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Birth, Abortion and Pregnancy Rates
In recent years, the teen pregnancy rate across the country has declined significantly. Researchers have found that 75% of this decline is due to increased use of contraception and 25% is a result of increased abstinence.1 While evidence of healthier behaviors among teens is a move forward, teen pregnancy remains a public health concern. Despite the reductions, the cost of teen pregnancy and parenthood remains the same.
The Massachusetts teen birth rate is the third lowest in the country, yet rates in communities have not all declined. In fact, many communities have a teen birth rate far above the national average. Researchers have identified effective programs and strategies for reducing teen pregnancy, and these approaches have often been successful in communities with high teen pregnancy and birth rates.
1. Boonstra, Heather. (2002, February). Teen pregnancy: Trends and lessons learned. The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy, 5(1), 7-10.
Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy
105 Chauncy Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
617.482.9122 Main, 617.482.9129 Fax
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