“Last year the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations, suggesting IUDs and implants should be the “first line” of contraceptives in preventing teen pregnancy.” CBS News, July 7, 2015
July has offered up some good news on teens and sex. Just last week a new study said that fewer teens are having sex compared to previous generations. It also stated that because of the accessibility of birth control the number of teen pregnancies is dropping. That’s good news! Today I came across this report at CBS News “How Colorado lowered teen pregnancy rate by 40%”. This reinforced what the study said about the accessibility to contraceptives lowering the number of teen pregnancies.
According to the CBS News story, “From 2009 to 2015, the Colorado Family Planning Initiative provided women around the state with intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants, types of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) at little or no cost. During that period, teen births dropped 40 percent and abortions fell 35 percent, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.”
What I find interesting in both this news story and the study is that the numbers seem to support the theory that better access to contraceptives is making a difference.
Parents should encourage their teenagers to participate in the many pregnancy-prevention programs for adolescents that have popped up around the country. These include contraception availability, sex education, promotion of sexual abstinence, and helping children stay involved in after-school programs, school, and jobs.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) funds Teen Pregnancy Prevention programs as part of the President’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (TPPI). The CDC is partnering with the federal Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) to reduce teenage pregnancy and address disparities in teen pregnancy and birth rates. The OASH Office of Adolescent (OAH) is funding medically accurate and age-appropriate evidence-based or innovative programs models to reduce teen pregnancy. The Communitywide Initiatives (CWI) are aimed at targeting communities with the highest rate of teen pregnancy and births. There is a focus on reaching the Latino and African-America communities.
The CDC website lists the following Program Goals:
- Reduce the rates of pregnancies and births to youth in the target areas.
- Increase youth access to evidence-based and evidence-informed programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
- Increase linkages between teen pregnancy prevention programs and community-based clinical services.
- Educate stakeholders about relevant evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies to reduce teen pregnancy and data on needs and resources in target communities.
Here is a link to a list of some of the CDC groups around the country and a link to some of the evidenced-based program models. For more information or help finding a group in your community email me at drpaul@henrypaulmd.com.
FEWER TEENS ARE HAVING SEX – WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN?
DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.
