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ISSUES
The
Alan
Guttmacher
Institute
New York and Washington
in
A Not-for-Profit Corporation
for Reproductive Health
Research, Policy Analysis
and Public Education
120 Wall Street
BRIEF
New York, NY 10005
Telephone: 212 248-1111
FAX: 212 248-1951
1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 460
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202 296-4012
FAX: 202 223-5756
Teenage Pregnancy and
ality is, however, that marriage is not a
The Welfare Reform Debate
realistic or even desirable option for most
poor adolescent women.
This Issues in Brief examines teen-
Teenage pregnancy and out-of-wedlock
Clearly, therefore, ensuring teenag-
age sexual and reproductive behavior,
childbearing have become central issues
ers access to services that can enable them
with special attention to key behavior dif-
in the debate over welfare reform. Para-
to avoid unplanned pregnancies and un-
ferences among adolescents of varying
doxically, they are frequently seen as both
wanted births is essential to helping them
income levels. It explores the extent to
the cause of increased welfare costs and
avoid or escape poverty and welfare.
which teenage mothers depend on welfare
caseloads over the last 25 years, and the
Making voluntary family planning ser-
and whether welfare recipients who gave
result of the welfare system itself.
vices and, as a backup, abortion easily
birth as teenagers differ significantly on
Out-of-wedlock births among
accessible to adolescents has been dem-
certain socioeconomic indicators from
teenagers have increased dramatically in
onstrated to be a cost-effective way to re-
those who were not teenage mothers. It
the last several decades and now account
duce unplanned childbearing and its
also considers whether current proposals
for almost 70% of all teenage births. Yet,
consequences.
to reduce teenage pregnancies and out-
trends in teenage sexual activity and
For the most part, however, cur-
of-wedlock births among young women
childbearing reflect broader trends in
rent welfare reform proposals take a
on or at risk of welfare are likely to achieve
sexual and reproductive behavior among
different approach. They rely on disin-
their stated goals.
women of all ages and income levels.
centives the threat of punitive mea-
Women age 20 and older, for example,
sures down the line to discourage teen-
account for more than three-quarters of
age childbearing.
Teenagers and Sex
the unintended pregnancies and abor-
These proposals appear to rest on
Initiation of sexual intercourse during
tions that occur each year in the United
two basic assumptions: that poor, un-
the teenage years has become the norm
States. Moreover, despite the sharp in-
married teenagers deliberately get preg-
in the U.S. While intercourse among
crease in teenage out-of-wedlork births,
nant and have babies in order to col-
very young teenagers is still relatively
the increase has been even greater among
lect welfare and set up their own house-
rare (and many of the youngest teenag-
older women. As a result, teenagers ac-
holds; and that a prohibition on ben-
ers who have had sex report that they
count for a much smaller proportion of
efits will, in and of itself, discourage out-
were forced to do so), more than eight
out-of-wedlock births today than they did
of-wedlock births. Undoubtedly, some
in 10 adolescents have had intercourse
in the 1970s.
teenagers want to get pregnant and have
by the time they turn 20. Because mar-
Contrary to popular belief, only 5%
a child. Research indicates, however, that
riage in the teenage years is now so un-
of mothers on welfare are teenagers, and just
the great majority of poor teenagers use
common, most adolescent sexual activ-
1%, or about 32,000, are under age 18.
contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, and
ity occurs outside marriage.
However, a large proportion of women who
that most births to poor adolescents are
As sex has become more common
begin childbearing as teenagers eventually
unintended. It also suggests that most
at younger ages, historic differences in
end up on welfare, and those who do tend
women, including teenagers, would pre-
sexual activity among teenagers of dif-
to need assistance for a long period of time.
