Another dubious distinction for Mississippi, a place where a faux reality trumps sex education
Great news, Mississippi: You're number one!!
The state, which has always had one of the nation's highest teenage pregnancy rates, can now claim the number one spot.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, Mississippi's 2006 rate of 68 births per every 1,000 women ages 15-19 outpaced the national average by a staggering 60 percent!
Congratulations!!
As a Mississippi native, I can say that this is just another example of where the state's pious, Bible-thumping persona doesn't match reality.
There might be a church on every corner, but the state needs to work on getting a condom in every purse.
Since Mississippi isn't using its Hurricane Katrina aid money to rebuild affordable housing as originally intended, it might want to allocate a portion of the $600 million currently in dispute to develop a curriculum in schools that doesn't stress abstinence only.
Though the state pays a heavy price for ignoring the obvious, this issue is always overlooked.
source: AP article, MS leads nation in high teen pregnancy rates 1-7-09, Wash Post: MS groups sue HUD, objecting to use of Katrina aid for port 12-11-08
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2 comments:
The statistics you provide (from the CDC's report) is bothersome. Behind teenage pregnancy follows high STD rates and HIV/AIDS rates as well. There are curriculum developed in other states that provide information on safer sex practices for those who choose "abstinence only" (and trust me, most teenagers will NOT choose abstinence only) as a way of preventing pregnancy. High teen pregnancy rates indicates condom-less sex and thats exactly what can lead to higher STDs (or STIs) and HIV rates.
Thanks so much Marshand...
All i meant to say is that the curriculum is there, but the willingness to put it to use is not.
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