The United States’ teen-pregnancy and birth rates have fallen to their lowest numbers since 1990.

The teen-pregnancy rate declined 28 percent between 1990 and 2000, and the teen birthrate declined 31 percent between 1991 and 2002, according to Bill Albert, a spokesperson for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

“We have seen declines in all 50 states and among all racial and ethnic groups,” Albert said.

From 1986 to 1990, there was a steep increase in teen pregnancy rates, but since then, the rate has declined steadily, Albert said.

“We’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” he said.

Albert added that teen pregnancy is a problem in all communities and among all groups, but it is closely connected with poverty and economic well-being.

“We also know that children of teen mothers are more likely to become teen parents themselves, but for the most part, it is a big and wide problem,” Albert said.

Decline in the teen-pregnancy rate is attributed to increased abstinence, increased use of contraception, abortion and a concern among young people about sexually transmitted diseases. AIDS in particular is certainly a driving force, Albert said.

Jennifer Anderson, director of education for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, thinks teen pregnancy is still a major concern in society because of the consequences it has for young teens.

“Teens who end up giving birth have little or no access to prenatal care, tend to have babies with lower birth weight and are less likely to finish school,” Anderson said. “There are not only social factors, but health-related factors as well.”

Planned Parenthood offers young women comprehensive education programs focusing on healthy decision-making, safer sex, abstinence and contraception. They also provide teens with direct healthcare services including annual exams, STD screenings and contraception.

Sue Simon, a teacher of family life and child development classes at Madison Memorial High School, said sexual education in public schools and the threat of AIDS has played an important role as a deterrent to promiscuity. Madison public schools require all ninth graders to take a health-education class, which stresses abstinence and the use of contraception.

“My personal view is that students need to be safe in whatever decision they make, and we want to give them a chance to have good information,” Simon said.

Despite these declines, the United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the industrialized world. Albert said although teenage-pregnancy rates in the United States are declining, a significant number of American teens still become pregnant each year. According to Albert, teen pregnancy, “is not like a virus that you can eliminate; you have to continue working at it.”