What can be done to decrease the rate of teen pregnancy?

Question

Sex education in schools has proven to be ineffective in reducing the teen pregnancy rate. Many people believe that teenagers are going to experiment with sex no matter what they are taught at home and in school. If we assume that teens WILL have sex anyway, what can we do to prevent them from becoming pregnant? Is there some kind of social or educational program that could effectively address this problem?

Assumptions:
1. Some parents will educate their children about sex, but many will not.
2. Some teens will choose abstinence - these are not the target.
3. Abortion is not to be included in any of the proposed options - for the purpose of focusing the discussion on the other options.

Answer 1

chastity belts ... honestly, as long as we have a media that glorifies promiscuous sex the problem will never be contained and will only get worse ...

Answer 2

Let schools help students focus their energy on sports and creative activities. This way students will find more interesting things to do than having sex so early. Art education can help students learn that there is much more to life than sexual gratification. Students can try anything to find their passion such as creative writing, drawing, singing, playing a musical instrument. Options are many in art world. Sex is truly wonderful to experience in a stable and loving relationship, but not for the mere sake of curiosity. Our culture, including entertainment, is so sex-drenched that we shouldn't be surprised why young people are so confused. Classroom discussion should help students change concepts and ideas about sex in a positive way. Any class humanities class such sociology and psychology should include the topic. Parents still remain the most important sex educators. We learn about love and sex early in life from observing how our parents behave with one another. It is natural for young children to be curious about how babies come into the world, for example or the functions of their most intimate body parts. So, by the time we are in high school, most information or misinformation about sex comes from our parents. And it may be difficult for high school teachers to change how students think or behave because it is usually too late at this stage. This is especially true if students come from deeply dysfunctional families. But teachers can still try to do their best. Also, sex educators should give students the best medical information possible. For example, condoms do not necessarily protect against pregnancy. Both boys and girls should also understand why pregnancy is so physically and emotionally difficult to experience so early in life.

Answer 3

One thing I noticed about many of the responses was the assumption that teen girls must not know any better (about basic biology), or that it's something as simple as mandatory birth control.

I worked at a youth shelter for years; I was shocked at how many girls genuinely thought, in this day and age, that pregnancy was the only choice for the future. Careers were for rich girls; only smart girls went to college; nobody I know has ever done anything else but be a mother.

Poverty, I feel, is the primary problem. The teens I worked with watched television, but considered what they saw to be another world. It wasn't anything they saw on a day to day basis. Everyone they knew was having sex, and plenty of girls they knew were pregnant and were doing just fine. When I talked about college, and choices, and buying a house one day, or living in a different city, I might as well have been speaking gibberish.

I've gone on a rant now, and I apologize, but encouraging those girls I worked with to find new dreams, accept new possibilities, led me to finish my own degree and follow my own dreams. How could I possibly be a role model if I wasn't willing to lead the way? When a girl has a goal, a focus, she will do far more to overcome her daily existence and protect herself.

I know this has been entirely girl-slanted, and the poverty issues rested with the boys I worked with as well.

Answer 4

The reason why sex ed fails is they teach abstinence, but use a condom if you are having sex. This is a waste of time.

The false assumption is they will have sex anyway.
Another false assumption is parents cannot teach their kids.
You also assume that it is government's problem to stop all ills.

The way to do it is teach kids that having sex leads to pregnancy. You do not want a kid, do not have sex. Force all teenagers to carry around an electronic child. Make boys and girls do this. Watch the problem go away.

Answer 5

Parents and schools need to teach the importance of birthcontrol, where to get it, how to get it. And when a teen asks for birthcontrol their parents should give it to them. Obviously they are planning to have sex or already have and most likely nothing the parent says will stop them. Sex education is crap at the moment. They teach you what it is and how it works but then tell you not to do it. That is ridiculous. I think that birthcontrol needs to be more openly distributed. Condoms can be bought at any store but a girl has to go through a whole bunch of obstacles to keep herself protected.

Answer 6

I believe teenagers can be taught respect and morals and follow them. Teens need to be taught their own worth. Teens sell themselves short when they have been taught that they should be able to have everything now. Men are not taking their rightful place in society leaving the world at the mercy of any current whim. If teens are taught that they are unique, loved and have a future they will strive for it. It's already happening. Teen pregnancy is down. Abortion is down. Today's teens are smarter than we give them credit for.

If the majority "assumes" teens will have sex, why shouldn't they? It's what we expect isn't it? Giving teens contraception is like giving them permission to have sex. You wouldn't give a 13 year old the car keys and tell him not to drive it unless he can't help it!

Challenge teens and stand back and watch them soar!

Answer 7

Put a movie theater in town, then they will have something else to do. J/K listen the only true way to not get pregnant or an STD is teach abstinence rather than all this condom/ birth control stuff.

Answer 8

Young lady's need positive role models. I know 4 young lady's who are sisters. They are grown now all under the age of 28. All 4 got pregnant around the age of 14 and 15. They all have 3 kids now. Their mother had her first at age 15. It is by example. Parents must make sure they teach their kids from the beginning. In my opinion it starts at home.

Answer 9

Manditory birth control patch for females
Like the hpv shot!
I know it's not what people like to hear, but it's the best solution.

Have condoms in the boys and girls bathrooms at school.
Have the Morning After Pill available.

Schools allowed to dispense birth control, condoms for std's, and Education of std's and hpv= cancer aids=death

1 sexual experience can = pregnancy.
Have teen mom's come and talk to kids in school.

More Planned Parenthood Clinics.
Have Planned Parenthood Clinics held monthly at schools,
community centers. Make is manditory every yr. of school.

Answer 10

Birth control methods for girls and boys shoud be taught mandatorily as early as grade school vis-a-vis with pregnancy -- the hardships, responsibility and the effect on the society and on the future of the partners.

Answer 11

I think it should be mandatory for all teens to work at a day care center for a few weeks. Really, a day of screaming toddlers, cleaning up vomiting, being hit in the head by thrown toys, and changing diapers would probably be enough, but I say a few weeks just to make sure.