DuPage Teen Pregnancy Rate Continues to Decline
For Immediate Release:
For more information, contact: Andrea Nelson
anelson@mylifeamplified.com
630-493-1523 x5260
DuPage Teen Pregnancy Rate Continues to Decline
The number of teens getting pregnant in DuPage County is decreasing.
The number of teens from DuPage who gave birth in 2010 was 443, down 28% from a decade earlier, according to data recently released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These numbers continue a steady decline in teen births that started in 2006. The number of abortions in DuPage has also declined, indicating a total reduction in teen pregnancy in the county.
“Teens are making healthier decisions about sex and relationships,” said Andrea Nelson, director of Amplify Youth Development. “Those decisions are reflected in the number of teens getting pregnant. We are thrilled to see that more teens are avoiding the emotional and physical consequences of becoming sexually active.”
Nationally, the number of teens having sex is declining. During 1991–2011, the number of students nationwide who reported being currently sexually active declined steadily from 37.5%–33.7%, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance report for 2011. “We know that teens who avoid sexual activity tend to enjoy a wide range of benefits. Teens that are sexually active are also more likely to experience depression, difficulty in school, and drug use, not to mention are at risk for STDs and pregnancy. To see more teens avoiding those outcomes is a win for our community,” said Nelson.
Amplify Youth Development is an educational program that works with local schools to teach over 9,000 teens annually about healthy relationship skills and to encourage teens to avoid sexual activity, pregnancy and STDs. When asked how students respond to a program that encourages abstinence, Nelson said, “Teens have overwhelmingly positive feedback. Every week, we hear from students how much they not only enjoyed the program, but also how much it positively influenced their views on sex, relationships, and their own plans to delay having sex. When we raise the bar for students, they meet it.”