Teen birth rates spiked in Texas after Planned Parenthood was defunded

Teen birth rates spiked in Texas after Planned Parenthood was defunded

Photo: Brian Rosenthal | Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Image 1 of 11 Texas has a long and complex history with the issue of abortion and reproductive rights. Click through to see more about how it has played out over the last four decades. Texas has a long and complex history with the issue of abortion and reproductive rights. Click through to see more about how it has played out over the last four decades. Photo: Brian Rosenthal | Houston Chronicle Image 2 of 11 Roe v. Wade In a case originating in Texas, The U.S. Supreme Court decided in Roe v. Wade that women had a constitutional right to privacy about medical choices, clearing the way for the legalization of abortion in the states. In a case originating in Texas, The U.S. Supreme Court decided in Roe v. Wade that women had a constitutional right to privacy about medical choices, clearing the way for the legalization of abortion in the states. less Roe v. Wade In a case originating in Texas, The U.S. Supreme Court decided in Roe v. Wade that women had a constitutional right to privacy about medical choices, clearing the way for the legalization of abortion In a case originating in Texas, The U.S. Supreme Court decided in Roe v. Wade that women had a constitutional right to privacy about medical choices, clearing the way for the legalization of abortion ... more Photo: Brian Rosenthal | Houston Chronicle Image 3 of 11 Chipping away Over the last two-plus decades, conservatives have tried to chip away at reproductive rights and access to abortion. Chipping away Over the last two-plus decades, conservatives have tried to chip away at reproductive rights and access to abortion. Photo: GABRIELLA DEMCZUK, New York Times Image 4 of 11 Planned Parenthood Among the targets of anti-abortion activists is Planned Parenthood. Conservatives have sought to cut off public funding for the facilities. Planned Parenthood Among the targets of anti-abortion activists is Planned Parenthood. Conservatives have sought to cut off public funding for the facilities. Image 5 of 11 Pushing back Abortion rights activists have fought back against various laws and regulations with lawsuits. Pushing back Abortion rights activists have fought back against various laws and regulations with lawsuits. Photo: MANDEL NGAN, Stringer Image 6 of 11 Legal fights In a 5-3 decision in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that civil rights groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. less Legal fights In a 5-3 decision in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that civil rights groups said would have forced more than ... more Photo: Pete Marovich, Stringer Image 7 of 11 Political realm The fight over abortion even spilled over to Austin, where state Sen. Wendy Davis talked into the night in 2013 railing against a proposal to restrict abortion rights. Political realm The fight over abortion even spilled over to Austin, where state Sen. Wendy Davis talked into the night in 2013 railing against a proposal to restrict abortion rights. Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle Image 8 of 11 Anti-abortion rallies Gov. Rick Perry speaks during the Rally for Life at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 26, 2013. Hundreds attended the pro-life rally that came on the heels of the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Perry said Texas would do all it could to make abortions as rare as possible. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner) Gov. Rick Perry speaks during the Rally for Life at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 26, 2013. Hundreds attended the pro-life rally that came on the heels of the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Perry said Texas would do all it could to make abortions as rare as possible. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner) less Anti-abortion rallies Gov. Rick Perry speaks during the Rally for Life at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 26, 2013. Hundreds attended the pro-life rally that came on the heels of the 40th anniversary of Gov. Rick Perry speaks during the Rally for Life at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 26, 2013. Hundreds attended the pro-life rally that came on the heels of the 40th anniversary of ... more Photo: Jay Janner, MBO Image 9 of 11 Fundraising An email letter sent out by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in July, 2016, seeks to raise cash for his re-election by focusing on pro-abortion rights groups threatening to sue over a rule mandating that all fetuses be buried or cremated. less Fundraising An email letter sent out by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in July, 2016, seeks to raise cash for his re-election by focusing on pro-abortion rights groups threatening to sue over a rule mandating that all ... more Photo: Greg Abbott For Governor Image 10 of 11 Legal action Part of a letter from the Center for Reproductive Rights questioning a Texas rule requiring fetuses to be buried or cremated. The center and other abortion rights proponents have threatened to sue over the rule, which was first imposed in July. less Legal action Part of a letter from the Center for Reproductive Rights questioning a Texas rule requiring fetuses to be buried or cremated. The center and other abortion rights proponents have threatened to sue ... more Photo: Center For Reproductive Rights Image 11 of 11 Teen birth rates spiked in Texas after Planned Parenthood was defunded 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Teenage birth rates have increased in Texas since 2011 following efforts to strip away family planning funding by the state government, according to a new study by a Texas A&M alumnus.

The study by Analisa Packham, who received her doctorate in economics from A&M in 2016 and now works at Miami University, claims the reduction of family planning services in Texas has resulted in the closure of 80 clinics and an increase in teen birth rates by 3.4 percent.

Roughly 2,200 teens would not have given birth absent the reduction in Texas family planning funding, Packham wrote.

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In 2011, Texas' family planning budget shrunk by 67 percent, from $111 million per biennium to $37.9 million for the following two years, Packham wrote. Planned Parenthood faced the brunt of these cuts.

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The explanation for this increase in abortions is partially attributed to former Gov. Rick Perry and his public aversion to Planned Parenthood in 2012, according to the study. Packham's study challenges Perry's claims the defunding would decrease abortions in Texas.

"I find little evidence that reducing family planning funding achieved this goal," Packham wrote. "The estimates suggest that nearly 2,200 teens would have not given birth absent the reduction in Texas family planning funding."

By the end of 2012, 25 percent of Texas family planning clinics shut down, 18 percent reduced service hours, and nearly 50 percent fired staff, according to the study.

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The cuts passed by Texas policymakers totaled $73 million, which was $50 million more than New Jersey, Montana, New Hampshire, and Maine combined. The comparison to these specific states was made because of the similar limits placed on family planning by their lawmakers.

Despite the antipathy Texas politicians have against funding Planned Parenthood, the alternative is actually cost effective in the long run, Packham told Chron.com via email.

"Reducing funding for family planning services can have the unintended consequences of increasing abortion and reducing the number of women seeking preventative health care," Packham said. "Moreover, the funding for family planning services is cost effective. Cutting such programs is cutting an investment in women and children, which can lead to lower economic productivity, lower tax revenue and higher public expenditures down the line."

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On June 28, Gov. Greg Abbott sent a new waiver to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services asking for federal funding approval for the Healthy Texas Women (HTW) program. The program, which helps provide women family planning services, excludes "elective abortions or the promotion of elective abortions."