Abstinence-Only States Have Higher Rates of Teen Pregnancy
Although teen pregnancy rates have been declining considerably since 1991, they are still substantially higher in the U.S. compared to other western industrialized nations. Is there an association between the type of sexual health education and pregnancy rates? Much of the “abstinence vs. sex education” debate centers around which one should be taught in public schools. Some argue that sex education sends a mixed message to students and ultimately promotes sexual activity. Abstinence, on the other hand, advocates for delaying sexual activity until marriage. Does data support one side of the debate over the other?
How an emphasis on abstinence affects teen pregnancy rates
Based on our research, states that primarily emphasize abstinence in their sex education courses have higher rates of teen pregnancy. Data suggests that abstinence-only education is ineffective in preventing teenage pregnancy, and the states that do not include sex education at all in their school curriculums end up with not only the most teenage pregnancies but also higher STD infection rates.
Examining states’ teen pregnancy rates alongside sex ed laws
This map paints a worrisome picture for the South. In 2020, the #1 state with the highest rate of teen pregnancies was Mississippi, with a rate of 27.9 births per 1,000 teenagers aged 15-19 years. Following just behind is Arkansas, coming in at a rate of 27.8 births per 1,000 teens. Additionally, 12 out of the top 15 states with the highest rate of teen pregnancies are located in the southern part of the U.S. According to data from the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), the top 15 states with the highest rate of teen pregnancies all teach and emphasize abstinence. Out of those states, seven don’t require sex education at all. What is going on in the South?
Since 2015, the same 10 states have been in the top 10 for the highest rate of teen pregnancy, and all are in the South except for one:
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Mississippi
- Texas
- New Mexico
- Louisiana
- Kentucky
- West Virginia
- Tennessee
- Alabama
A closer look at STD rates by state alongside STD education laws
Interestingly enough, of the 10 states with the most cases of STDs among the 15-24 age group, five of them also rank among the top 10 states with the highest rate of teen pregnancy. In Mississippi, although schools are required to teach sex education, this state has no standard regarding medically accurate sex education instruction. However, their curriculums are instructed to stress abstinence through “abstinence-only” or “abstinence-plus” instruction. Overall, although evaluations of some sex education and teen pregnancy prevention programs have yielded mixed findings, they did result in more positive outcomes for basic understandings of reproductive and sexual health. This general knowledge alone can provide substantial assistance and STD/STI protection for curious teenagers experimenting with sexual activities.