...With sex education becoming a controversial topic in the United States education programs, you cannot help but wonder; if this is truly helping prevent teen pregnancy. Over the last decade, teen pregnancy has increased in the United States, and has affected society socially, educational and economically. What programs have been put in place to decrease these statistics? How is this effecting the United States overall? In this paper I will discuss how it not only affects society, but also the teen parent, child, and society. Every year in the United States more than one million teens become pregnant in the United States. Of these one million pregnancies more than 500,000 babies are born to teen parents. This means that everyday at least 3,000 teens become pregnant. Nevada is ranked number one for pregnancies among ages 15-19. The rates of live births in Nevada for women ages 15-19, ranks Nevada at number 8 (Guttmacher Institute, U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity, September 2006). With these shocking statistics you cannot help but wonder, what are we as a society doing to help prevent this major issue? Schools have placed sex education classes as an elective class that students are allowed to take to inform themselves on prevention and safe sex. Teenage pregnancy is a pregnancy of a female that is under the age of 20 when the pregnancy ends. Generally a teen pregnancy is unplanned, nor is the mother married...
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...2012 According to child help (1959-2012) Children around the world are suffering from child abuse and neglect. It is reported that each year 3.3 million reports are made in the United States about child abuse involving 6 million children; this is due to reports that may contain more than two children. Statistic show that every ten second there is a report made that involves child abuse, more than five children that die is a result of child abuse, and approximately 80% of children that dies are under the age of 4. Child abuse comes in many forms and they are listed as, physical, medical, educational, and emotional. Physical abuse is a form of a neglect it is when the parents or care givers are not providing the necessary needs of the child; such as not providing shelter for the child, and not supervising the child. Physical abuse is also defined as a physical force or violence’s that results in bodily injuries or pain. With the lack of supervision a child will be free to do whatever they want because they feel that there are no consequences. A child needs to have a sense of authority figure in their lives. Child help (1959-2012) states that when a child is abuse, or they are being neglected in any way there is a 59% chance that they will be arrested at a young age. This can also become a pattern that stick with them through adult hood; this being said it also states that when they become adults there is a 30% chance that they will commit violent crimes...
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...Eidson English 1101 April 25, 2013 Sex Education in Schools Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual activity, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. Although some form of sex education is part of the curriculum at many schools, it remains a controversial issue in several states. Ignorance regarding sexual matters has resulted in 65 percent of all teens having sex before their senior year and 9.1 million of the 19 million Americans who get an STD in a year are teenagers or between the ages of 15 and 24 (“Teen Sex Statistics”). There is no better place than in a biology class or a special sex education class to inform children of the importance of having planned families; consequently, these classes can reduce teenage pregnancies and much physical suffering caused by AIDS or other serious sexually transmitted diseases. It should never be left to parents because, in many cases, they cannot properly inform their children on the subject of sex education. Sex education must be taught in schools because it will help to prevent STDs from being transmitted, especially among teens, it will help prevent teenage pregnancy, and will help prevent pre-mature sex, which can damage the body from an early stage in life. Sex education does not only talk about sex. It also teaches about reproduction and sexual health. A lot of parents do not support the fact that sex education should be taught in schools, but yet they...
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...Sexuality of the Teen and Young Adult Tomekia Brewer Strayer University Sociology 100 Professor Tasha Anderson January 28, 2012 Sexuality of the Teen and Young Adult 1 Sexuality of the Teen and Young Adult As parents and adults, it is our duty to help our teens and young adults develop into smart, sexual beings, which is very important to their future happiness. The mystery about sex is that it so interesting, such a power for good, but can be very dangerous for young people if they are on the wrong track. Sex education in schools continues to have the debates of practicing abstinence and practicing safe sex. Doctors say that what is missing is the need to focus on love and sexual intimacy which play a big role in the human life. If we look at what today's teens are doing, it is enough to make parents weep and Safe-sex educators recognize that there is a greater need for condoms. The Guttmacher Institute reported recently that more than 75 percent of teens have had sex by the time they are 19 years old. Some 25 percent of virgins over 15 have had oral sex; of those who've had intercourse, almost all have also engaged in oral sex and 11 percent in anal sex. Of kids under the age of 15, about 14 percent have had sexual intercourse, and a quarter of teenagers have had at least one sexually transmitted disease. In fact, young people account...
