Over the past seven years Colorado has nearly halved its teen birth rate. Texas, too, has seen its teen birth rate decline, just like most of the US. But if you look closer at these two states, some stark differences emerge.
Colorado is ranked 18th lowest in teen birth rates nationally. Texas is 46th.
Colorado’s has 20 births per 1,000 teenage girls. That’s below the national average of 22. Meanwhile, Texas sees 38 births per 1,000 teenage girls—almost double the rate of Colorado.
So, why the huge gap? There’s a simple truth behind these numbers, says MySanAntonio.com. Some states are trying hard. Texas is not one of them.
The Lone Star State lags behind other states in providing contraceptive services to minors. Texas also falls short in how sexual education is taught—when it’s taught at all. Colorado has adopted these techniques, and it’s working.