Teens Having Safer Sex, Fewer Babies

Record-low birth rate part of positive trends in kids' health
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 13, 2007 4:55 PM CDT
Teens Having Safer Sex, Fewer Babies
Pregnant teen.   (Index Open)

High school students are having less sex than kids in the past, and more are using condoms. The teen birth rate is at an all-time low, and the proportion of teens completing high school is up. A new federal report looks at the condition of Americans under 18 and finds a number of bright spots—and areas that need work.

The percentage of kids covered by health insurance has fallen slightly, according to the wide-ranging report, which also evaluates the percentage of low-birthweight babies (up slightly), the number of preschoolers read to by a relative (up), and the number of kids with working parents (up). A consortium of government agencies produces the annual report. (More sex education stories.)

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