by Emily Bridges, Director, Public Information Services

June 20, 2012

A new report from the CDC presents detailed pregnancy rates from 1990-2008.  A few takeaways include:

The teen pregnancy rate has fallen steadily since 1990, and in 2008, fell below that of women ages 30-34.  Young women in their twenties have the highest pregnancy rates.

• Pregnancy rates for women in their early 20s have remained about the same since 2002.
• Disparities in teen pregnancy remain:  African American and Hispanic teens have rates 2-3 higher than white teens.
• The CDC names as two potential causes, that young people are choosing not to have sex until older ages, and that more female teens are using the most effective forms of contraception.

In our factsheet Unintended Pregnancy Among Young People in the United States, Advocates explores the structural barriers many young people experience to preventing unintended pregnancy.  Although it remains imperative to dismantle these barriers, we welcome news that many young people have the information and access to contraception and health services they need to prevent unintended pregnancy.

A recent New York Times article highlighted a growing problem among those living with HIV:  people who are HIV positive are four times as likely to have a heart attack as those who are HIV negative.  Researchers do not fully understand the connection between heart disease and HIV, but believe they may include inflammation, antiretroviral therapy interruption, and conflicting medications.  HIV is no longer a “death sentence,” but it can create many health complications, especially for young people who will live with the virus and take medication for a long time.  Those who are living with HIV should be aware of the HIV/heart disease connection and consult their doctor about protecting heart health.

The current AIDS Journal looks back on 25 years of HIV and discusses its history, unanswered questions, and new approaches to epidemiology, treatment, and prevention.

The Guttmacher Institute has released Adding It Up: Costs and Benefits of Contraceptive Services—Estimates for 2012.  The report finds that 222 million women around the world want to avoid pregnancy but are not using a modern method of contraception.  In the world’s poorest countries, since 2008, the number of women who need contraception has increased by 9 million.  The report analyzes the costs and benefits of providing contraceptive services to women who need them, finding that women’s health could be protected, and billions of dollars saved, by investing in family planning services.