...TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN AMERICA: AND OTHER RELATED COMPLICATIONS Teenage Pregnancy in America: And Other Related Complications Teenage pregnancy is defined as a teenager or underage girl (usually within the ages of 13–19) becoming pregnant. The term in everyday speech usually refers to women who have not 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...
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...Teens Receive Education about Decisions (TREAD) A Sex Education Program Cyndi Carter NUR/598 January 13, 2014 Dr. Maria Revell Teens Receive Education about Decisions (TREAD) A Sex Education Program Working for the health department can be challenging. Managing the Title X Family Planning Program carries many federal restraints. The community’s awareness of the benefits and available resources through such programs as the Title X Family Planning Program are minimal. The purpose of this project proposal is to create a school-based educational sex education program that will serve to reach out and educate teenagers; Teens Receiving Education about Decisions (TREAD). Fagen, Stacks, Hutter, and Syster (2010) “Sexual health education (SHE) is an important strategy for promoting well-informed sexual decision-making and preventing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents. One promising approach for increasing adolescent SHE access is to institute school district policies that mandate high-quality sex education” (para. 1). Section A: Problem Identification Sex education classes are not a mandate of Georgia school systems. The rising statistics and cost to the state are and will continue to grow without proper education. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013) “A new Centers for Disease Control [CDC] analysis shows that half of all new infections occur among young people aged 15-24. The analysis goes on to show that sexually transmitted...
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...Health Care: Teen Pregnancy One of the most life altering experiences for teens is Teenage pregnancy which affects teenagers ranging from the ages of 15-19. A life altering experience such as this can cause the following: interruptions in education, family unit may break down, and inability to follow through with plans for the future. "Family First Aid: Help For Troubled Teens" (2002-2004), "Thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20 -- about 820,000 a year ” (Teen Pregnancy statistics, facts, and prevention). “The NSFG is a nationwide survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Data were collected in collaboration with the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research by trained personnel, from January 2002 to March 2003, through an in-home interview process that included Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI). Overall information collected included basic demographics; knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding family planning issues; and self-reported sexual behavior and previous diagnoses of STDs” (Kohler, Manhart, & Lafferty, 2008, para. 7). The problem the study was conducted to resolve was the problem of teenage pregnancy. The reason that the problem of teenage pregnancy is important for health care administrators to study is that the commencement of sexual activity and risk of teen pregnancy and sexually...
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...Teenage Pregnancy How would you feel if you were told that you were an accident? Here is some food for thought to date; every hour in this country 70 teenagers become pregnant, 1,100 teenagers attain an STD, and one young person contracts HIV (Carmona, Elders, & Satcher, 2015). At some point in history, presumably the decade of the 1980s, I too became part of a similar data set. I am the offspring of teenage mother. No matter if it is some thirty-three years ago or 2015, teenage pregnancy is occurring. The only exception between the two different decades is the magnitude of such adverse side effects that not only impacts the teenage mother, but others as well. In a majority of instances some sort of family member, or social worker, need to intervene and care for the child (since the mother can still be called one herself). As for my situation, I was very grateful to have both sets of my grandparent’s take over the responsibilities and duties that an adult mother and father typically account for. Granted, there was sufficient assistance to aid my teenage parents, but their irresponsibility, immaturity, and lack of knowledge for the future, divided both families forever. Which brings me to this; should the teenagers be blamed for the high pregnancy rates, or should the blame be laid at the feet of sex education programs and society around them, or rather a culmination of both? I believe we can’t just blame the individuals themselves. I feel it is the utmost responsibility and...
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...Background and Methodology Research Process to Problems in Health Care: Teen Pregnancy One of the most life altering experiences for teens is Teenage pregnancy which affects teenagers ranging from the ages of 15-19. A life altering experience such as this can cause the following: interruptions in education, family unit may break down, and inability to follow through with plans for the future. "Family First Aid: Help For Troubled Teens" (2002-2004), "Thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20 -- about 820,000 a year ” (Teen Pregnancy statistics, facts, and prevention). “The NSFG is a nationwide survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Data were collected in collaboration with the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research by trained personnel, from January 2002 to March 2003, through an in-home interview process that included Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI). Overall information collected included basic demographics; knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding family planning issues; and self-reported sexual behavior and previous diagnoses of STDs” (Kohler, Manhart, & Lafferty, 2008, para. 7). Many researchers have developed numerous accounts in regards to the reason for countless teen pregnancies which are increasing at a disturbing pace than in previous time in history. The predicament that the...
