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Researchers show that teens are the best at preventing other teens from having sex, and peer pressure may be used in a positive way.
A poll conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy found that nearly two-thirds of American teenagers who have had sex would advise their peers who have not to wait. The poll also found that 37% of the teens surveyed cited their parents as having the most influence on their decision. It also makes it clear that parents can, and must, play an active and continuing role in helping their children understand that sex can wait.<br>
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy website lists the following teen stats
- A sexually active teen who does not use contraception has a 90% chance of pregnancy within one year
- The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually
- Four in 10 young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20 – nearly one million a year. Eight in ten of these pregnancies are unintended and 79% are to unmarried teens.
- Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school (only one-third receive a high school diploma) and more likely to end up on welfare (nearly 80% of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare)
- The children of teenage mothers have lower birth weights, are more likely to perform badly in school, and are at greater risk of abuse and neglect. The sons of teen mothers are 13% more likely to end up in prison while teen daughters are 22% more likely to become teen mothers themselves.
- 1 out of 3 girls has had sex by age 16, and 2 out of 3 by age 18, 2 out of 3 boys have had sex by the age of 18