Liberty County, Texas, which includes the small town of Cleveland, has a population just above 75,000. But the number that is causing a buzz is the rate of teen pregnancy.
When it comes to the adolescent birth rate, the Texas Department of Health says Liberty County has exceeded the rest of the state by nearly 2% in recent years.
The data was calculated using records collected from hospitals and clinics such as the Health Center of Southeast Texas.
"The new is rather embarrassing," said Dr. Jasmine Sulaiman, a family physician at the Health Center of SE Texas. "It's not good to hear that we have the highest rate of teen pregnancy."
Doctor Jasmine Sulaiman says between 2007 and 2008, 11% of her clinic's female patients under the age of 19 became pregnant.
17 year-old Loyd McNett says not only does he see many girls at his school with growing bellies, but his ex-girlfriend is among them.
"She's 16 and she's about 7 months now," said McNett. "She got knocked up by some other boy, I'm glad it wasn't me."
Some blame the media and entertainment industry for glamorizing teen pregnancy; they mentioned the movie "Juno" in which the main character is an expectant teen mother; then the popularity of Sarah Palin's daughter who became a mother at age 17; and let's not forget Brittany Spear's sister, Jaime Lynn, who gave birth at 16.
"I guess they are putting out the view that it's good to have kids at a young age... But it's not anything good on our part," said McNett.
National studies have shown kids are having sex at a much younger age, and "sexting" is also becoming more popular than ever. But many say it's really up to parents to teach their children.
"I hope my boys have some good heads on their shoulders," said Carolyn McNett, a concerned mother. "We talk about safe sex, and when they need condoms, we buy them what they need."
The news comes at the heel of state lawmakers' decision to change health education into an elective course rather than graduation requirement.
"This should be an eye opener to see just how important health and sex education in school," said Dr. Sulaiman.
When it comes to the adolescent birth rate, the Texas Department of Health says Liberty County has exceeded the rest of the state by nearly 2% in recent years.
The data was calculated using records collected from hospitals and clinics such as the Health Center of Southeast Texas.
"The new is rather embarrassing," said Dr. Jasmine Sulaiman, a family physician at the Health Center of SE Texas. "It's not good to hear that we have the highest rate of teen pregnancy."
Doctor Jasmine Sulaiman says between 2007 and 2008, 11% of her clinic's female patients under the age of 19 became pregnant.
17 year-old Loyd McNett says not only does he see many girls at his school with growing bellies, but his ex-girlfriend is among them.
"She's 16 and she's about 7 months now," said McNett. "She got knocked up by some other boy, I'm glad it wasn't me."
Some blame the media and entertainment industry for glamorizing teen pregnancy; they mentioned the movie "Juno" in which the main character is an expectant teen mother; then the popularity of Sarah Palin's daughter who became a mother at age 17; and let's not forget Brittany Spear's sister, Jaime Lynn, who gave birth at 16.
"I guess they are putting out the view that it's good to have kids at a young age... But it's not anything good on our part," said McNett.
National studies have shown kids are having sex at a much younger age, and "sexting" is also becoming more popular than ever. But many say it's really up to parents to teach their children.
"I hope my boys have some good heads on their shoulders," said Carolyn McNett, a concerned mother. "We talk about safe sex, and when they need condoms, we buy them what they need."
The news comes at the heel of state lawmakers' decision to change health education into an elective course rather than graduation requirement.
"This should be an eye opener to see just how important health and sex education in school," said Dr. Sulaiman.
