With the rising awareness for deadly issues such as AIDS and other STD’s, it is quite interesting to know that a report released by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, which is an association between the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Census Bureau and the Administration for Children and Families, says that high school students are having less sex and also more of them are using condoms as precaution. This has also brought about a significant decrease in unwanted pregnancies, abortions and births in teens.
It also seems that teens have become more interested in studies and finishing their high schools then sex. Edward Sondik, the director of the National Center for Health Statistics regarding the positive report said, ‘The implications for the population are quite positive in terms of their health and their well-being. The lower figure on teens having sex means the risk of sexually transmitted diseases is lower. This is very good news. Young teen mothers and their babies are at a greater risk of both immediate and long-term difficulties.’
As compared to 1991, where out of every 1000 teens 39 gave births, the teen birth rate decreased to 21 births. Also in the year 2005, statistics revealed that 47 percent of high school student’s i.e.6.7 million admitted to having had a sexual intercourse. However in 1991, 54 percent of students admitted doing the same. Whereas 34% of them have admitted having sex during the three month period, 64% admit using condoms which was considered used by only 46% in the year 1991.
James Wagoner, the president of Advocates for Youth, which is a Washington-based nonprofit group that helps and educates teens for preventing teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases regards various educational programs responsible for such a significant change. He also said, ‘I think the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the efforts in the ’80s and ’90s had a lot to do with that. We need to encourage young teens to delay sexual initiation and we need to make sure they get all the information they need about condoms and birth control.’
The report which also focused on other key indicators such as number of children living in poverty, academic achievements also pin pointed that the percentage of children covered by health insurance have gone down a little. Also the number of infants born with low weights has increased by 1%. More young people are finishing high schools and the number of children with one parent working all round the year has increased. It has also been observed that more of the children, especially of the age group of 3-5 are getting to read something or the other.
On the whole, statistics do reveal that teens are getting back to their justifiable tracks and also are becoming aware. They not only care about sex but also are concerned about studies. So, now in a few years or so, I hope we will be able to literally quote, ‘children are the future of a nation’.
Source: CBS13
Image credit: Vivaphotography