U.S. states whose residents have more conservative religious beliefs on average tend to have higher rates of teenagers giving birth, a new study suggests.
The relationship could be due to the fact that communities with such religious beliefs (a literal interpretation of the Bible, for instance) may frown upon contraception, researchers say. If that same culture isn't successfully discouraging teen sex, the pregnancy and birth rates rise.
The exception is Utah, which ranked #6 in religiousness & #34 in teen birth rates. The only other state in the top 15 for religiousness with a birth rate lower than #30 is Idaho (#14, #31). Meanwhile, Nevada & Arizona (#34 & #33 in religiousness) are #7 & #5 (respectively) in teen birth rates.
Maybe the whole Western US is just fu**ed up? (Not literally, but... eh, whatever...)
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