Editorial: Pregnancy decline in teens is question for the ages

Maybe it was the ascendance of Elvis Presley, or the spread of “American Bandstand.” All of those frenzied teenagers dancing to rock ’n’ roll – the boys in dungarees and ducktails, the girls in bobby socks and bouffants.

But for whatever reason, 1957 was peak year for teen pregnancies in America.

Kids back then – so impressionable, so irresponsible.

And where were the parents?

The good news is that the current generation of teens is performing much better on this indicator of societal health. In 2012, the teen birth rate per 1,000 women was 29.4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Spokane Regional Health District says the rate locally is 26.68. In 1957, it was a shocking 96.3 nationwide. It’s not clear what in the world of Brylcreem and Dippity-Do was going on back then. Just as it’s not clear what’s caused the steep decline of recent years.

Theories abound for this positive trend, and they’re often tied to a political agenda. But objective researchers are puzzled by the acceleration. So it’s wise to greet any certitude with skepticism.

Some people credit abstinence education. Texas, for instance, launched an aggressive abstinence campaign, and its birth rate has declined. But it’s still higher than in many other states, including Washington, with broader sex education curriculums.

Some say it’s the liberal availability of abortions, but the abortion rate has also declined.

Some say it’s the recession, because a precipitous drop has occurred since 2009. But the decline for teens was steeper than it was for other age groups. Were teens really tracking economic indicators more closely?

Some say it’s income inequality, because teen birth rates are higher among low-income people. However, the decline in teen pregnancies has occurred as income inequality has widened.

Some say it’s contraceptives, but the recent drop hasn’t been matched by a rise in contraceptives use. However, the increased availability of contraception has been a positive long-term influence.

To complicate matters, most people aren’t aware of the trend. In a survey last year by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, only 18 percent of respondents said the teen birth rate had declined since 1990. In fact, it had dropped 42 percent. Such ignorance fans the criticism of today’s teens and efforts that have probably helped.

Girls who avoid unwanted pregnancies are more likely to stay in school and thrive as adults. We can’t be certain what factors have led to the sharp decline, but we can acknowledge the trend and encourage it to continue.

And just to be safe, keep those Elvis records under lock and key, especially the early years.