The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported on Wednesday that their expanded sex education programs had successfully reduced teen pregnancy rate by 60 percent.
Their 2011 data was the lowest rate in 20 years. It was previously reported that in 1991, there were 70.9 births for every 1,000 teens which is now down to 28 births per 1,000 teens. Teens are those between 15 and 19 years old.
They also reported a reduction as well on ethnic groups with the Hispanic still being the highest but had tremendously improved from 73.6 in 2001 to 42.7 in 2011.
The department detailed in a press release the factors that have contributed in this good news. First is the state sex education program in schools. The program was medically precise and broad as mandated by the law. They also give credits to the community-based education programs which had helped provide sexual health information to teens and parents.
“California’s innovative strategies and community partnerships aimed at lowering teen pregnancy are helping young women and men make responsible choices,” Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the CDPH, said in a press release. “We must not be complacent; we must continue to promote teen pregnancy prevention programs and strategies in all communities.”
While some believe that the drop in the teen pregnancy rate in California is part of the national trend as reported by Think Progress, the health officials believe that it is their sex education programs which have made it possible.
“We do believe that our programs are behind these numbers,” Karen Ramstrom, the chief of the program standards branch at the California Department of Public Health’s maternal child and adolescent health division, told the Los Angeles Times.
