Results of Abstinence-Only Sex Education: First Rise in U.S. Teen Births Since 1991

The obsession of the GOP and the Chimperator, along with their Christinists party base is showing results: teen pregnancy rates are up which anyone with a brain and reasoning ability could have predicted. This story (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TEEN_BIRTHS?SITE=VANOV&SECTION=HOME) is in keeping with earlier reports that showed the abstinence only programs were not stopping teen sexual activity. Rather, as these results show, the programs only ensured that teens having sex would be ignorant of birth control and STD risks. But hey, if Daddy Dobson and Pat Robertson are happy, that's all that matters to today's GOP. As a parent, I am (A) not a proponent of teens having sex and (B) all for competent fact based sex education for teens. But, the abstinence only fantasy of the Christianists is just not realistic. These results definitely support Virginia Governor Tim Kaine's decision earlier in the year to opt out of mandated abstinence only educational programs. Here are some story highlights:

ATLANTA (AP) -- In a troubling reversal, the nation's teen birth rate rose for the first time in 15 years, surprising government health officials who had no immediate explanation. The birth rate had been dropping since its peak in 1991, although the decline had slowed in recent years. On Wednesday, government statisticians said it rose 3 percent from 2005 to 2006. U.S. health officials said it was possibly a one-year statistical blip and not the beginning of a new upward trend.

But several experts said they have been expecting a jump. They blame the increase on increased federal funding for abstinence-only health education programs that do not teach how to use condoms and other contraception. Some key sexually transmitted disease rates have been rising, including syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. The rising teen pregnancy rate is part of the same phenomenon, said Dr. Carol Hogue, an Emory University professor of maternal and child health. "It's not rocket science," she said.

Sadly, for the Christianists, it IS rocket science.