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...Running head: Sexual Maturation Adolescent Sexual Maturation Rachel Siminski PSY351 December 10, 2012 Abstract Children have a rate of sexual maturation that follows them throughout life; there are physical and mental effects. These changes in an adolescent reflect changing mental states as a result of physical changes. There are more sexual desires, feelings of increased intimacy and a different understanding of their physical body. There are many correlations between the changes of the mind and body, I will also describe theories of you they effect one another. Adolescent Sexual Maturation Adolescence is a challenging period for both children and their parents. Three stages of adolescence - early, middle, and late, are experienced by most teens, but the age at which each stage is reached varies greatly from child to child. These different rates of maturation are connected to physical development and hormone balance, neither of which the child can control. For this reason, adolescents should be treated as individuals and any guidelines should be adapted to the particular child. The biological changes we associate with adolescence actually unfold over a long period of time, beginning with the maturation of the adrenal axis during childhood and ending with the maturation of the gonadal axis in the early 20s (Steinberg, 2011). Piagets Theory and Adolescent Maturity At 15 years of age a teenager is well prepared to understand the risks. According to Jean Piaget...
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...is now becoming a major and current issue across the U.S, especially in the education system. It’s messing with student's academic behavior, and normal behavior either during school or afterschool. The mental, and physical stability of teens is being affected negatively in many different types of ways because of bullying becoming an issue. One of the main reasons of why bullying is affecting teens is because of the different ways the bully is carrying out the action. Another aspect affecting teens is the mental and emotional instability causing bullies to mess with teen’s heads. The last main issue is the different types of side effects that comes out of bullying, for instance depression, social anxiety, and etc. which all have a high...
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...have not been educated about sex prior to becoming pregnant, due to the lack of communication between the teenager and her parents. There are major health concerns to be faced for teenage mothers and their unborn child. There are options available to teen moms when making decisions on parenthood; being a teenage mother is one of the most difficult experiences a young person might ever face. There are many causes for teenage pregnancy. First, teenagers take unwanted risks due to lack of knowledge and education on teenage pregnancy. Many parents feel uncomfortable about discussing sex with their children. “Most people evade their children from talking about sex. In some cases, they provide false information regarding sex and discourage their children to participate in any informative discussion about sex.” Giving your child false information is not smart! Talking to your children at an early age and answering any questions they have directly and honestly can be a step closer towards preventing teenage pregnancy. That’s why it is very important as parents to educate our children before it’s too late. (What are the Causes of Teenage Pregnancy) Lack of knowledge for safe sex is considered to be another cause of teen pregnancy. Teens between the puberty ages of 12 to 15 years old are exposed to the subject of sex. Because both boys and girls are curious about the changes in their bodies, they act in unprotected sexual ways, primarily due to lack of knowledge. Teenagers want to talk...
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...justice system and incarceration in an adult jail. Youth who are placed in adult jails are at a greater risk of physical and sexual assault. I believe juveniles under the age of 18 should not be treated as adult criminals because placing youth in the adult criminal justice system puts their safety at risk, restricts their necessary education and crucial health development, and increases the likelihood of violence and re-offending. Placing youth in adult jails most likely result in inimical situations and it is extremely difficult to prevent these events from occurring. By housing young offenders in the same facilities as adult criminals they are presented as the easiest preys which result in physical and sexual assaults. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2005 and 2006,...
