Planned Parenthood Federation of America Statement on New Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data on Birth Rates

Data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics showed that teen birth rates have fallen to the lowest level ever recorded. In 2011, the teen birth rate fell to 31.3 births per 1,000 from 34.2 per 1,000 in 2010. Following is a statement from Leslie Kantor, vice president of education for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

“The teen birth rate has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded. This new data shows that reducing teen pregnancy is a winnable battle. Planned Parenthood works every day to ensure that teens have access to the education and services that work to prevent unintended pregnancy.

“The teen birth rate has been declining steadily for several years because more teens are using birth control, and more teens are using contraception and condoms together. We can continue this progress by doing what we know works, including expanding access to high-quality sex education and making long-acting types of birth control, such as IUDs and implants, more accessible to teens, which the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently recommended.”

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