Reasons for High Pregnancy and Birth Rates
Among Teens
In 2013, 30.0% of 9th graders reported having experienced sexual intercourse. The corresponding
statistics for older teens were 41.4% for 10th graders, 54.1% for 11th graders, and 64.1% for 12th
graders.21
The high volume of pregnancies and birth rates among teenagers is associated with earlier sexual
activity among teen girls. Also, beginning in about 2004, the use of contraception (which was
never as high as the use in other developed countries) started waning.22 The academic and
professional communities also maintain that teen parenthood is one of the negative consequences
of growing up without a father.23 The president of the Alan Guttmacher Institute, commenting on
a study about adolescent pregnancy and childbearing in “developed” countries, stated: “In the
United States, poverty and inequity clearly are behind much of our high rates of pregnancy, birth
and abortion. But lack of sensitive, confidential, low-cost contraceptive services and the denial of
accurate and frank information about sex, are equally to blame.”24 Other commentators argue that