Study Finds Abstinence Top Reason for Drop in Teen Birth, Pregnancy Rates; Refutes Effectiveness of Contraception-based Programs

4/14/2003

From: Julie Neils or David Gasak, 719-548-4634, both of Focus on the Family, E-mail: neilsja@fotf.org or gasakdp@fotf.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 14 -- More teens are saying no to sex outside of marriage, and that fact is the primary reason for the drop in teen birth and pregnancy rates in recent years new scientific research shows. The peer-reviewed study, published in the journal Adolescent and Family Health this month, flies in the face of previous reports attributing the decline to increased use of contraception.

The report cited abstinence as the No. 1 factor in recent drops in the teen pregnancy rate. Overall, the study found that 100 percent of the drop in birthrates and 67 percent of the drop in pregnancy rates could be attributed to single teens heeding the message of abstinence education.

Joanna Mohn, M.D., the study's principal researcher, said previous research crediting condom use with the declines was flawed. Mohn contends those studies did not account for significant statistics and factors, such as a distinction between married and unmarried teenage girls as well as teen girls who had not been sexually involved for over a year. The new study shows the factors making the greatest contribution to the decline in overall 15- to 19-year-old birth and pregnancy rates were an increase in abstinence and a decrease in the percentage of married teens. In 1991, the teen birthrate was 62 births per 1,000 girls. By 1995, the rate had dropped to 50 births per 1,000 girls. The pregnancy rate per 1,000 girls dropped from 116 to 93 during the same period.

"It is time for pro-condom advocacy groups to stop lying to the public about the real reason we are seeing such a sharp decline in teen birth and pregnancy rates," said Peter Brandt, director of issues response for Focus on the Family. "Abstinence has always been the only sure-fire way to prevent pregnancy and teens are proving they have outsmarted adults on this one. This study should be an incentive to every member of Congress to vote for the most effective prevention program for our teens -- abstinence education."

The Welfare Reform Act of 1996, which included $50 million per year for abstinence education, expired last year and its renewal will be up for debate in Congress soon.

A copy of the study can be obtained by going to: http://www.physconsortium.com. Click on "Issues," and then on "AFH Journal."

James C. Dobson, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, radio broadcaster and the president of Focus on the Family. Founded in 1977, Focus on the Family is a nonprofit Christian organization committed to strengthening the family in the U.S. and throughout the world. Focus on the Family's secular and Christian radio and TV broadcasts are heard or seen by 28 million people a week.