fer to give birth within marriage. The re-
ferent races, income levels and religions
Issues in Brief February 1995
The Alan Guttmacher Institute
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"ocrText": "ISSUES\nThe\nAlan\nGuttmacher\nInstitute\nNew York and Washington\nin\nA Not-for-Profit Corporation\nfor Reproductive Health\nResearch, Policy Analysis\nand Public Education\n120 Wall Street\nBRIEF\nNew York, NY 10005\nTelephone: 212 248-1111\nFAX: 212 248-1951\n1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW\nSuite 460\nWashington, DC 20036\nTelephone: 202 296-4012\nFAX: 202 223-5756\nTeenage Pregnancy and\nality is, however, that marriage is not a\nThe Welfare Reform Debate\nrealistic or even desirable option for most\npoor adolescent women.\nThis Issues in Brief examines teen-\nTeenage pregnancy and out-of-wedlock\nClearly, therefore, ensuring teenag-\nage sexual and reproductive behavior,\nchildbearing have become central issues\ners access to services that can enable them\nwith special attention to key behavior dif-\nin the debate over welfare reform. Para-\nto avoid unplanned pregnancies and un-\nferences among adolescents of varying\ndoxically, they are frequently seen as both\nwanted births is essential to helping them\nincome levels. It explores the extent to\nthe cause of increased welfare costs and\navoid or escape poverty and welfare.\nwhich teenage mothers depend on welfare\ncaseloads over the last 25 years, and the\nMaking voluntary family planning ser-\nand whether welfare recipients who gave\nresult of the welfare system itself.\nvices and, as a backup, abortion easily\nbirth as teenagers differ significantly on\nOut-of-wedlock births among\naccessible to adolescents has been dem-\ncertain socioeconomic indicators from\nteenagers have increased dramatically in\nonstrated to be a cost-effective way to re-\nthose who were not teenage mothers. It\nthe last several decades and now account\nduce unplanned childbearing and its\nalso considers whether current proposals\nfor almost 70% of all teenage births. Yet,\nconsequences.\nto reduce teenage pregnancies and out-\ntrends in teenage sexual activity and\nFor the most part, however, cur-\nof-wedlock births among young women\nchildbearing reflect broader trends in\nrent welfare reform proposals take a\non or at risk of welfare are likely to achieve\nsexual and reproductive behavior among\ndifferent approach. They rely on disin-\ntheir stated goals.\nwomen of all ages and income levels.\ncentives the threat of punitive mea-\nWomen age 20 and older, for example,\nsures down the line to discourage teen-\naccount for more than three-quarters of\nage childbearing.\nTeenagers and Sex\nthe unintended pregnancies and abor-\nThese proposals appear to rest on\nInitiation of sexual intercourse during\ntions that occur each year in the United\ntwo basic assumptions: that poor, un-\nthe teenage years has become the norm\nStates. Moreover, despite the sharp in-\nmarried teenagers deliberately get preg-\nin the U.S. While intercourse among\ncrease in teenage out-of-wedlork births,\nnant and have babies in order to col-\nvery young teenagers is still relatively\nthe increase has been even greater among\nlect welfare and set up their own house-\nrare (and many of the youngest teenag-\nolder women. As a result, teenagers ac-\nholds; and that a prohibition on ben-\ners who have had sex report that they\ncount for a much smaller proportion of\nefits will, in and of itself, discourage out-\nwere forced to do so), more than eight\nout-of-wedlock births today than they did\nof-wedlock births. Undoubtedly, some\nin 10 adolescents have had intercourse\nin the 1970s.\nteenagers want to get pregnant and have\nby the time they turn 20. Because mar-\nContrary to popular belief, only 5%\na child. Research indicates, however, that\nriage in the teenage years is now so un-\nof mothers on welfare are teenagers, and just\nthe great majority of poor teenagers use\ncommon, most adolescent sexual activ-\n1%, or about 32,000, are under age 18.\ncontraceptives to prevent pregnancy, and\nity occurs outside marriage.\nHowever, a large proportion of women who\nthat most births to poor adolescents are\nAs sex has become more common\nbegin childbearing as teenagers eventually\nunintended. It also suggests that most\nat younger ages, historic differences in\nend up on welfare, and those who do tend\nwomen, including teenagers, would pre-\nsexual activity among teenagers of dif-\nto need assistance for a long period of time.\nfer to give birth within marriage. The re-\nferent races, income levels and religions\nIssues in Brief February 1995\nThe Alan Guttmacher Institute"
}