...CONTRACEPTIVES IN HIGH SCHOOL Are contraceptives and birth control appropriate or inappropriate to offer high school students ? Recently The Department of Education has inaugurated a pilot program called CATCH { Connecting Adolescents To Comprehensive Health} made to curb the alarming rates teen pregnancy here in New York City . Although students throughout the nation has had condoms at their dispense people are now outraged by program which allows the school nurse to administer plan B an emergency contraceptive known as the morning after pill as well as birth control through the form of injection and orally . This can be done without the consent of the parents unless they’ve chosen to opt their children out of the program. People like the executive director Greg Pfundstien, of the Chiaroscuro Foundation, one of the anti- abortion groups feel it’s unethical and doubts that this program will work. Says Jonathan Allen of the Reuters an online news source . Although abortion groups may view the morning after pill as a form of abortion when in essence it is simply a high dosage of the actual birth control pill , which can be taken up to seventy-two hours after intercourse , to halt pregnancy . The morning after pill is a freedom of women’s right’s even though high school students are minor’s they should still have access to contraceptives that are safe to use and are preventive measures against...
Words: 1856 - Pages: 8
...Alan Becker English Comp Professor Wayne 19 November 2012 Contraceptives: Protecting Sexual Activity or Promoting it? The debate whether contraceptives should be distributed in public schools has been a long and controversial one. With the steady increase of sexual activity among teenagers, it is crucial for young adults to understand that if they participate in the act they should be protected. We can’t stop teenagers from participating in sexual activity, but we can provide them will tools that will allow them to be safe. Many teenagers are interested in engaging in sexual activity and need to be protected. By the age of nineteen, seven out of ten teens engaged in intercourse (Mosher 47). As teenagers become sexually active, more than half don’t use protection. In a survey hosted by Today.com, it was concluded that 52 percent of the respondents do not use protection when having sex. A sexually active teen who does not use a contraceptive has a 90% chance of becoming pregnant within a year (Abma 21). The Alan Guttmacher Institution stated 1.2 million teens become pregnant each year (Bender 13). The statistics are shocking to many, and they will continue to grow if teenagers don’t practice safe sex. If public schools distributed contraceptives and students took advantage of it, then there would be a decrease in teen pregnancy rates. On average, teenagers lose their virginity at the age of fifteen (Coffey). Because the majority of these sexually active teens are under...
Words: 1312 - Pages: 6
...theory than school? There is an uprising issue in America that needs to be addressed in schools. “In 2012, there were 29.4 births for every 1,000 adolescent females ages 15-19, or 305,420 babies born to females in this age group. Nearly eighty-nine percent of these births occurred outside of marriage.” Teen pregnancy in America is constantly on the rise, and the current approach of abstinence in schools is not effective. ("The Truth of Abstinence") The issue will never go away. It is important to inform teens of their contraceptive options. Abstinence – only education technique in schools do not lower the teen pregnancy rates, they are not always accurate, and abstinence makes teenagers feel guilty for obtaining a form of contraceptive. With the downward spiral of our economy, many teenagers cannot even afford a child. This leads to many other issues in our country. Many teen parents were simply ignorant when it came to their pregnancy. Education is key. The main cause of teen pregnancy is obviously lack of contraceptive. In fact, any slight decrease in teenage pregnancy is due to some sort of a contraceptive. “A new study showed that improved contraceptive use is responsible for 86 percent of the decline in the U.S. adolescent pregnancy rate between 1995 and 2002.” ("The Truth of Abstinence") Everyone deserves to be aware of his or her options. If a parent is not responsible enough to inform their child of options, the school should take the initiative. Schools are used to...
Words: 763 - Pages: 4
...happy. Christian religions divide when it comes to how the Bible should be interpreted and what is right and wrong. Within each sect of religion, cultures, genders, and classes divide as to what is right and wrong and how children should be taught. Children from each class and culture grow up in different environments, affecting what and how they learn, inside and outside of school. People in one religion can have similar beliefs as those held by someone in another religion, but the religious differences make it difficult for them to unite in support of the belief. Religion is the most notorious for associating sex with marriage. The Catholic Church stands the most firm on the idea sex should be confined to marriage. The Church says contraception blocks the presence of God in the sexual act and is therefore wrong. The Catholic Church stands behind the practice of abstaining from sex until marriage, limiting sexual education to instruction on anatomy and function. They believe there is no place for contraceptives in the education area, especially the open distribution of them. Use of contraceptives is a sign of disregard of the authority of the Catholic Church given to them by God. One problem Catholics...
