Between 1991 and 2004, there were over 119,000 teen births in South Carolina- which cost the taxpayers $2.7 billion. Are we surprised that the highest rates of unintended pregnancies and STI rates are in the poorest and more rural counties. It’s in these areas where access to family planning services is the most difficult and in some places impossible.
The economic reality of unintended pregnancy is that this issues costs the taxpayers of South Carolina spend $156 million annually. And the numbers of teen and unintended pregnancies are rising. According to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, the pregnancy rate for girls between ages 15-19 has increased 3%. The Guttmacher Institute study goes on to say,
“The significant drop in teen pregnancy rates in the 1990s was overwhelmingly the result of more and better use of contraceptives among sexually active teens. However, this decline started to stall out in the early 2000s, at the same time that sex education programs aimed exclusively at promoting abstinence—and prohibited by law from discussing the benefits of contraception—became increasingly widespread and teens’ use of contraceptives declined.[1]”
This rise in the teen pregnancy numbers has many concerned. ““It’s very disturbing,” said Sarah Brown, of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. “We had over a decade of progress on a very serious problem, and I worry that we’ve ground to a halt. I think there are a lot of different factors at play, from less use of contraception, maybe because of less fear of AIDS, to our anything-goes culture, where it’s O.K. to get pregnant and have a baby in your teens.[2]”
Without a comprehensive reproductive education and increased access to clinics and services, the teen pregnancy rates in South Carolina will continue to rise, as will the cost to the taxpayer. We need to stand together, and demand better reproductive health policies for the future generations of South Carolinians.
The cost to teens and their babies is as big a concern to me as is the economic cost to the taxpayers. We owe it to future generations to stop this issue at its source and provide the proper education and access to medical services.
[1] Following Decade-Long Decline, U.S. Teen Pregnancy Rate Increases as Both Births and Abortions Rise; Guttmacher Institute; Jan 26, 2010: http://www.guttmacher.org/media/nr/2010/01/26/index.html
[2]Lewin, Tamar; After Long Decline, Teenage Pregnancy Rate Rises; The New York Times; Jan 26, 2010: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/us/27teen.html?emc=eta1
Tags: Access, Economy, Sexual Health, Spartanburg, Susu Johnson, TTWomen, Unintended Pregnancy, Youth
It’s really important for people to understand that the rise in birthrate for teen mothers correlates with the implementation of abstinence only education; I think this article does a great job.
Continue your work, Tell Them! Eventually, they’ll have to hear us!
You go girl! We need fact based education in schools! Unintended pregnancy takes a huge toll on young people, their families and communities. It’s time to demand legislators start making decisions for responsible reproductive health policies! Please take a minute to join the Virtual March at http://www.tellthemsc.org. Susu you are my hero!
How many years will pass before we see a significant change in these statistics? Science tells us that it takes 3 years to change a reputation, that enough people will have filtered through in three years that a reputation has a chance to change. But we don’t have that long to wait. The miracle of life shouldn’t be a statistic, it should be joyous and not worrisome! Join the Virtual March and let us change South Carolina’s reputation.
It’s amazing to see the amount of money a lack of priority will cost this state. South Carolina seems to be the lowest in matters that should be our highest priority. At what “cost” are we going to continue to ignore simple facts. Education and access are key to providing the basic reproductive health needs. Let’s get it together lawmakers. I am marching in the Virtual March to make sure my voice is heard.