The United States isn’t doing enough to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Jennifer Swims goes to school at 7:15 a.m. comes home at 2:35 p.m. but instead of starting homework like most seventeen years old, she comes home and cares for her child. Then at 4:00pm, she starts work at McDonald’s not leaving until 12:35 a.m. Upon returning home, she plays with her son until 1:30am. Swims is lucky enough that she receives support from her family which allows her to attend to school but not all teen mothers are so fortunate (Rinaldo). The daily life of a teenage mother is grueling and while the United States has made considerable strides in the past decade to reduce teen pregnancy rates, more can be done. The United States still has the highest teen pregnancy
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Unlike other countries with low teen pregnancy rates, there is currently no national standard in the United States for sexual education. Resulting in some states having comprehensive sexual education but others have none. However, states with comprehensive sex education have seen far better outcomes. Advocates for Youth summarized the positive effects of comprehensive sex education, “Behavioral outcomes have included delaying the initiation of sex as well as reducing the frequency of sex, the number of new partners, and the incidence of unprotected sex, and/or increasing the use of condoms and contraception among sexually active participants. Long-term impacts have included lower STI and/or pregnancy rates” (McKeon). Comprehensive sex doesn’t encourage sex but actually reduce sexual activity among teenagers and effects. This type of sexual education is effective in preventing pregnancy. This is displayed by University of Washington research which found that teenagers that received comprehensive sex education were 6o% less likely to get pregnant or get someone else pregnant (Beadle). This research reveals that teaching comprehensive sex education does, in fact, lessen the likelihood of teen pregnancy and it provides a reason to expand on comprehensive sexual education. Providing federal standards for comprehensive sexual education will help further lessen teen pregnancy rates …show more content…
However, it does mean teenagers are less educated when they do engage in sex. Providing effective sex education will have a positive outcome on teenage pregnancy rates. Some Americans feel that providing teenagers with contraception will encourage to engage in sexual activity. Some adults and parents are concerned that allowing teenagers to receive contraception will lead them to become more sexually active, “For some teens . . . birth control encourages promiscuous behavior. Teens who may have otherwise practiced abstinence, now have a reason to become sexually active. Birth control also poses moral concerns for religious families” (Tucker). The belief that more available contraception leads to higher rates of sexual activity isn’t uncommon but isn’t necessarily true. A study, by the Contraception Project, of young women and teenagers on no-cost contraception found no significant change, “Women are on average no more likely to have multiple sexual partners in a single month after they are provided no-cost access to birth control methods than they were before”
Unlike other countries with low teen pregnancy rates, there is currently no national standard in the United States for sexual education. Resulting in some states having comprehensive sexual education but others have none. However, states with comprehensive sex education have seen far better outcomes. Advocates for Youth summarized the positive effects of comprehensive sex education, “Behavioral outcomes have included delaying the initiation of sex as well as reducing the frequency of sex, the number of new partners, and the incidence of unprotected sex, and/or increasing the use of condoms and contraception among sexually active participants. Long-term impacts have included lower STI and/or pregnancy rates” (McKeon). Comprehensive sex doesn’t encourage sex but actually reduce sexual activity among teenagers and effects. This type of sexual education is effective in preventing pregnancy. This is displayed by University of Washington research which found that teenagers that received comprehensive sex education were 6o% less likely to get pregnant or get someone else pregnant (Beadle). This research reveals that teaching comprehensive sex education does, in fact, lessen the likelihood of teen pregnancy and it provides a reason to expand on comprehensive sexual education. Providing federal standards for comprehensive sexual education will help further lessen teen pregnancy rates …show more content…
However, it does mean teenagers are less educated when they do engage in sex. Providing effective sex education will have a positive outcome on teenage pregnancy rates. Some Americans feel that providing teenagers with contraception will encourage to engage in sexual activity. Some adults and parents are concerned that allowing teenagers to receive contraception will lead them to become more sexually active, “For some teens . . . birth control encourages promiscuous behavior. Teens who may have otherwise practiced abstinence, now have a reason to become sexually active. Birth control also poses moral concerns for religious families” (Tucker). The belief that more available contraception leads to higher rates of sexual activity isn’t uncommon but isn’t necessarily true. A study, by the Contraception Project, of young women and teenagers on no-cost contraception found no significant change, “Women are on average no more likely to have multiple sexual partners in a single month after they are provided no-cost access to birth control methods than they were before”