Study: Houston leads in births under age 15

RACER X · 09-01-2009, 01:00 PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/6596047.html

Study: Houston leads in births under age 15

More girls under 15 give birth in Houston than any other U.S. city, according to a new national report, and many of the city's teen moms have additional children before they turn 20.

The report by the research organization Child Trends found that there were 20 percent more babies born to girls 14 or younger in Houston than in New York and Los Angeles in 2006 and that 24 percent of all Houston's teen births were repeat births that year, the latest for which data is available.

“It's cause for concern,” said Jennifer Manlove, a senior research scientist at Washington-based Child Trends, which uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics to produce the annual report. “Teen births are increasing again, both nationally and in Texas.”

The national increase noted in the report marked a second consecutive jump after a 14-year decline. Texas actually improved from possessing the highest teen birth rate in 2005 to the third highest in 2006, but only because its rate didn't increase as much as those of New Mexico and Mississippi.

In addition, Texas' numbers were particularly unsettling in a number of subcategories.

Among all births involving teenage mothers, Dallas had the nation's highest percentage of repeat births — 28 percent. San Antonio was fourth with 26 percent, Fort Worth eighth with 25 percent and Houston and Austin 14th and 15th, respectively, with 24 percent.

The report was seized by Texas child advocacy and health groups as one more indictment of the state's abstinence-only education policy.

“The state of Texas needs to understand that what it's doing isn't working,” said Robert Sanborn, president and chief executive officer of Children at Risk. “No matter how many reports show this kind of data, the Legislature continues to be blind to it.”

Sanborn specifically criticized the 2009 Legislature for rejecting bills that would have required schools to provide “medically accurate information” in addition to promoting abstinence.

Sanborn also said that the number of babies delivered by girls under 15 shows sex is occurring at middle schools and that those schools need to recognize the reality.

He said he's all for emphasizing abstinence but that students who don't follow such teaching should have access to information about contraception.

What drives rate?
A study by the Texas Freedom Network earlier this year found 94 percent of Texas schools don't give students any sex education beyond urging abstinence.

Sanborn said he thought most middle schools don't mention sex at all.

Manlove said Texas' high teen birth rates are particularly driven by the state's large population of Hispanics, in whom teenage motherhood is more culturally accepted than it is in other ethnicities.

But Sanborn and Ruth Buzi of Baylor College of Medicine's Teen Health Clinic said teen birth rates are not as high in other cities with large Hispanic populations but less restrictive sex educationoccur among married couples. The national average is 14 percent.

HurricaneHeather · 09-01-2009, 01:54 PM

Yep....same old crap year after year. But nothing ever changes.

How this isn't a serious reality check to our state legislature, I have no idea.

shmike · 09-01-2009, 02:00 PM

Blame the NOLA's.

Kaneman · 09-01-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmike

Blame the NOLA's.

Its actually the Mexicans. 64% in DFW.

RACER X · 09-01-2009, 03:02 PM

blame the brown people!

unknownroad · 09-01-2009, 03:14 PM

Wow, two hours and no "Manlove" jokes?

I wonder what the STD figures are to go along with that charming statistic.

CasterTroy · 09-01-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RACER X

blame the brown people!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RACER X

i am rather brown........

tommymac · 09-01-2009, 03:32 PM

I blame rap music

Tom

EpyonXero · 09-01-2009, 09:24 PM

Abstinence only policies plus Catholic teachings that many Mexicans follow equals 15 year olds with kids.

Smittie61984 · 09-01-2009, 09:35 PM

This is pretty clear. If we want to beat Houston we need to start having sex with more underage girls.

