 28% of teen girls have had two     or more sexual partners. Nearly six in ten (57%) of those teens who first had sex before age 15 have had four or more sexual partners.

11% of teen boys and 13% of teen girls have taken a pledge        to remain a virgin until marriage.

 

 

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Copyright © 2005 River Road Church of Christ
Last modified: 01/31/08