Words: 1823 - Pages: 8
...audience Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience into being in favor of distributing contraceptives (condoms, birth control pills, spermicides, etc.) in high schools. Thesis statement: In order to explain why contraceptives are becoming such a necessity in schools today, I will share how teen parenthood is being glorified, reasons for such an increase in teenage pregnancies, and how effective distributing contraceptives would be. INTRODUCTION I. Attention getter: (show slide of pregnant girls) How many of you have ever seen television shows like “16 and Pregnant”, “Teen Mom”, or “The Secret Life of an American Teenager”? II. Credibility statement: I am not a teen parent, but I have several friends who are and went to school with several teenage parents. Once I chose this topic, I did a lot of research online about the rising problem of teen pregnancy and the unfortunate consequences of contraceptives not being available to teenagers. III. Relating to the Audience: While most of you are probably not teenage parents, I bet many of you know either a couple girls who got pregnant at a young age or a few guys who got girls pregnant at a young age. Teenage pregnancy is something that affects all of us in some way, either in our homes and neighborhoods or on our televisions and computer screens. IV. Thesis statement: In order to explain why contraceptives are becoming such a necessity in schools today, I will share how teen parenthood is being glorified, reasons for such an increase...
Words: 1246 - Pages: 5
...of sexual education is needed there are many opinions on what should be taught in schools and at what age. One approach is teaching abstinence only programs compared with teaching young adolescence about sex and contraceptives use and the risks associated with being sexually active. We compare the United States that currently has both the highest teenage pregnancies and STDs among young adolescence compared to other industrialized countries. This examination will show what methods of sexual education has been proven to work and why. Additionally we will examine why other countries have greatly reduced teenage pregnancies and what they are doing that has been effective. There is a significant impact on society and its costing our nation as well as the children of the teenager mothers. (Manlove et al., 2002). The first thing we need to look at is educating teenagers in order to reduce teen pregnancies and STDs. Second we will look at the need to being the discussion of sex at home and educate our children starting as the earliest age possible. Finally we will look at how comprehensive sex education as well as abstinence only programs can greatly reduce the risks associated with teen pregnancies and STDs. The more comprehensive sex education we teach our teenagers the greater we reduce the risks on our society and our future children. We need to teach them about the use of contraceptives as well as the...
Words: 1661 - Pages: 7
...dramatically because there are so many uneducated teens and they are careless of the consequences that come with unprotected sex. Teens do not think about the responsibility and problems that come with having a child. Parents can also play a role on why teen pregnancy has become more common these days. There are many ways to prevent teen pregnancy we just have to educate and make birth control options easily accessible to teens. Teen pregnancy can be prevented we just have to make an effort. Teens do not have the money to buy contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Condoms and all types of birth control should be free and easily accessible to teens. We can raise taxes and the money raised from taxes can be used to provide free condoms at high schools, pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and liquor stores. Many hardworking tax payers may argue that they shouldn’t have to pay more taxes to help irresponsible teens but it’s better to pay less taxes on providing free contraceptives, than paying more taxes on supporting these teen parents that will most likely need government assistance which will be coming out of tax payers pockets. “Teen childbearing costs U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars due to lost tax revenue, increased public assistance payments, and greater expenditures for public health care, foster care, and criminal justice services”. As previously stated, U.S. taxpayers pay an obscene amount of money to help support these helpless teens. More than half of the teen parents depend on government...
Words: 1256 - Pages: 6
...change what she new was going to be her life, she continued and changed that for all women. In her life she created a movement that empowered women and gave women their autonomy. She gave women power over their own bodies and changed public’s views on contraceptives. She educated women on how contraceptives would change the lives of women and give them the freedom to choose. She had many obstacles during her campaign, but she created what we now know as Planned Parenthood and the International Planned Parenthood Federation that help women all over the world. Her accomplishments for a woman from the 19th century are radically huge and changed the world’s views on women’s autonomy. Margaret Sanger was born on September 14, 1879, born in Corning, New York. She was one of 11 children and her parents struggled to provide for all of them. The author of this article, Todd E had made sure he mentioned that her mother died prematurely and Margaret was deeply affected by this. She blames the fact that her mother carried and gave birth to so many children attributed to her death along with being poverty stricken and not being able to get the proper nutrition and provisions. To escape the life that was laid out for her, she went to school first at Claverack College and then to Hudson River Institute before in enrolling in the White Plains Hospital as a nurse probationer in 1900. She was a practical nurse in the women ward working toward her Registered Nursing degree. During her time...
