“Abstinence Only” States More Effective

When it comes to effectively reducing teen abortions, it’s apparent that there are those who “get it”, and those who don’t. In this particular case, it’s easy to let the numbers speak for themselves.

CDC abortion statistics for years 2001 – 2005 found @ www.cdc.gov

Annual census adjustments were calculated into abortion statistics for each year 2001 – 2005. Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau

States rejecting abstinence only funds included: AZ, CA, CO, CT, IA, MA, ME, MN, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OH, RI, VA, WI and WY.

The following states not reporting abortion statistics to the CDC for each year 2001 – 2005 were excluded from the calculation: AK, CA, LA, FL & NH

For teen girls under the age of 15 years old, from 2001 – 2005, there was a 7.5% decrease in abortions among the states which have rejected funding for abstinence only education.

For teen girls under the age of 15 years old, from 2001 – 2005, there was a 23.1% decrease in abortions among the states which have accepted funding for abstinence only education.

The states which have accepted funding for abstinence only education showed a 208% greater reduction in abortions among girls 14 years old and younger, when compared to the states which have rejected funding for abstinence only education.

Overall, the abortion rate among girls younger than 15 years old in states which rejected abstinence only funding was 37.3% higher than in states which accepted funding

CDC abortion statistics for years 2001 – 2005 found @ www.cdc.gov

Annual census adjustments were calculated into abortion statistics for each year 2001 – 2005. Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau

States rejecting abstinence only funds included: AZ, CA, CO, CT, IA, MA, ME, MN, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OH, RI, VA, WI and WY.

The following states not reporting abortion statistics to the CDC for each year 2001 – 2005 were excluded from the calculation: AK, CA, LA, FL & NH

For teen girls under the age of 20 years old, from 2001 – 2005, there was a 5.2% decrease in abortions among the states which have rejected funding for abstinence only education.

For teen girls under the age of 20 years old, from 2001 – 2005, there was a 20.5% decrease in abortions among the states which have accepted funding for abstinence only education.

The states which have accepted funding for abstinence only education showed a 294.2% greater reduction in abortions among girls 19 years old and younger, when compared to the states which have rejected funding for abstinence only education.

Overall, the teen abortion rate among girls 19 years old and younger for states which rejected abstinence only funding was 48.2% higher than in states which had accepted funding.

The Pontifical Council for the Family provides some guidelines for sex education within the family.

Reference links used in calculations:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5309a1.htm    – CDC 2001

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5407a1.htm    – CDC 2002

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5511a1.htm    – CDC 2003

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5609a1.htm    – CDC 2004

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5713a1.htm    – CDC 2005

 http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=D&-ds_name=D&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-mt_name=PEP_2008_EST_GCTT1R_US40S&-format=ST-2S  - U.S. Census estimations for 2001 – 2008