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...A controversial topic in society is whether sex education should be allowed to be taught in our public-school system. What is sex education you ask? Well sex education is education about sexuality, contraceptive methods, how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, the values of protection and attitudes and principles about sex. Almost every day you hear about how the numbers of teens and preteens are having sex and the rates of teenage pregnancy is high. Can this somehow be prevented by placing sex education in our the school curriculum? There are two kinds of sex education, one being abstinence-only programs and the second one being comprehensive education. Both of these programs teach about the process of sex education which can lead to children understanding about how to make the right choices for...
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...Teenage Sex Sexually active teenagers in America are significant problems for which we have done something. A question that rings in the minds of teenagers everywhere is when to have sex. Catholic teachings instruct us to wait until one is in a loving marriage to have sex. Not only is the church preaching abstinence, but now public schools are also teaching students about the advantages of abstinence. Premarital sex is a growing, and important issue. Premarital sex is usually the cause of sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, and deep, emotions of regret. The Government had many programs to stop them from having sex in early age. The abstinence education is the effective in reducing sex. Abstinence education had a significant and long-term effect in reducing teen sexual activities. “The abstinence-only intervention reduced sexual initiation,” reports the study, which is featured in the most recent issue of the medical journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, published by the American Medical Association. The Government is spending $176.5 million on abstinence education. (http://blog.heritage.org/2010/02/01/abstinence-education-effective-in-reducing-teen-sex-comprehensive-sex-ed-not/) Sexually transmitted diseases flourish in a society of premarital sex where teens have many sex partners. A direct result of this (many sex partners) is STD's becoming more abundant among the population. One reason for the plague of STD's is the misuse of...
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...Teenage Pregnancy in the U.S. Brandon Lisak Principals of Sociology 4/31/2014 “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 has been an underline issue that is vastly taking center stage. Media, education, and economy are all components to this phenomenon, nevertheless, how are they all connected? All of which will all be addressed in the contents of this paper. Which leaves the burning question, is teen pregnancy accepted into our society as a norm, or is it still a deviant act? First and for most, there are many different definitions of teenage pregnancy depending on the source of the information. However, as a broad definition defines teenage...
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...There is an issue in this country over the ethics and morality of abortion. In the last year, there has been a renewed call to defund Planned Parenthood because of this issue. Despite this controversy there are still many people who support Planned Parenthood. These people recognize that there are several reasons why Planned Parenthood should not be defunded. The Federal Government should continue to fund Planned Parenthood because women are able to have access to essential reproductive health services, affordable health care and there are negative repercussions for public health if Planned Parenthood was defunded. Women are able to have access to essential reproductive health services through Planned Parenthood as long as the Federal Government...
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...criteria that is necessary to evaluate a public policy. Before I begin, I feel that it is important to draw attention to a portion of my first essay. Since we are looking at the implementation of policies, we must first come to a conclusion as to what the issue we are looking at affects most. Out of the five contexts examined in the first essay, I believe that the economic problems caused by pre-marital sex is the primary focus of the U.S Government; therefore, when looking for the root cause of the problem, we will be looking at it from the eyes of U.S policy makers and what they might see as pressing issues that may affect pre-marital sex and some of the consequences that stem from it, including high teen pregnancy rates and high rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teens. None of what will be stated in this essay should be considered my own personal belief, but what I see as causes that may be brought up by policy makers. It is also important to note that...
