West Virginia found to be the only state with an increase in teen birth rate

By Staff Writer

A recent survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that West Virginia is the only state to see an increase in teen pregnancy rates from 2007 to 2009, The Charleston Gazette reports.

Officials told the news provider that over those years, teen pregnancy rates for the state increased by 17 percent. Comparatively, the national average dropped 8 percent, while reaching a record low of 39.1 births per 1,000 teens.

Experts noted that the state lacks a comprehensive approach to sex education, which shows no consistency from county to county or school to school. However, recently two state nonprofit agencies received approximately $2 million in federal grants to fund curricula.

These grants marked the first time in more than a decade the state received funding for programs not based solely on abstinence.

Family communication may be an effective tool in combating teen pregnancy, as well as individual therapy for those who engage in risky behavior, such as sexual intercourse during adolescence.