US Teen Births Rise for First Time in 15 Years

Teenage births have risen in the US for the first time in 15 years, say government statisticians. CDC officials say it's too early to tell whether the data represent a statistical blip or a real trend. But some experts blame the spike on the administration's focus on abstinence-only sex education, which doesn't teach teens how to use condoms and other contraception, the AP reports.

"It's not rocket science," says a professor of maternal health. The new figures show 42 births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 in 2006. That's an increase of 20,000 teen births from the previous year. The report also showed an increase in births to unmarried mothers, but that result was an expected continuation of a trend, notes the AP. (More teenager stories.)