Teens Having Less Sex?

Lynn Vincent over at World Magazine blog posts this info about a recent report. I always have a difficulty anytime statistics are thrown around since many times they can be manipulated to come to different conclusions. I am not saying this is the case, but the definitions of different words and the questions asked can be manipulated to "mean" different things. I'll add a few of my comments (in italics) and be sure to take a peek at the WorldMag blog comment section.

"Let's play Journalistic Analysis! Here are some stats culled from the National Center for Health Statistics' latest report on childhood well-being.

- In 2005, 47 percent of high school students - 6.7 million - reported having had sexual intercourse, down from 54 percent in 1991. The rate of those who reported having had sex has remained the same since 2003.

This one sounds promising, however: 1) it does not explain how many students reported having sexual intercourse in '91. If the population goes up, the percentage is partially meaningless. For example, 54 percent of 5 million is way less than 47 percent of 10 million. I would want to know how many students were in the school population in '91.
2) How was sexual intercourse defined? Did it include, as one commenter asked, "oral sex, which can't get you pregnant" but could be considered sex by some and harmless activity from another.

- Of those who had sex during a three-month period in 2005, 63 percent - about 9 million - used condoms. That's up from 46 percent in 1991.

One main question here: If 6.7 million students had sex, how could 9 million use condoms? What are the other 2.3 million students using the condoms for if not for sex? the numbers seem vague here.

- The teen birth rate, the report said, was 21 per 1,000 young women ages 15-17 in 2005 - an all-time low. It was down from 39 births per 1,000 teens in 1991.Now read the story about the report, and critique the accompanying analysis of cause and effect. Do the experts' opinions add up? Do you find any glaring omissions? "

I don't know that the teen birth rate being lower gives me any comfort. I would want to know what the teen pregnancy rate is. Though I could be wrong, I would assume a discrepancy. If teens are getting pregnant, but not having babies, how many are from abortions? How many were from non-elective miscarriage? How many parents were not told about their daughter being taken to an abortion clinic?

I think it is appropriate to ask for more info. than is often given in polls and statistics before hanging any credibility on this kind of thing. Call me skeptical, or untrusting of the media, if you like. I don't mind. I've been called worse. :-)

Derrick