| The rate of teenage pregnancy is increasing in the U.S. | | | | pregnancy remain high. Most teenage mothers fail to |
| for the first time in 15 years. An estimated 750,000 | | | | complete their education: fewer than half of all teen |
| young girls become pregnant each year. The | | | | moms graduate from high school, and only about one |
| Guttmacher Institute found that teen pregnancy rose 3 | | | | quarter receive their GEDs. Consequently, teenage |
| percent among girls ages 15 to 19 between 2005 and | | | | parents also have lower incomes, with annual salaries |
| 2006. The United States has the highest rate of teen | | | | that are about $28,000 less on average for the 15 |
| pregnancies among any industrialized nation in the | | | | years following the child's birth. This figure is significantly |
| world. | | | | less than for 20-something mothers. |
| There are many possible reasons why more teens | | | | One of the biggest challenges with teenage pregnancy |
| are becoming pregnant today. Some argue that the | | | | is how to break the cycle. Children born to teenage |
| increase in teen pregnancy resulted from a shift in | | | | mothers are more likely to become teen parents |
| emphasis to abstinence-only education. There is some | | | | themselves. They are also more likely to have |
| support for this argument, since rates began to stall as | | | | behavioral and social problems. |
| such programs gained attention. Others cite increasing | | | | Where does the problem end? It remains clear that |
| poverty rates as corresponding to teenage pregnancy. | | | | prevention is the key to bringing down the costs-both |
| Whatever the reason, it is clear that the costs of teen | | | | financial and emotional-of teen pregnancy. |