While teenage pregnancies have declined nationally over the last few years, a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention placed Louisiana sixth in a 2010 ranking of teenage pregnancies across the country.
Though the Pelican State ranked high on the list, Louisiana and the majority of other states have seen a decrease in teen pregnancies since 2007, the CDC report said.
Teen pregnancies in the U.S. have declined by 9 percent from 2009 to 2010, equating to 34.3 births per 1,000 15- to 19-year-old mothers, according to the CDC.
Economics junior Summer Saleh said she thought Louisiana would rank in 10th place, but she wasn’t surprised that the state’s ranking was higher.
“There’s definitely a lack of education on the issue,” she said. “Parents don’t talk with their kids about prevention as much as they should.”
Shea Leger, sociology freshman, agreed that additional sex education should be pursued in the state.
“Lack of education is a big factor,” she said.
Leger said the state’s conservative stance against birth control may be another factor in the state’s high teen pregnancy statistics, but she attributes the decline in teen pregnancies across the country to increased available information on pregnancy.
Saleh agreed, stating more information on preventing pregnancies has spurred on the trend in many other states.
“More institutions are encouraging birth control today,” she said.
For example, Saleh said many universities’ infirmaries also offer condoms to students.
But some think recent television shows, including MTV’s “Teen Mom,” glamorize teenage pregnancy.
Saleh said the show encourages teenage pregnancy by celebrating the teen mothers on television, in magazines and via social media.
“Everyone has the idea that they want to be famous, and the show puts that idea out there,” she said.
Leger said “Teen Mom” has both positive and negative effects on today’s youth.
“It does glamorize teen pregnancy, but it definitely makes people see a first-hand experience of teen pregnancy and the girls’ struggles,” she said.
 
—-
Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]