Increasing use of contraception and a "leveling off" of youth sexual activity have reduced US teen pregnancy rates to numbers not seen since the mid-1970s.
According to the CDC, the percentage of US girls aged 15 to 19 who became pregnant began to rise in the mid-1980s; reaching a peak in 1991. Since then, rates for teen pregnancy have charted a slow but steady decline to 1997's record low 94.3 pregnancies per 1,000 teens, a number last seen in 1976.
Experts believe that factors such as an increase in the use of contraception -- most notably a plateau in rates of teen sexual activity may be behind the decline. The report found there were both fewer births (down 13%) and fewer abortions (down 32%) in teens.
Rates of pregnancy among single women continue to decline, with 1997 rates 9% lower than those charted in 1990. According to the CDC, less than half of pregnancies among unmarried women ended in a live birth, with 41% of pregnant single women opting to terminate their pregnancy.
"Trends in Pregnancy Rates in the United States, 1976-1997: An Update" CDC June 2, 2001
It is encouraging to find out that the rate of teen pregnancies and single parent abortions is decreasing. I sincerely believe that is a very encouraging commentary on our culture.