New Study Finding Increase in Teen Pregnancy Rate, Center Says “UnSurprising”

(PRESS RELEASE) Today, the Guttmacher Institute released a new study finding that the national teen pregnancy rate has increased by 3% after more than a decade of decline. Guttmacher attributes the increase to a decline in contraceptive use by sexually active teenagers coinciding with abstinence-only programs becoming more widespread. Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights issued this statement in response:
 
 “It’s not at all surprising that the increase in teen pregnancy coincides with the increase in abstinence-only education programs that value ignorance over knowledge. These programs waste taxpayer money, harm teens, and violate young people’s fundamental right to receive scientifically accurate and objective information in order to protect their health, including avoiding pregnancy and STD’s.”