High teen pregnancy, STD numbers indicate need for better sexual education
Three teenage girls in the country become pregnant every two minutes, and more than 80 percent of those pregnancies are unplanned. (shutterstock photo)
Among developed countries, the United States ranks highest in numbers of teen pregnancy and STD cases. Just how high are those numbers? According to information from Compliance and Safety, three teenage girls in the country become pregnant every two minutes, and more than 80 percent of those pregnancies are unplanned.
Out of every 1,000 teenage girls in the United States, a poll conducted between 2002-2005 indicated more than 70 would become pregnant, compared to approximately 40 girls in the United Kingdom, 30 girls in France, 25 girls in Germany, and 15 girls in Holland. And of that number anticipated to become pregnant, only 50 percent were expected to graduate from high school.
When it comes to sexual education, however, pregnancy is not the only area teenagers need information. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major concern among teens in the United States, and one out of four sexually active teens will contract an STD within the next 12 months. That number equates to approximately half of all STD cases reported for the entire U.S. population—including those reported by adults.
Furthermore, abstinence-only education appears to be failing. States with abstinence-only policies have the highest rates of teen pregnancy compared to states which actively teach sexual education. A drop in teen pregnancy between 1990 and 2005 was attributed to increased contraceptive use rather than an increase in teenagers abstaining from sex.
Statistics indicate teenagers receiving sexual education are 50 percent less likely to become pregnant than teenagers who are only instructed on abstinence, but despite the numbers, abstinence is still the main topic discussed in the majority of schools across the country.
The information indicates a need for better sexual health program around the nation, and parents agree the topic is important. According to the infographic, 91 percent of high school student parents believe sexual education is important, and 93 percent feel birth control is a topic which should be addressed.
