Fewer high school children, according to the report, are having sex, but those who are having sex are using condoms more often. Consequently, the rate of babies being born to teenagers has dramatically decreased to a record low in 2005. Forty-seven percent (47%) of high school students, in 2005, reported having had sexual intercourse—which is about 4.6 million teenagers. In 1991, the percentage was 54%.

Of those having sex, 63% (about 6 million) are using condoms. In 1991, that percentage was only 46%.

Primarily because of these two positive figures, the rate of births to teenagers fell to a record low in 2005 of 21 per 1,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 17 years.

On the negative side, there were increases (from 2004 to 2005) in (1) the number of U.S. children not covered by health insurance; (2) the number of low birth-weight infants; (3) the number of unmarried women having children; and (4) the rate of children involved in serious crime.

On the positive side, there were decreases (in that same one-year period) in (1) the number of children living in homes where at least one parent works; (2) the number of children living in homes classified as “food insecure”; and (3) exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. In fact, the birth rate of babies born to teens is currently at a record low.

In addition, there was an positive increase in (4) the number of teenagers completing a high school education and (5) the rates of childhood immunization.

No significant change was seen in the number of overweight children. However, the report noted that, in the last 25 years, the percentage of children aged six to 17 years that were overweight has tripled. In 2005, an estimated 18% of U.S. children are obsese or overweight.

The new U.S. government report, which is a comprehensive overview of the health and well being of U.S. children, is called “America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2007”. It was released Thursday, July 12, 2007. The report involved such U.S. health organization as the National Center for Health Statistics (within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (within the National Institutes of Health).

Dr. Jay E. Berkelhamer, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said [bolded for emphasis],:

“These findings are consistent with other facts and figures that I have seen in other places. The report shows that many children are not faring as well as they should be in this country. We are not investing in kids the way we should. It’s horrible. We need to be sure they get all the things they need, including education, safe environments and health care .... We have a societal obligation to make sure children are getting what they need. And, they are not getting it the way they should for the richest country in the world.”

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