Words: 884 - Pages: 4
...A GUIDE TO ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL This matrix has been prepared by a group of Catholics who feel that a systematic comparison of the arguments for and against the reproductive health (RH) bill may still serve some purpose at this juncture. It may help to bring the debate from the emotional temper which has characterized it thus far, to a more rational temper in which both sides attempt to comprehend each other’s perspectives. It is hoped that this presentation will allow each side to view the other’s argumentation as the legitimate offering of reasons in good faith which ought to characterize a democratic process of deliberation. Such a process must be valued equally by all who are committed to living together in a democracy, be they Catholic or non-Catholic, pro- or anti-contraception. Questions in the final column are provided to aid further reflection, with a view to clarifying positions and, perhaps, to building compromises that are morally and politically acceptable to both sides. Eleanor R. Dionisio ISSUE ANTI-RH BILL PRO-RH BILL QUESTIONS I. LEGISLATION OF AN RH-BILL Necessity of RH Bill 1. Overpopulation 1. Overpopulation is not the problem. The problems are government corruption and the unequal distribution of wealth and resources. 1. Managing population growth is not the sole solution to poverty but is part of the solution. Are overpopulation and graft and corruption mutually exclusive issues? Or ought they to be addressed...
Words: 1503 - Pages: 7
...CHAPTER 4 Analysis and presentation of data 4.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter discusses the data analysis and findings from 107 questionnaires completed by adolescent mothers who visited one of the two participating well-baby clinics in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area during 2004. The purpose of this study was to identify factors contributing to adolescent mothers’ non-utilisation of contraceptives in the area. The objectives of the study were to identify adolescent mothers’ • knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding contraceptives • knowledge about reproductive issues prior to menarche • knowledge about reproductive issues prior to their pregnancies • reasons for non-utilisation of contraceptives • requirements for using contraceptives effectively to prevent unplanned pregnancies • individual perceptions, modifying factors and variables affecting their contraceptive utilisation Questionnaires were given to adolescent mothers aged 19 or younger when their babies were born. After signing the consent form indicating their willingness to participate in the study, these adolescent mothers completed the questionnaires. The signed consent form was folded and put into a separate box from the anonymously completed questionnaires to ensure anonymity. In this way no signed consent form could be linked to any specific completed questionnaire. A total of one hundred and seven (107) adolescent mothers completed questionnaires at the two participating well-baby clinics between 12 July 2004...
Words: 9612 - Pages: 39
...A MINI-RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG NIGERIAN UNDERGRADUATES: A CASE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR WRITTEN BY BASSEY, RACHEAL EFFIONG MATRIC NO.: 10/55011 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR CALABAR SUBMITTED TO PROF. (MRS.) E. N. NWAGBARA (COURSE LECTURER) DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR CALABAR IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE COURSE REQUIREMENT: (SOC 3102) METHODS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH II APRIL, 2014 CERTIFICATION This is to certify that this mini-research project was carried out by Bassey, Racheal Effiong with Matric No.: 10/55011 of the Department Of Sociology, University of Calabar, Calabar. Under the supervision of Prof. Nwagbara E. N. DEDICATION This project is dedicated to the Almighty God who has been my strength and guide throughout this research study. DECLARATION I, Bassey, Racheal Effiong with Matric Number: 10/55011 hereby declare that this research on “The knowledge and use of contraceptives among Nigeria undergraduate” is an original work written by me under the supervision of Prof. (Mrs.) Nwagbara, E. N. in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I wish to tender my unreserved appreciation to my heavenly father who has kept me and helped me through this endeavours. My sincere appreciation to my wonderful Lecturer Dr. (Mrs.) Nwagbara who has made it possible for this research...
