Teens are using fewer condoms and are less worried about the consequences, according to a recent study.
Contraceptive use declined 10 percent from 2003 to 2007, with no change in sexual activity levels. In addition, the teen birth rate increased 5 % from 2005-2007. The news doesn't stop there-- births to unmarried older women also increased.
Some blame the Bush administration's emphasis on abstinence only education for this decrease. Obama's 2010 budget proposal redirects some abstinence funds to comprehensive education, so the trends could reverse. Others say that teens are less concerned about the consequences of STDs and HIV. They may incorrectly feel that treatment is adequate enough, so why bother with prevention? Experts are concerned about the future these trends suggest.
From: Christian Science Monitor, "Study Shows Teen Contraception Use Declining, Level of Sexual Activity Unchanged."
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