May 15, 2009
May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Rates on the rise in United States, Alaska Dept. of Health and Human Services Press Release
(Anchorage) - After experiencing a steady decline since the 1990s and reaching record lows in 2005, current statistics show rates of teen pregnancy are heading upward again in the United States-and in Alaska.
May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month around the country. It's an excellent time to become aware of the high rates of teen pregnancies in Alaska, and how they can be lowered, according to Stephanie Birch, section chief of Women's, Children's and Family Health with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.
The birth rate for teenagers 15-19 years old in Alaska increased from 2005 to 2006. At the same time, birth rates for teens 15-19 in the United States rose considerably for the first time since 1991.
In 2006, the birth rate for teens 15-19 in Alaska was 40.6 per 1,000. In 2007, it was 41.3 per 1,000. Alaska overall is on par with the national rate of 41.9 per 1,000. However, some rural areas of Alaska have extremely high rates.
Unplanned pregnancies in teens can have dire consequences for both teenage parents and their children, said Birch. Studies show that teen mothers are more likely to remain single parents, drop out of school, live in poverty, and rely on public assistance. Children of teen mothers can face adverse consequences such as low birth weight, infant mortality, delays in cognitive development, behavioral problems and child abuse.
To help combat these statistics, parents are encouraged to talk to their children early and often about sex, pregnancy and prevention. Studies show that teens want to hear from their parents, but too often the communication does not happen until it's too late.
To learn more, visit www.thenationalcampaign.org.
