What is the link between religion, teenage pregnancy and abortion?

Question

Why are the rates of teenage pregnancy and abortion considerably greater in the highly religious US than in much more secular countries of Western Europe?

e.g:

Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany and Spain: Less than 1%
UK: 2 - 3%
USA: 5.5%

I believe it's also true to say that the US has a higher proportion of its population in prison than any other country in the world, but I haven't found the figures to substantiate that.

Is there a connection between prevalence of religious belief and all these social ills, and if so what is it?

Fascinating and very educational answers...

Answer 1

To address your first question, the US has a higher pregnancy and abortion rate for several reasons.

1. These nations all have widely available, often free, contraception. Furthermore, contraception in these nations is not a religious or political, but a health issue. As such, something like promoting condom use would not be controversial in nearly any country in Europe, certainly not in the ones you mentioned. Contraception prevents both pregnancy and abortion.

2. Many factors contribute to the US's high pregnancy rate. For one, sex education and contraception are political issues in the US. Look, for example, over the current controversy over birth control prescriptions: pharmacists in several states have refused to issue oral contraceptive pills due to personal moral objections, a move which has found support from many Republicans. Similarly, access to Plan B (the so-called "morning after pill" which can prevent a pregnancy up to 72 hours after sex by preventing a woman from releasing an egg) has been stymied by political motives. Diminished access to contraceptives, particularly in more rural areas where there is no such thing as buying contraception anonymously, increases pregnancy and abortion.

3. The prevalence of abstinence-only sex education. These programs teach that the only safe sex is sex had within the bounds of marriage. These classes do not give information on how to use contraception. Many students have received this type of sex education in America, and studies have shown that they are no less likely to have sex before marriage or as adolescents, and that when they do have sex, they are less likely to use contraception. Again, pregnancy and abortion.

If you look at the Guttmacher report, you find that the states with the highest teen pregnancy and abortion rates are also some of the most conservative (and therefore most likely to be effected by the previous two factors). The highest rates are in Nevada, followed by New Mexico, Mississippi, Arizona and Texas.

I haven't specifically mentioned religion much, so let me clarify. The US, particularly the Republican party, but also members of the Democratic party, have legalized religious moral principles in a fashion unseen in Europe. To put it simply - sex is a health issue in Europe, a moral one in the US. So, here in the US, with one third of Americans identifying as evangelical Christians, there is a fight against readily available contraception, and comprehensive and honest sex education. This is simply not the case in Europe.

As for the US's extremely high incarceration rate, this is likely caused by very different legal policies in the US and in Europe. An extremely large segment of the prison population consists of non-violent drug offenders. Drug sentences are often lengthy; and some states posses three-strikes laws which can mean extended sentences for convicts with multiple, but minor, convictions.

Most nations in Europe (though this varies greatly from place to place) treat drugs as a health rather than legal issue. That is not to say that they don't arrest drug dealers; it means it is unusual for an individual to receive jail time for personal use. A fine or a rehabilitation program might be imposed instead.

The US also has a higher crime rate, particularly for violent crime, than any European country. The reason why is a complicated question. Some point to the nation's large size, others its diversity, as factors that contribute to crime (European nations tend to be smaller and more homogeneous). It is also worth noting that guns and gun possession are far more common than in Europe. Most European nations have banned weapons except for hunting; guns are readily available in the US. The prevalence of these weapons might contribute to more violent crime, which means more prison time, etc.

Please forgive my long-winded answer. Your question touches on some very complicated and interesting issues. I urge you to read more if you are interested. There is a wealth of sociological literature on pregnancy, abortion and crime in the US.

Answer 2

you have several questions here. Sadly there is a statistic that indicates that there are as many "committed chrisitian teens" who become pregnant out of wed lock as non christian teens. This may indicate one to two things- that those who are chrisitians do not apply their christianity to their sexuality or that they do not take birth control meassures because 'premeditated sex" seems more of a sin to them than being swept away by the moment.

An opinon on your other question about people in jail in the US- the countries you mentioned have very strick, consistantly enforced gun control laws. In my state in the southern US, I can purchase and assault rifle at a gun and knife show with waiting or showing any ID. Add cheap liquor to that you have people who will end up in prison- because we have the right to bear arms , we also get the "right" to get stupid and shoot each other.

Answer 3

The US is incredibly uptight about sex. Other countries aren't so afraid of discussing it, and one of the results of free and open discussion is knowledge.

The more you know about sex and birth control, the more likely you are to use birth control, especially when it's readily available.

The states with the most restrictions on access to knowledge about birth control have the highest rates of teenage pregnancy. You'd think people would take a look at those statistics and slap themselves on the forehead.

PS--regarding your prison question, yes, the US does have the highest per capita population:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/rel/icps/worldbrief/highest_to_lowest_rates.php

Answer 4

Women who are religious as children are taught from a young age that sex is a sin, which, when they become teenagers and enter their rebellious phase, makes them want to do it even more than most teenagers. Since they know nothing about "safe sex," they get pregnant, and then they get the babies aborted to avoid the shame of unwed motherhood. Hope that helps.

Answer 5

The link is simple: other countries have decided to compromise their moral positions in exchange for fewer problems on the surface. They have a more lax position towards greater evils and then tolerate the lesser ones.

I prefer to speak against all evil. Don't worry, I know it's not going to work. I guess I'm the "Cubs Fan of Morality"

Answer 6

Hmm. I don't have the statistics, either, so I'm no authority on this subject. But I have to wonder: Is it partly because religion teaches that "god will make everything all right in the end"?

President Bush claims that he invaded Iraq on instructions from god. I'm inclined to think that his actual thought process (if that's the right term) was more like this:
-- I really, REALLY think invading Iraq is the right thing to do.
-- I'm a Christian and God reveals the truth to Christians.
-- Therefore, this must be God telling me what to do.

Of course there's no proof of this. But I can't help wondering.

Answer 7

It means that the preacher's daughter has a high liklyhood of being pretty wild. Rebelling against hyprocracy.

Also why so many raised Catholic are athiests.

Answer 8

Religious zealots preach abstinence instead of teaching birth control. Kids are going to have sex, if you tell them they can't, they'll want to even more. Education about birth control and safe sex is the only solution.

Europe doesn't have the hang ups about sex or discussing it like we do, hence more education, less pregnancy.

Answer 9

I'm an atheist, but I do no wrong. Hell, I'm still a virgin (I'm 19).

I don't know how much of a link there would be, but maybe there is a slight correlation

This guy under me is a tool.

Answer 10

Christian kids who sign virginity pledges are more likely to have sex without protection. (They are also more likely to have anal and oral sex because it's "not really sex.") Also, "abstinence only" sex education also doesn't help fight teenage pregnancy. Teenagers aren't told about birth control, so they don't use any again.