American Opinion on Teen Pregnancy and Related Issues, 2007

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This presentation covers:

About Putting What Works to Work (PWWTW) Why care about teen pregnancy What teens and adults think about teen pregnancy and related issues

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Putting What Works to Work

Cooperative Agreement funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Goal: To enhance the ability of state and local organizations to incorporate science-based approaches into their teen pregnancy prevention efforts.

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Teen Pregnancy in the U.S.

Teen Pregnancy Rate per 1,000 Girls aged 15-19

120 115 110 105 100 95 9095.1 85 80 75 70

116.9 111.0 106.6 91.4

75.4

1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002
The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (2006). U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity. New York, NY: The Alan Guttmacher Institute.

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Good news
Teen pregnancy and birth are at lowest ever Decreasing proportion of teens who have ever had sex Increasing proportion of teens using contraception

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However
The U.S. continues to have the highest rate of teen pregnancy and birth compared to other similar countries; More than 750,000 teen girls get pregnancy each year; and 3 out of every 10 teen girls will get pregnant at least once before her 20th birthday

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Highlights from polling data

Parental influence and values Boys vs Girls Abstinence and Contraception Teens Attitudes and Beliefs Religion Social Norms Media Influence


Note that all polling data are from: Albert, B. (2007). With One Voice. National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy: Washington, DC.

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Teens continue to say parents most influence their decision about sex
When it comes to your/teens' decisions about sex, who is most influential? Is it...?
50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%
47% 40% 37%

18% 10% 7% 3% 4% 1% 3%

Adults Teens (aged 12-19)

Parents

Friends

Teachers and Sex Educators

Religious Leaders

The Media

Source: Albert, B. (2007). With One Voice. National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy: Washington, DC.

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However, parents need help talking about sex

Almost 9 out of 10 parents agree that when it comes to talking about sex, parents often dont know what to say, how to say it, or when to start Two-thirds of teens agree with the above statement as well

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Boys vs. Girls

Most adults (61%) and teens (65%) think that parents send one message about sex to their sons and a different message to their daughters


Most people agree that teen boys often receive the message that they are expected to have sex Teen girls receive the message that attracting boys and looking sexy is one of the most important things they can do

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Abstinence and Contraception

A majority of teens (91%) and adults (93%) think its important that teens be given a strong message to wait to have sex until they are at least out of high school

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Abstinence and Contraception

A majority of teens and adults wish that teens were getting more information about both abstinence and contraception
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Contraception
Teens give many different reasons for not using contraception, but both adults (16%) and teens (18%) agree that the primary reason is that they are afraid of their parents finding out. Teen boys (69%) are much more likely than teen girls (50%) to say that the decision to use contraception is shared equally by the partners39% of girls and 21% of boys say it is usually the girl who decides
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Teens Attitudes and Beliefs

Most sexually experienced teens (60%) wish they had waited longer to have sex Three quarters of teens73% of boys and 78% of girlsdont think its embarrassing to admit they are virgins

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Religion

Almost two-thirds of adults (64%) and three quarters of teens (76%) believe that religious leaders and groups should be doing more to help prevent teen pregnancy

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Social Norms
Half of teens have never thought about what their life would be like if they got/got someone pregnant One quarter of adults (and 29% of teens) say that teen pregnancy and pregnancy are no big deal in their community

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Social Norms
While a majority of adults and teens agree that being a teen parent would either delay or prevent young people from reaching future goals, a significant minority (16%) of teens and adults say that being a teen parent would either help or not affect teens from reaching their future goals

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Media
Three quarters of teens agree that when a TV show or character experiences teen pregnancy, it makes them think more about the consequences of sex Three quarters of teens also wish the media showed or talked more about the consequences of sex, including teen pregnancy

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For Additional Information

With One Voice 2007, Americas Adults and Teens Sounds Off About Teen Pregnancy Science Says #31: American Opinion of Teen Pregnancy and Related Issues 2007

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Thank you!
For more information visit www.TeenPregnancy.org www.StayTeen.org www.theNationalCampaign.org
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