Teen Pregnancies Up; Is Abstinence-Only Emphasis a Reason?

After years of declines in teen pregnancy rates, a new study shows that rates of both teen pregnancies and abortions have begun to rise again. A report released on Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute shows that in 2006, almost 72 out of 1,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 had a pregnancy -- the highest figure in a decade and a 3 percent increase over the year before.

The teen pregnancy rate reached its highest point in 1990, when almost 117 out of 1,000 girls between 15 and 19 had a pregnancy. Rates declined in the 90s, then remained relatively steady until 2005, before picking up again in 2006. In an interview with Reuters, Guttmacher's director for domestic research, Larry Fine, said: "It's interesting to note that this flattening out of the rate and the increase in the rate is happening at the same time that we've seen substantial increases in funding for abstinence-only programs."

"Interesting" is one word for the finding -- but unsurprising might be another. Despite having received large funds, abstinence programs have not been successful in driving down the rates of teen pregnancies, research shows. When George Bush left office, funding for abstinence education had risen to $200 million. In the budget he sent to Congress for 2009, Barack Obama re-budgeted the money into other teen pregnancy-prevention programs.

But, the question of whether abstinence-only education continues to be funded may actually depend on the future of the health care reform bill. The version of the health care bill passed by the Senate -- which now hangs in uncertainty while the Senate waits for newly elected Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown -- set $50 million aside for abstinence-only programs.