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...Imo State, Nigeria. By A.M. Adewale. Department of Biology, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri. Imo State, Nigeria. Email: mosesremimec@yahoo.com And M.O. Ayodele. Kwara State College of Education (T), Lafiagi. Kwara State, Nigeria. Email: oluoyedele@yahoo.com. Introduction. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are transmitted through sexul contacts and the most common ones are hepatitis B, genital herpes, syphilis, chlamydia, gornorrhea, genital warts, pubic lice and HIV/AIDS (WHO, 2006). STDs are diseases that you get by having sex (intercourse, oral or anal) with someone who already has a sexually transmitted disease (Dehne and Riedner, 2005). Although there are diversity in culture and practices of different practices among different nations of the world, hthe attitude to human sexual relationships seems to be almost similar among all men. Moreover geographical barrier does no longer effectively separate interactions among the diverse people of the world. THe prevalence and pattern of infections are not different among all men who have similar diposition to acquiring diseases. Sexually transmitted infections and the causative agents are commonly prevalent prevalent in all parts of the world. According to Child Trends (2013), there are more than 25 kinds of STIs, acquired primarily through sexual activity, some are bacterial, such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea; others are viral, such as hepatitis...
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...society the same. AIDS is a global epidemic and has threatened the human health and development for many years. There are many ways to prevent the spread of AIDS such as abstinence, educating our youths and adults on AIDS prevention, and political support to find a cure. There are different views on the AIDS problem. One view is the Politicians who believe that people are responsible for their own sexuality; therefore, it’s their responsibility to educate themselves. Second are Christians who believe that religion acts as a deterrent to sexual activity which decreased pre-marital sex. Third are the group of Planned Parenthood and safe sex which believes that if they educate people on the use of contraceptives, it will help diminish pregnancy and the spread of AIDS. HIV and Aids in the United States by age and gender More than half a million people diagnosed with AIDS have died in the USA. Around two-thirds of these people did not live to the age of 45. In 2007, the age group 30-49 years accounted for an estimated 54% of HIV diagnoses, 63% of AIDS diagnoses, and 56% of deaths of people diagnosed with AIDS. The estimated number of children (under 13) diagnosed with AIDS in 2007 was 28. Almost 17% of HIV diagnoses were in people aged 50 and above. In America there is increasing concern over how the HIV/AIDS epidemic is affecting the older generation. According to the CDC, women continued to account for a growing proportion of new AIDS...
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...Teen pregnancy and resulting births pose many societal challenges, and as a result require the collective efforts of many to provide solutions. Teen pregnancy has been considered a "social ill" for centuries in the United States and has always challenged moral and ethical sensibilities. The economic costs of teens giving birth are significant, and there are many compelling reasons to reduce the teen pregnancy. Research shows that reducing the number of births to teens and increasing the age at which a women gives birth yields significant cost savings for the public sector. Efforts to reduce teen pregnancy are mainly focused on prevention and sex education is a large part of the effort. Current sex education programs focus on two main strategies, they are: abstinence only education and abstinence plus education. Abstinence only teaches that abstaining from sexual activity is the only truly effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy. Abstinence plus education focuses on delaying the initiation of sexual activity and recommends the use of contraception if a teen is sexually active. The success of abstinence only education has been exaggerated according to many sociologists and researchers. Scientific research indicates that abstinence plus education is actually much more effective in preventing teen pregnancy. Solving the problem of teen pregnancy has largely been relegating to treating the symptoms of the problem and employing prevention strategies aimed at young women. Sociologists...
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...SEX EDUCATION Human sexuality has biological, emotional/physical and spiritual aspects. The biological aspect of sexuality refers to the reproductive mechanism as well as the basic biological drive, Libido that exists in all species, which is hormonally controlled. The emotional or physical aspect of sexuality refers to the bond that exists between individuals, and is expressed through profound feelings or physical manifestations of emotions of love, trust, and caring. There is also a spiritual aspect of sexuality of an individual or as a connection with others. Experience has shown that adolescents are curious about some or all the aspects of their sexuality as well as the nature of sexuality in general, and that many will wish to experience their sexuality. What is sex education? It is instruction on issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, birth control, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, formal school programs, and public health campaigns. Sex education ('sex ed'), which is sometimes called sexuality education or sex and relationships education, is the process of acquiring information and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, relationships and intimacy. Sex education is also about developing young people's skills so that...
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