Teen Pregnancy Prevention

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The rise of the teen pregnancy rate has caused us to question the effectiveness of the prevention programs that are offered to adolescents. There have been several programs focused on preventing teen pregnancy from abstinence-only to more comprehensive sexual education programs. Abstinent-only advocates believe that abstaining from having intercourse is the only way to prevent unwanted teen pregnancy. While practicing abstinence is the only 100% secure method of reducing this rate, it is not a logical view. Adolescents will continue to have sexual behavior, and it is important in teaching them more precise education when it comes to sex education. With-holding important information and facts about sexual behavior can change an adolescents’ life forever. Whether it be from teen pregnancy or from a life threatening STD.

Informing the adolescents of abstinence-only does not educate them of the risks associated with sexual behavior. Providing our adolescents of a more precise sex education program, that includes curriculum on contraceptive, STDs, better communication skills, risky sexual behavior, abstinence, the outcome of teen pregnancy, and include activities that focus on career goals, could reduce the rate of teen pregnancies and protect our adolescents’ health.

Teen pregnancy has become an epidemic in the United States alone. Today, more than half of all teenagers report having had sexual intercourse at least once before leaving high school (Glazer, 1993). Each year, almost 750,000 U.S. women, aged 15–19 become pregnant (Guttmacher Institute, 2011).

Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school than their classmates. They are also more likely to end up on welfare. The children of t...

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...ieved from http://library.cqpress.com.columbus.libproxy.ivytech.edu/cqresearcher/

Kantor, L.M. (2008). Abstinence-only education violating students’ rights to health information. Human Rights Journal of the Section of Individual Rights & Responsibilities, 35(3), 1-4. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Koch, K. (1998). Encouraging teen abstinence. CQ Researcher, 8, 577-600. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com.columbus.libproxy.ivytech.edu/cqresearcher/

Sheahen, L. (2005). The case against abstinence-only sex education. Beliefnet. Retrieved April 26, 2011 from http://www.beliefnet.com/News/2005/06/The-Case-Against-Abstinence- Only-Sex-Education.aspx?p=3

Young people should be provided with comprehensive sex education, editorial says. (2009). Medical News Today. Retrieved April 25, 2011 from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145331.php

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