Teen Pregnancy Rates in Texas Are Still High

STATES CHRONICLE – The teen pregnancy rate in the US has been on a general decline lately, but the situation is not the same in all states. In Texas, this rate has not been declining to rapidly as it has in other parts of the country. To blame is the sex education in the area or, more precisely, the lack of it.

Texas still has high teen pregnancy rates

In 2014, the pregnancy rate among teenage girls reached its lowest point, with only 24 births per 1,000 girls. At the time, there was a decrease of 9 percent among girls who had babies between the ages of 15 and 19. However, the situation is not so bright in all states.

Reports show that teen pregnancy rates in Texas are between 40 and 50 percent higher than they are in the rest of the country. Gwen Daverth from the Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy explained the cause of this situation. Teenagers in the area do not receive proper sex education.

The state needs better sex education and access to contraceptives

The state promotes a type of education which encourages teens to practice abstinence, and opts for not informing them on everything they need to know about sex. The association supports proper sex education and the enforcement of mirror policies, just like in California.

This type of education is not always medically accurate, and it fails to inform teenagers on contraception. Therefore, the association, together with the CDC, want to promote birth control methods among youngsters, and teach them how to take care of themselves. This will contribute to lower dropout rates among girls due to pregnancies, and an overall better health situation.

Also, they want to make birth control more accessible to teenagers. The law of Texas does not allow underage purchase of contraception without a parent’s permission. This is applicable even if the teenager in question is already a parent. These regulations are not practical and they need to be changed.
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