What Will It Take to Further Reduce Teen Pregnancy in the U.S.?

Brown discusses a study by Scott et al based on a cross national comparison of adolescent sexual activity, contraceptive use, and pregnancy in the US and the UK. The data presented are important because although we all celebrate significant declines in teen pregnancy in each nation, rates remain higher in both nations than in other wealthy industrialized nations. If we can pinpoint the factors associated with past progress in both nations, it may be possible to find ways to ensure that the declines continue and perhaps even accelerate. In addition, a careful assessment of factors driving the declines might also suggest new, innovative approaches. Scott et al's study suggests at least four important pathways to lowering rates of teen pregnancy in the US. First is a crisp focus on increasing teens' knowledge about the wide variety of contraceptive methods available; second is improving teens' access to high-quality contraceptive services; third is strengthening social norms about the significance of pregnancy and the reasons for avoiding too-early childbearing; and fourth is building high-quality research into all such efforts.