Teen Pregnancy and STI Rates in Wisconsin
High Teen Pregnancy Rates Though national teen birth rates are lower now than they have been in a generation, the city of Milwaukee still has one of the highest rates in the country. In fact, the percentage of total births to teen mothers is higher in Milwaukee than in a number of other major American cities, including Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles. (1) According to the United Way, children of teen mothers are much more likely to be high school drop-outs later on in life, while girls born to teen mothers are 83% more likely to be teen mothers themselves. (2) Having a child is enormously expensive, placing great financial strain on many teen mothers, their families and, in turn, on society. The teen pregnancy problem thus perpetuates the circle of poverty that plagues parts of Wisconsin. High Teen STI Rates A recent study by the Center for Disease Control found that 1 in 4 teenage girls has an sexually transmitted infection (STI). (3) In Wisconsin, teen STI rates are highest in Milwaukee County by a wide margin. (4) Chlamydia is the most highly reported STI nationwide, with the highest levels found among teenagers and young adults under the age of 25. This particular STI appears to be significantly more common among females. (5) Racial disparities in STI rates exist in nationally as well as in Wisconsin. National rates of Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are the highest by far among African Americans, followed by American Indian/American Natives. (6) In total, there are currently a reported 10,000 diagnosed cases of teen STDs in the state of Wisconsin. Combating the High Rates However, the news isn’t all bad. From 1991-2005 the Wisconsin teen pregnancy rate decreased by a drastic 31%. (7) A 2002 study by the CDC, found that in that year there were 32.3 births per 1,000 teen women in the state of Wisconsin, compared with a national average of 43.0. 61.4% of teens report that they used a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse, according to a 2007 study by the CDC. (8) This is impressive when compared with the rest of the country. Nationwide, only 47% of boys and 33% of girls say they use a condom during each sexual intercourse. (9) These are significant victories in the fight to eliminate teenage unplanned pregnancies. Increased education and access to contraceptives can take at least partial credit for this great success. If we want to eliminate teen pregnancy in Wisconsin, we must continue the fight for comprehensive sex education and open access to contraceptives for teens. Sex education is the most important tool we have to fight teen pregnancy and rising STI rates in our state. The federal government has spent billions of dollars on abstinence-only sex education, which has been shown to be ineffective and dangerous to young people. In contrast, there is evidence that comprehensive sexual education programs that include information on contraception and STI prevention increase contraceptive use and delay the initiation of sex among teens. (10)
1 - Batog, Jennifer. Teen Birth Rate Hurts Economy. The Business Journal of Milwaukee. June 12 2006. 2 - United Way Milwaukee. Teen Pregnancy Prevention. (2004-2008) Accessed August 14, 2008 from http://www.unitedwaymilwaukee.org/Teen_Pregnancy.html 3 - Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationally Representative CDC Study Finds 1 in 4 Teenage Girls Has a Sexually Transmitted Disease. Atlanta: Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed August 15, 2008 from http://www.cdc.gov/STDConference/2008/media/release-11march2008.htm 4 - Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Sexually Transmitted Disease in Wisconsin. (2007). Accessed August 15, 2008 from http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/STD/2007Data/Youth%2015-19.pdf 5 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted disease surveillance, 2003. Atlanta: Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed August 15, 2008 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/std/stats/toc2003.htm 7 - United Way Milwaukee. 8 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. VitalStats. Atlanta: Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed August 14, 2008 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/vitalstats.htm 9 - Report: Many Teens Don’t Use Condoms. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14169056/ [August 2006]. 10 - National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Halfway There: a Prescription for Continued Progress in Preventing Teen Pregnancy. Washington, DC: Author, 2001. | 