09-01-2009, 01:00 PM	#1
RACER X AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Richmond, Tx Moto: '10 Tuono Factory Posts: 4,569	Study: Houston leads in births under age 15 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/6596047.html Study: Houston leads in births under age 15 More girls under 15 give birth in Houston than any other U.S. city, according to a new national report, and many of the city's teen moms have additional children before they turn 20. The report by the research organization Child Trends found that there were 20 percent more babies born to girls 14 or younger in Houston than in New York and Los Angeles in 2006 and that 24 percent of all Houston's teen births were repeat births that year, the latest for which data is available. “It's cause for concern,” said Jennifer Manlove, a senior research scientist at Washington-based Child Trends, which uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics to produce the annual report. “Teen births are increasing again, both nationally and in Texas.” The national increase noted in the report marked a second consecutive jump after a 14-year decline. Texas actually improved from possessing the highest teen birth rate in 2005 to the third highest in 2006, but only because its rate didn't increase as much as those of New Mexico and Mississippi. In addition, Texas' numbers were particularly unsettling in a number of subcategories. Among all births involving teenage mothers, Dallas had the nation's highest percentage of repeat births — 28 percent. San Antonio was fourth with 26 percent, Fort Worth eighth with 25 percent and Houston and Austin 14th and 15th, respectively, with 24 percent. The report was seized by Texas child advocacy and health groups as one more indictment of the state's abstinence-only education policy. “The state of Texas needs to understand that what it's doing isn't working,” said Robert Sanborn, president and chief executive officer of Children at Risk. “No matter how many reports show this kind of data, the Legislature continues to be blind to it.” Sanborn specifically criticized the 2009 Legislature for rejecting bills that would have required schools to provide “medically accurate information” in addition to promoting abstinence. Sanborn also said that the number of babies delivered by girls under 15 shows sex is occurring at middle schools and that those schools need to recognize the reality. He said he's all for emphasizing abstinence but that students who don't follow such teaching should have access to information about contraception. What drives rate? A study by the Texas Freedom Network earlier this year found 94 percent of Texas schools don't give students any sex education beyond urging abstinence. Sanborn said he thought most middle schools don't mention sex at all. Manlove said Texas' high teen birth rates are particularly driven by the state's large population of Hispanics, in whom teenage motherhood is more culturally accepted than it is in other ethnicities. But Sanborn and Ruth Buzi of Baylor College of Medicine's Teen Health Clinic said teen birth rates are not as high in other cities with large Hispanic populations but less restrictive sex educationoccur among married couples. The national average is 14 percent. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ 2014 GROM! 181cc of FURY 2010 Aprilia Tuono Factory - SOLD 2009 SFV Gladius - SOLD 2008 Hayabusa - SOLD.

09-01-2009, 02:00 PM	#3
shmike Follower Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,549	Blame the NOLA's. __________________ Racing For Smiles

09-01-2009, 03:02 PM	#5
RACER X AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Richmond, Tx Moto: '10 Tuono Factory Posts: 4,569	blame the brown people! __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ 2014 GROM! 181cc of FURY 2010 Aprilia Tuono Factory - SOLD 2009 SFV Gladius - SOLD 2008 Hayabusa - SOLD.

09-01-2009, 03:14 PM	#6
unknownroad Guys... where are we? Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Carolina Moto: SV650 Interstate, CX500 rat-bobber, whatever else runs. Posts: 784	Wow, two hours and no "Manlove" jokes? I wonder what the STD figures are to go along with that charming statistic. __________________ Considering Verizon Business service? Perhaps you'd like to consider a nice drain cleaner enema instead?

09-01-2009, 09:35 PM	#10
Smittie61984 I give Squids a bad name Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Fly Over State Moto: 1996 CBR600 F3 (AKA the Flying Turd) Posts: 4,742	This is pretty clear. If we want to beat Houston we need to start having sex with more underage girls. __________________ lifts - R.I.P.

09-01-2009, 01:54 PM	#2
HurricaneHeather AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney Moto: '98 Honda Fireblade Posts: 3,696	Yep....same old crap year after year. But nothing ever changes. How this isn't a serious reality check to our state legislature, I have no idea.

09-01-2009, 03:32 PM	#8
tommymac Moto GP Star Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11,022	I blame rap music Tom

09-01-2009, 09:24 PM	#9
EpyonXero AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Redneck Riviera, FL Moto: 2003 VFR800f6 Posts: 2,531	Abstinence only policies plus Catholic teachings that many Mexicans follow equals 15 year olds with kids.