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...What is Teen Dating Violence? Teen Dating Violence (TDV) is described as the physical, emotional, or sexual abuse that occurs within a relationship while dating. TDV can occur in person, or electronically by a current or former partner (CDC, 2014). Many adolescents and adults are unaware of the prevalence of TDV but a recent national study revealed that nearly 10% of adolescents have reported being hit, slapped, or intentionally physically hurt by someone they had claimed to be dating (CDC, 2014). About 20% of adult women who reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence (IPV) also reported experiencing TDV between the ages of 11-17 (CDC, 2014). Also, black students experience TDV (14%) at a significantly higher rate than their white peers (8.9%) (Rothman, 2013). TDV is a very important issue to address because as teens mature mentally and emotionally, they are heavily influenced by previous relational experiences. If they do not cultivate positive, healthy relationships, TDV can be a dangerous precursor to experiencing IPV as adults. Victims of TDV are more likely to do poorly in school, binge drink, commit suicide, and engage in physical altercations (CDC, 2014). There are several risk factors involved with TDV. There is an increased risk for toxic relationships for teens who believe that physical violence is a constructive way to express anger in a relationship, use alcohol or drugs, have violent friends, have multiple sex partners, are depressed or anxious...
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...How Teen Mothers Describe dating Violence Abstract This paper will examine Teen Dating Violence (TDV) from the perspective of pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers. TDV is recognized as a major current public health issue threatening youth and is even more prevalence during pregnancy and parenting (Herman, 2013). The task of parenting and the stress that comes with pregnancy are two psychological issues that are beyond the capabilities of the adolescent’s period. Dealing with these stressors often leads to TDV with adolescent parents. Throughout this paper I will discuss the viewpoints of selected teen mothers and pregnant teens, their thoughts on the causes, and their suggestions on how to stop or reduce TDV. The method used to collect the data will also be analyzed, the research limitations will be discussed, and the impacts of the research result on the nursing profession will be elaborated. Teenagers have the most understanding of their age group; therefore, the thoughts and experiences of young mothers will be useful in the development prevention strategies specific to their needs (Herman, 2013) Key words: teen dating violence, pregnant and parenting teens, interpersonal violence TDV can be defined as any negative use of power or control in teenage relationships. Development tasks of the adolescent period, hurdles for all adolescents, are even more complex when teens confront pregnancy and parenting and may predispose them to violent relationships (Herman, 2013)...
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...The National Youth Commission, supported by the Department of Health and the World Health Organization, convened the 2014 National Summit on Teen Pregnancy last April 24. This summit, which saw the active participation of adolescent youth, delivered a clear message: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH), or the lack thereof, is fast becoming the defining issue of this generation of young Filipinos. Without a robust response from all stakeholders, the Philippines is on track toward a full-blown, national teenage pregnancy crisis. Staggering facts support this call for concern. Recent (2014) data from the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) reveal that every hour, 24 babies are delivered by teenage mothers. According to the 2014 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) study, around 14 percent of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 are either pregnant for the first time or are already mothers—more than twice the rate recorded in 2002. Among six major economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies and is the only country where the rate is increasing, per the United Nations Population Fund. According to Josefina Natividad, YAFS coordinator and director of the University of the Philippines Population Institute, young Filipinos have limited access to sex education and ASRH services, especially if they are underage and unmarried. Seventy-eight percent are not using any form of contraception or protection...
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...Running Head: Teen Pregnancy in the United States Teen Pregnancy in the United States Lakiara Collins English II` Abstract Teen Pregnancy occur more than you think in the United States. More than 400,000 teen girls, aged 15-19 years old, give birth each year in the US. Having a child during teen years carries high costs emotional, physical, and financial to the mother, father, child, and community. Teen Pregnancy is becoming more popular in the media and from a political, ad educational standpoint. This is an underlying social problem that is now making it known. Teen Pregnancy in the United States “Each year in the U.S. almost one million teenagers become pregnant--at enormous costs to themselves, their children, and society”. (Pregnant Teen Help, Teen Pregnancy Statistics) Some would argue that teen pregnancy is all glorified. Other individuals would protest that it is too influential. Teen pregnancy is a rising social problem in the United States and among other countries. Teen pregnancy is now being publicized as multimedia corporations, with shows such as “16 & Pregnant”, “Teen Mom”, “Maury”, “Secret Life of the American Teenager”, and “Juno”. All of which concentrate on teen pregnancy. These shows or movies could be informational for young people. However, the shows display an altered reality that teen pregnancy is easy, laughs and joy. Despite what the shows might portray teen pregnancy is an uprising national and global epidemic. In the past teen pregnancy...
