Percentages explain it all: Don't become a statistic

Written by: Alexis Yerden '12

According to Facts on Teens, 750,000 U.S. women aged 15-19 become pregnant; two-thirds of all teen pregnancies occur among 18-19 year olds. This is the statistic that is most known for our generation. More teens today are becoming pregnant without fully knowing what it entails. “13 percent of teens have had sex by the age of 15 and it is a rising rate”. This wouldn’t be as big of a problem if things were different, however, the fact of the matter is that 7.2 percent of teen pregnancies receive no care at all and teen pregnancy prevention claims that 60 percent of all teen mothers are in poverty at the time of birth.

Teen pregnancy affects many people, but what can we, teens, do about it? Education and responsibility can really change a person’s life when it comes to teen pregnancy. Abstinence is the 100 percent effective way to prevent pregnancy. Whatever your methods may be in preventing teen pregnancy, be responsible about your actions. Don’t become a statistic.