Group_G_w6_TeenageSexualEducation

Teenage Sexual Education: 

Teenage Sexual Education Group G: Terri Call, Sabine Harrigan , Renee Hicks, Patrice Johnson , Joey Lewis, Beverly Moore, Shanell Reid, Shelicia Ross, Walden University

Current Issues: 

Current Issues Teen pregnancy In 2009, 409,840 infants born to girls 15-19 years old 2/3 of all births to women younger than 18 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. ) Premature Death Cervical cancer, lung cancer, heart disease, inflicted violence, alcohol-related diseases, and suicide “strategies to reduce teenage childbearing are likely to contribute to improved maternal and infant health” ( Olausson , Haglund , Weitfot , & Cnattingius , 2044) Teen STDs In 2009, 517,174 cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and primary/secondary s yphilis in teens age 15-19 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. )

Current Issues (cont’d): 

Current Issues (cont’d) Teen dropouts 2009 – 8.1% national dropout rate, ages 15-24 (U.S. Department of Education, 2011) Family Welfare 49.9% recipients with children 22.8% are families with adults ages 18-35 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012)

Potential Causes (cont’d): 

Potential Causes (cont’d) Lack of education in public schools Teaching contraception use does not increase sexual activity or exposure to STDs “Adolescents who received comprehensive sex education had a lower risk of pregnancy than adolescents who received abstinence-only or no sex education” (Kohler, Manhart, & Lafferty, 2008)

Potential Causes (cont’d): 

Abstinence-only education States not mandating abstinence-only = lowest reported rates of STDs States mandating abstinence = highest reported rates of STDs (Hogben, Chesson, & Aral, 2010) Potential Causes (cont’d)

Potential Causes (cont’d): 

Parental Interference “35 states and the District of Columbia allow parents to opt-out (of sexual education) on behalf of their children” (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2011). Potential Causes (cont’d)

Potential Causes (cont’d): 

No unified sex-ed course Some schools do not offer sex-ed 20 states and DC require sex-ed in public schools 35 out of 50 states and DC require education on STIs and HIV/AIDS 15 states require sex-ed Medically accurate Age appropriate (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2011). Potential Causes (cont’d)

Potential Causes (cont’d): 

Lack of parental guidance 30 pregnant girls, age 13-19 Lack of parental communication Unstable family relationships Pregnancy used as an effort to improve relationships and increase communication (Lloyd, 2004) Maternal interaction reduces teen pregnancy and encourages contraception usage (Commendador, 2010) Potential Causes (cont’d)

Potential Causes (cont’d): 

Peer pressure 294 urban 6 th graders Significant risk factor, especially in males (O’Donnell et. al., 2006) Potential Causes (cont’d)

Potential Causes (cont’d): 

Leisurely lifestyle / no consequences Poverty Delinquency Drug use Low school achievement Low religiosity Low parental monitoring Poor child-parent communication (French & Dishion, 2003) Potential Causes (cont’d)

Potential Causes (cont’d): 

Don’t believe pregnancy, STDs, HIV can happen to them It happened to me! Potential Causes (cont’d)

Group Action Plan: 

Group Action Plan Federal government to endorse one, uniform sexual education course Overseen by the Dept. of Education Will cover all aspects of sexuality Abstinence Contraception Safer sex practices (oral sex, etc.) Realities of teen pregnancy STDs and HIV Dropout rates Teen welfare Teen suicide

Group Action Plan (cont’d): 

Group Action Plan (cont’d) Teen required to volunteer minimum of 20 hours Planned Parenthood Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) Local AIDS clinics Local healthcare clinics

Group Action Plan (cont’d): 

Group Action Plan (cont’d) Booklet on sexual education Teens required to review it with parents Parents sign and return with teen to school Completed within same school year of course

Group Action Plan (cont’d): 

Group Action Plan (cont’d ) Advice for Teens (pamphlets, etc.) Spend time with groups Value your education Have positive role models Don’t give into peer pressure Always have a mentor Use protection and/or birth control Have open communication with parents

Group Action Plan (cont’d): 

Group Action Plan (cont’d ) Advice for Parents (pamphlets, etc.) Talk to your child and start early Discuss relationships, sex, and babies Discuss puberty before it happens Be involved in their sexual education Get to know their friends (boyfriend/girlfriend) Set limits Keep communication open Be there for your child / have unconditional love

Group Action Plan (cont’d): 

Group Action Plan (cont’d ) Teens recognized by local officials With support from state and federal governments

Group Action Plan (cont’d): 

Group Action Plan (cont’d) States decide Use their own course Use federally endorsed course School federally recognized Receive 2% more funding state-wide Parents can opt-out Must attend an 8-hour crash course Must home school their children

How to do it?: 

How to do it? Over 1-3 years, create comprehensive curriculum Local educators Healthcare organizations Interview teens Outline all requirements

How to do it?: 

How to do it? Present program to other local healthcare organizations and local educators Form community action group Present program to community leaders and legislatures Sponsor a bill to present to Congress

How to do it?: 

How to do it? Collect funds through grassroots efforts Door-to-door Online campaigns Create an advertising campaign on the newly sponsored bill Radio Internet Television Create a website and use social media Online petition on Change.org

End Result: 

End Result Within 10 years Course federally endorsed Available to all U.S. public schools

References: 

References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). http://www.cdc.gov Commendador, K. A. (2010, May-June). Parental Influences on Adolescent Decision Making and Contraceptive Use. Pediatric Nursing , 36(3 ), 147-157. Retrieved from EBSCOhost French, D. C., & Dishion, T. J. (2003, August). Predictors of Early Initiation of Sexual Intercourse among High-Risk Adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence , 23(3) , 295-315. doi: 10.1177/0272431603254171 Hogben, M., Chesson, H., & Aral, S. O. (2010, April). Sexuality education policies and sexually transmitted disease rates in the United States of America. International Journal Of STD & AIDS , 21(4 ), 293-297. Retrieved from EBSCOhost Kohler, P. K., Manhart, L. E., & Lafferty, W. E. (2008, April). Abstinence-Only and Comprehensive Sex Education and the Initiation of Sexual Activity and Teen Pregnancy. Journal of Adolescent Health , 42 , 344-351. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.08.026 Lloyd, S. L. (2004). Pregnant Adolescent Reflections of Parental Communication. Journal of Community Health Nursing , 21(4 ), 239-251. doi: 10.1207/s15327655jchn2104_4 National Conference of State Legislatures. (2011). http://www.ncsl.org O’Donnell, L., Stueve, A., Wilson-Simmons, R., Dash, K., Agronick, G., & JeanBaptiste, V. (2006, February). Heterosexual risk behaviors among urban young adolescents. Journal of Adolescence , 26(1 ), 87-109. doi: 10.1177/0272431605282653 Olausson, P.O., Haglund, B., Weitfot, G.R., & Cnattingius, S. (2004, August). Premature death among teenage mothers. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 111(8), 793-799. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00248.x U.S. Census Bureau. (2012). Table 572. Selected Characteristics of Food Stamp Households and Participants: 1990 to 2009 [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov U.S. Department of Education. (2011). The Condition of Education 2011 [Data file]. Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics