Communication, the Solution to Unplanned Teen Pregnancy

Kim Morris

Professor Steven Challener

ENG 1005-03 College English II

February 3, 2013

Communication, the Solution to Unplanned Teen Pregnancy

        I am always open and honest with my children whenever they ask me questions. Do the topics sometimes cause awkwardness and embarrassment?  Absolutely, but as a parent it is my job to guide them to become mature, responsible, and productive adults.  Some of my children’s friends have been around for these conversations and it truly amazes me when they tell me they could never talk to their mother or father the way my kids talk with me.  On a few occasions I have suggested that they try to have a similar conversation with their parents.  This has had a great outcome for some but not all.  A few of my daughters’ friends tried and the result was they are no longer allowed to be friends with my daughters.  One of these girls is now a teenage mom!  I believe this occurred because she and the baby’s father did not have all the information necessary to prevent their unplanned pregnancy.

        Television shows, like MTV’s 16 and Pregnant and ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager, are great ways for parents and children to start having conversations about a number of topics, not just unplanned pregnancies.  If we expect our children to talk openly and honestly with us, we have to be open, honest and non-judgmental with them.  It is important, in my opinion, to listen carefully to a teenager before providing feedback.  The last thing you want to do is have them stop talking.

        In discussions about sexual activity and teens, one controversial issue has always been unintended pregnancy.  On the one hand, people argue abstinence is the only solution.  On the other hand, some contend that contraception is the answer.  My own view is that communicating all of the information is the answer to preventing unplanned teenage pregnancy.

Abstinence

        In a perfect world teenagers would chose not to have sex until they are at least eighteen years old and emotionally mature enough to handle this type of relationship.  Most Conservative Republicans and many religious people believe that sex should not take place outside of marriage.  Abstinence Only Sexual Education is the only sexual education that is acceptable in their minds.  When George W. Bush became our forty-third President, in 2001, the teen birth rate had been on the decline for almost ten years from its record high in 1991 (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy).  During his second term, funding for abstinence only education grew to $167 million for fiscal year 2005. Groups providing programs with contraception as part of the curriculum, that were federally funded in full or in part, saw an increase in government audits (International Planned Parenthood Federation).

While, I have to believe President Bush truly believes that abstinence only education works I have to question this in light of the fact that many reports now show the curriculum used in these federally funded programs contained false and misleading information (US House Of Representatives Minority Staff).  Abstinence education is an important part of the conversation but it is not the only piece of it.  Our current administration originally stopped federal funding for abstinence only education because the curriculum was inaccurate.  In 2010, President Obama’s administration instituted requirements for comprehensive sexual education curriculum that is evidence based in order to receive federal funding.  Funding for both abstinence and comprehensive curriculum is essential in keeping teenagers from becoming pregnant.

        Not many parents would say they are comfortable with the fact that their teenagers may be having sex, that is a given.  As I stated early, a parent must guide their children to become mature, responsible, and productive adults.  It has always been my experience that the more you tell someone not to do something the more the person will do what you have told them not to.  How often have you told a child not to touch something that was hot?  What do they typically do?  Touch it anyway, and usually get burnt.  Compared to a burn, an unintended pregnancy as a teenager has a long term effect that could seriously derail their plans for the future.

Contraception

        According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In the United States, almost half of all pregnancies are unintended.” (CDC)  There are many contraception methods available, and if used effectively, could eliminate the majority of these unplanned pregnancies.  The facts must be provided to all teenagers, both male and female.  After all making the decision to enter into a sexual relationship is the decision of two people.

        There are many options available from Intrauterine Contraception, like the Intrauterine Device (IUD), Hormonal Methods such as; implants, injections, oral contraceptives, and the patch and of course Barrier Methods like condoms and diaphragms.  The information on how each of these options work, their effectiveness and percentage of effectiveness when used properly must be available to all teenagers.  The best place to provide this level of education would be in the schools; however this is such a controversial topic that many teenagers that attend religious schools would not receive the instruction.  Education is power and education leads to informed decisions.  There are many studies that show that birth rates and abortions rates decline when women have access to all their choices.