Efforts continue to reduce Pee Dee, S.C. teen birth rates

According to a report released last week by the Centers for Disease Control, teen birth rates in America have risen for the first time in 14 years.

But, the results for the Pee Dee have not been confirmed for 2006.

Until the information is tallied, the S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Web site, www.teenpregnancysc.org, offers residents of the state a chance to explore the 2005 status of the state as a whole, as well as on a county by county basis.

In the Pee Dee, Marlboro County had the largest change, with a decrease in the incidence of teen pregnancies of 18.1 percent. Williamsburg County had the largest increase, with teen birth rates rising 15.8 percent from 2004 to 2005.

Florence County teen birth rates decreased by 4.3 percent, Darlington County saw an increase of 3.2 percent, Chesterfield County decreased by 10.3 percent and Marion County had no changes to report. Dillon County results weren’t available by press time.

Forrest Alton, executive director of the S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, said his organization is concerned anytime it sees a report at the national level saying teen birth rates have increased. He said the campaign is working hard to make sure that teens in South Carolina are taught how to prevent pregnancy in an age-appropriate manner.

“Start with a very strong abstinence message, and present that as the first and best choice for all young people, and that message should be coupled with age-appropriate, medically accurate information on contraception,” Alton said. “Research has clearly shown us that it is a combined message that has been linked to decreases in teen pregnancy and births rates across the country.”

And at least one local doctor agrees. Dr. John B. Browning, a gynecologist with McLeod OB-GYN Associates in Florence, said his opinions of the subject didn’t changed even before the CDC report was released.

“There is an inadequate amount of sexual education in the school system,” he said. “It should happen even in the middle schools.”

During a typical day in his practice, Browning said, he sees many pregnant teenagers with no understanding of birth control methods.

“During their pregnancies, we discuss contraceptive options for after they have their child and they have no idea about those options when we discuss them then — which is a complete failure of the education system as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

But, Browning said, despite a pressing need for birth control methods to be taught to teens, there’s need a need for abstinence to be a lesson in the course as well.

“Somewhere along the line, we have to understand that sexual activity will occur and prepare these teenagers for what option there are to prevent sexually-transmitted disease and pregnancy,” he said.

Alton said his organization feels the same way about the subject of teaching birth control plus abstinence, versus abstinence only. According to information on the campaign’s Web site, a South Carolina teen gets pregnant every 58 minutes.

“We are encouraging everyone to make sure the programs they are using are based in research and in strong science,” he said. “The key now is to replicate those programs that have shown success.”



Other information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, according to the S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (All numbers are preliminary estimates which encompass the United States.):

n Total births for 2006 was 4,265,996 — 3 percent higher than in 2005.

n Teens were not the only group with increased birth rates. Women in their 20s, 30,s and 40s saw an increase in birth rates as well.

n Low birthweight rates rose in 2006 from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent.

n Births to unmarried mothers rose from 36.9 percent in 2005 to 38.5 percent in 2006.

n Although the birth rate increase was the first of its kind in 14 years, the actual amount of the increase was 2 percent.



On the Web

S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, www.teenpregnancysc.org