Study debunks Planned Parenthood's
theory of contraception for teens

"Dr. David Paton is to be commended for providing evidence that backs up what we've been saying for years," said Ed Szymkowiak, national director of STOPP International, a project of American Life League. "Planned Parenthood is the problem, not the solution, when it comes to teen pregnancy and abortion."

Dr. David Paton's study, "The Economics of Family Planning and Underage Conceptions," was published in the March 2002 issue of the Journal of Health Economics. Paton concluded, "Using a range of specifications, I find no evidence that greater access to family planning has reduced underage conceptions or abortions. Indeed, there is some evidence that greater access is associated with an increase in underage conceptions in our sample."

Dr. Paton, senior lecturer in industrial economics at Nottingham University in the United Kingdom, investigated the impact of family planning on teenage conceptions and abortions by testing data from 16 UK regions over 14 years. He also concluded, "Measures which improve educational and work prospects of those groups most at risk seem likely to help achieve the stated aim of reducing underage conceptions."

"By providing contraceptives to kids, Planned Parenthood has helped fuel teen sexual activity, which leads to teen pregnancy and abortion," said Szymkowiak. "Yet our federal, state and local governments have failed to realize this and continued to fund Planned Parenthood to the tune of $202.7 million during Planned Parenthood's 2001 fiscal year. Dr. Paton's conclusions suggest that this money would be better spent on education and job training."

Release issued: 20 Mar 02