Teenage Births Rise for First Time in 15 Years
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
ATLANTA — In a troubling reversal, the nation’s teen birth rate rose for the first time in 15 years, surprising government health officials who had no immediate explanation.
The birth rate had been dropping since its peak in 1991, although the decline had slowed in recent years. Yesterday, government statisticians said it rose 3% between 2005 and 2006.
American health officials said it was possibly a one-year statistical blip and not the beginning of a new upward trend. But several experts said they have been expecting a jump. They blame the increase on increased federal funding for abstinence-only health education programs that do not teach how to use condoms and other contraception. Some key sexually transmitted disease rates have been rising, including syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
