Nonetheless, states that pursue abstinence only policies tend to not provide easy access to birth control, abortion, planned parenthood centers, etc. It's likely the case that these states want higher birthrates. The main issue stemming from these kinds of policy tends to be teens and young adults who have a child when they aren't prepared for one. Children are expensive of course, and it really makes life harder for someone on the brink financially and emotionally, leading to higher poverty rates and an unhappier population. When your country actively discourages parental leave and turns around and discourages proper sex education, you've really got to wonder what the end goal of that is?