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WISCONSIN AMONG STATES WITH LOWEST TEEN BIRTH RATES
WPR News - Wisconsin among states with lowest teen birth rates
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Wednesday April 11, 2012
by Shamane Mills
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(UNDATED) Newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Wisconsin among the states with the lowest teen birth rate.
Teen births across the U.S. are at historic lows and Wisconsin also saw a drop in 15 to 19 year olds having babies. The rate of teenagers giving birth in 2010, was 16 percent lower than in 2007. Last week Gov. Walker signed a law allowing districts to teach abstinence only. Wisconsin Family Action CEO Juliane Appling does not believe the new law will cause teen births to rise in the future, "We think what we'll see is kids who health and well being is more secure. That they haven't short-circuited their futures."
Those supporting comprehensive sex education, like Lon Newman of Wisconsin Family Planning Health Services, says teen births in Wisconsin have been dropping since 1991. He does not believe a change in how sex education is taught in school will dramatically affect birth rates, "Those districts that were doing a good job of comprehensive sex education are going to continue to do that and those that were not are going to continue I think for most young people now their primary source of information sexual health is not the public school to tell you the truth."
The CDC report says pregnancy prevention efforts contributed to fewer teen births. A recent government survey showed more use of contraception by teens.
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