Mississippi has highest teen birth rate, CDC says

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

Source: AP

ATLANTA – Mississippi now has the nation's highest teen pregnancy rate, displacing Texas and New Mexico for that lamentable title, according to a new federal report released Wednesday.

Mississippi's rate was more than 60 percent higher than the national average in 2006, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The teen pregnancy rate in Texas and New Mexico was more than 50 percent higher.

The three states have large proportions of black and Hispanic teenagers — groups that traditionally have higher birth rates, experts noted.

The lowest teen birth rates continue to be in New England, where three states have teen birth rates at just half the national average.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090107/ap_on_he_me/med_teen_births

[Le Taz Hot]

1. I'm SOOO glad we fought so hard to ensure women

had access to a variety of safe birth control methods and safe, legal abortions. :sarcasm: :banghead:

[skiddlybop]

2. Racist AP writer of course

dismisses abstinence-only education failure, blames black and Hispanic girls.

Just the way racist kkkonservative AP writers blame the recession on minority home owners.

[Newsjock]

3. But if Wasilla were its own state

... the rankings would be different.

[DinahMoeHum]

4. So much for "abstinence-only" sex education.

:evilfrown:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. Exactly. nt

[xchrom]

5. mississippi insured there would be fewer and fewer

planned parenthood offices in it's state with ever more draconian rules & regs -- this is the end result.

[cap]

6. mississipppi has also defacto abolished abortion.

there is only one abortion clinic in mississippi

[pattmarty]

7. Uh, huh. God loving, gay hating, anti-choice, gun loving conservatives...........

..............in good ole Mississippi. FUCK ALL YOU HILLBILLY HATERS!!!!!!!!!!

[cosmik debris]

8. Where religiosity is highest

teen pregnancy is highest.

I'm not claiming a cause and effect relationship, but it is an interesting coincidence.

[NoodleyAppendage]

9. It MUST be race that is determining this...not RELIGIOUS IDIOCY.

While it is true that African-Americans and hispanics are in greater proportion in those states with the rising teenage birth rates, it is also true that these states are typically regressive when it comes to sex education efforts. A regression that is borne of bullshit religious fundamentalism and general religious idiocy.

[sofa king]

10. Yes, but you can marry 'em off at age 15.

With parental consent, of course.

http://www.coolnurse.com/marriage_laws.htm

[sakabatou]

12. Let me guess...

Abstinence-only education?