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...and Issues: Society, the Individual, and the Professions Nova Southeastern University November 08, 2010 Topic: The Increase of Obesity Amongst Teens has Damaging Effects I. Introduction A. Establish the understanding of the topic 1. What is obesity? Cite definitions and characteristics of obesity ( ). 2. Define teen and identify normal weight criteria ( ). 3. Causes of Obesity a. Genetics 1. Predisposition from heredity factors such as Bardet-Biedel syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome ( ) 2. Metabolism Disorders (Keast, Nicklas, & O'Neil, 2010). b. Diseases and Drugs 1. Cushing disease 2. Polycystic Ovary syndrome 3. Steroids 4. Antidepressant c. Lifestyle and eating habits; energy imbalance 1. Increased consumption of fast food (Keast, Nicklas, & O'Neil, 2010). 2. Increased time with media (T.V., computer games) ( ) 3. Increased time communicating on phones ( ) d. Social opinions of overweight individuals 1. Cultures identify overweight people as lazy, stupid, and slow. 2. Effects of negative attitudes expressed towards obese teens. e. Increased emotional disorders (i.e. anxiety, depression) ( ) B. Additional factors affecting obesity in teenagers 1. Low self-perception and self-esteem 2. Social isolation 3. Reduction in physical activity C. Health consequences of overweight 1. Orthopedic problems 2. Dermatological disorders 3. Cardiovascular disease 4. Juvenile diabetes II. Historical Perspective ...
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...Running head: MORE THAN HORMONES Teen Pregnancy: More Than Just Raging Hormones Amberette Kennard Psychology 101 Professor Greg Harmling 05/10/2011 Teen Pregnancy: More Than Just Raging Hormones A young girl gets ready to leave for school. She brushes her teeth, combs her hair and picks out an outfit. She gets dressed and takes one final look in the mirror before heading out. She stares at her midsection, anxiously trying to adjust her shirt. It’s getting harder and harder to hide…soon everyone will know... Despite a one-third decline since the early 1990s, the United States still has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and birth among comparable countries. In 2008, the U.S. teen birth rate was 41.5 births per 1,000 girls age 15-19. By way of comparison, the U.S. teen birth rate is nearly two times higher than the United Kingdom (26.7 per 1,000). (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 2010) Teen pregnancy has been the leading topic of many U.S. talk shows, news programs, documentaries, and movies. Its appearance in so many mediums demonstrates that there is a fascination with and strong desire to understand the problem of teen pregnancy in the United States and the constant search for a solution. There have been many studies on the physical causes of teen pregnancy such as rising hormone levels, the adolescent brain’s transition, and more. Although there has been...
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...Drugs: Teen Drug Addiction Kimberly Henderson COM 172 April 9, 2015 Beverly Woods Teen drug addiction is a very serious psychological and physical problem that involves many contributing factors abuse, divorce, peer pressure and physical issues, although there are many but limited recovery centers for teens. Even though we educate many teens still fall into the unfortunate lifestyle of drug addiction. Undeniably, no person ever says I want to be a drug addict. In today’s society teens are experiencing more stress from family, friends and school than ever before. “Divorce is common factor in teen drug addiction the parents may not accept or believe it but they play a crucial part in their teen’s lives in how they approach their child with family issues. A divorce can damage a teen severely depending on the age and gender”. (Temke, 2006p.2). Also abuse maybe an effect on a teenager. If a teen is being mentally, physically and sexually abused they will find ways to blame themselves for the abuse by using drugs to cover the pain. Friends who are using drugs will encourage them to try drugs to take the edge off,” saying it’s cool , you want become addicted, it helped me get through my problems.” Another is failing grades in school. Many may not see this but it’s considered to be a lack of confidence. Since parents today play a major role in their teenager education but can also add on stress from overloading their teenager with too many demands to be what they...
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