Mississippi has 2nd highest teen pregnancy rate in US

Sustainable Development Goals and Teen Pregnancies in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data revealed that Mississippi has the second highest rate of teen pregnancies in the United States. 

Teen Pregnancy Rates in Mississippi

1. According to the data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 15 to 19-year-olds in Mississippi get pregnant more often than all other teenagers except those in Arkansas. About 25.6 teenage girls out of 1,000 girls in Mississippi become pregnant compared to 26.5 in the Natural State. 
2. Nine of the 10 states with the top teen pregnancy rates are in the South. None of the 10 states with the lowest rates are in the South. 

Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

• The high rate of teen pregnancies in Mississippi directly affects the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Teen pregnancies can have negative health consequences for both the mother and the child. It is crucial to provide comprehensive sexual education and access to reproductive healthcare services to reduce these rates and improve overall health outcomes.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality – Teen pregnancies often perpetuate gender inequalities, as young girls are more likely to drop out of school and face limited economic opportunities. Empowering young girls through education and reproductive rights is essential for achieving gender equality.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The high rates of teen pregnancies in Mississippi highlight the existing inequalities in access to sexual education and healthcare services. Efforts should be made to ensure equal access for all, regardless of socioeconomic background.

Sex Education in Mississippi

According to the Sex Education Collaborative, Mississippi’s sex education requires abstinence instruction. No regulation exists to ensure the instruction is medically accurate.

Unmarried Pregnancies in Mississippi

Teen pregnancies contribute to who becomes pregnant in Mississippi. Every year since 1994, unmarried women have had the majority of pregnancies in Mississippi. Since 2006, unmarried women have birthed the most children. 

Infant Mortality Rates in Mississippi

In terms of other noteworthy statistics, Mississippi and Arkansas respectively have the highest infant mortality rate. About 330 Mississippi infants, or about 9.39 out of 1,000 live births, died in 2021. Seven of the 10 states with the highest infant mortality rates are in the South. None of the 10 states with the lowest rates are in that region. 

Source: wjtv.com