Teen pregnancy rates are down

INDIANAPOLIS — Teen pregnancies dip while child maltreatment deaths spike. The Indiana Youth Institute released its annual “Kids Count” health report, highlighting trends impacting youth and adolescents.

Indiana ranks among the top five states in terms of first-time child abuse or neglect cases. However, the Youth Institute found 90 percent of children did not report another maltreatment case within six months of the first incident.

“(We’re) not exactly sure why that is, but it could be that the abuse and neglect is lessened. It could be the child is still being abused or neglected but is not being reported,” said Glenn Augustine, CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute.

In 2014, every 20 minutes a child abuse/neglect case occurred.

The Indiana Youth Institute reports the birth rate for girls ages 15 to 17 years-old is at the lowest rate ever recorded. But, young moms and dads fend with more hurdles than parents age 18 and older. Eighty-percent of teen moms will receive welfare, at some point in their lifetime. Meanwhile, fewer than half will earn a high school diploma by the time they turn 22 years-old. Only one-third will nab a GED in the same time period. Teen fathers feel the cramp, with fewer graduating from high school compared to classmates without children.

The “Kids Count” report revealed girls ages 15 to 17 were most likely to use illegal drugs during their pregnancy, implicating immediate and future health problems for a child.

Nonetheless, the Youth Institute said a chat with a teen could be the pathway to preventing pregnancy.

“The main thing is having that conversation with your child, talking to them about the risks involved, not only with having sex at a young age, but also — you know — what can happen when you get pregnant,” said Augustine.

Augustine adds if it’s the right time, parents might consider a discussion about birth control.

The report showed a significant dip in the number of pre-teen/teen abortions: 943 (2013) versus 1,828 (2003).

Source: WNDU