Words: 10596 - Pages: 43
...Sex Education in public school systems has always been an extremely delicate issue. The topic as to whom should teach children about sex has always been a debatable issue between parental responsibility or school system curriculum. Most parents feel that it is their responsibility to educate their own children about sex education in the comfort of their own home, providing their children with the information they (the parents) are able to demonstrate to their children. Schools are children constant source of learning. In having school systems incorporate Sex Education into the curriculum, it would make it mandatory for children to learn about the details, and the consequences of reproduction in a more elaborate setting. This would allowing students to be taught the same knowledge with the most up to date information provided by a licensed school professional in subjects: contraceptives, teen pregnancies, and STD’s. Individuals could argue that distributing condoms in schools would promote unjustified premarital sexual activity amongst school-aged teenagers. Those same individuals believe that parents should take apart of their own child’s development in sexual knowledge. Properly equipping them (their child) with prescribed contraceptives from doctors, or condoms disbursed directly from them (the parent). It is not uncommon for parents to give their children condoms; however, it can provide moments of awkwardness between the parent and the teenager. Having the educational...
Words: 1079 - Pages: 5
...reached legal adulthood, which varies across the world, who become pregnant (MedlinePlus 2008). Adolescent mothers are more numerous in western societies and especially in the United States. Today, young people are sexually active at an earlier age compare to the previous generation, and there are several associated consequences. Sexual activity among adolescents is often associated with unprotected sex or use of ineffective methods of contraception. A large proportion of adolescents are suffering from sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) and girls become pregnant and young mothers. Given the increase in teenage pregnancies and the consequences on the quality of life of the young people, an intervention, is needed starting in the middle schools. According to a study done in late 2009 by the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), a pro-choice organization, nationwide, teenage pregnancy rate was 71.5 pregnancies per 1,000 women ages 13 to 19 (Huffington Post 2010). Before intervention, however, it is essential to understand the factors underlying the premature and unprotected sex leading to unwanted pregnancies and STDs among adolescents. These risk factors include individual characteristics of adolescents as well as environmental factors. This paper will examine the reasons of pregnancy among teenagers and the consequences that are associated. Review of literature The teenage pregnancies occur more frequently, in the poorest neighborhoods, lower socio-economic backgrounds where young...
Words: 3679 - Pages: 15
...Jason Rusli Esl 26 26 July 2012 Essay 1 Final Draft Sex Education for a Better Future Pregnancy among school-age youth may reduce completed levels of education, employment opportunities and marital stability, and increase welfare dependency (Illinois Department of Public Health). This staggering sentence has pointed out the important needs of sex education in schools to ameliorate the nation’s economics. Two approaches to sex education currently prevail: abstinence-only approach – inculcating teenagers with the notion that premarital intercourse is astray – and comprehensive approach, which focuses on the dissemination of information on safe sex practices, while simultaneously promoting abstinence as the ultimate solution in diminishing the issues of unwanted pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In spite of seemingly endless debates as to which approach is more effective, it would be reckless to simply laud one approach and criticize another, for the two approaches are not mutually exclusive. Moreover, neither approach is effective on its own. Only by incorporating the merits of both approaches, coupled with family support / parental involvement, can the issue at hand be effectively handled. In an essay titled “Sex Education in Schools,” the author, Amber Dahlke, staunchly believes that sex education should be taught in comprehensive style. However, I remain ambivalent towards the comprehensive approach. Although I recognize the value in imparting...
Words: 1214 - Pages: 5
...Family planning according to WHO allows people to attain their desired number of children and determine the spacing of pregnancies. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of infertility Family planning according to Taber’s Edition 20 (F.A DAVIS), is the spacing of conception of children according to the wishes of the parents rather than to chance. It is accomplished by practicing some form of birth control. Benefits of family planning Promotion of family planning and ensuring access to preferred contraceptive methods for women and couples is essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting the health and development of communities. These benefits include: Preventing pregnancy-related health risks in women A woman’s ability to choose if and when to become pregnant has a direct impact on her health and well-being. Family planning allows spacing of pregnancies and can delay pregnancies in young women at increased risk of health problems and death from early childbearing, and can prevent pregnancies among older women who also face increased risks. Family planning enables women who wish to limit the size of their families to do so. Evidence suggests that women who have more than four children are at increased risk of maternal mortality. By reducing rates of unintended pregnancies, family planning also reduces the need for unsafe abortion. Reducing infant mortality Family planning can prevent closely spaced and ill-timed...
Words: 1313 - Pages: 6
