What’s behind teen pregnancy hitting a 30-year low?
(SOURCE: THE GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE)
The teen pregnancy rate has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years, according new Guttmacher Institute research out Wednesday morning. In 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, about 6.7 percent of 15- to 19-year-olds became pregnant. About 30 percent of those pregnancies resulted in abortions, while the rest were carried to term.
A drop in teen pregnancy rates is especially welcome this year: after three decades of decline, the number of teens becoming pregnant began creeping up in 2006 and 2007. Researchers puzzled over whether this was a temporary blip or a new trend. Today’s news suggests it could be the latter.
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