In what ways could the government and society in general do to reduce the numbers of teenage pregnancy?

I'm doing a project on teenage pregnancy.In what ways could the government and society in general do to reduce the numbers of teenage pregnancy?
I think the first step would be better ';Sex Ed'; classes, the ones they have now are really pathetic! Myself, I am 18 and graduated high school May of 2006. Trust me, the sexual education classes (which were just looped into the health class) are far from educational. They ';teach'; the same thing every year. The things they go over consist of VERY basic information on STD's, and that abstinence is the choice to follow. That is it. I know so many people my age who are clueless about safe sex.


I think the schools need to step it up and teach how to protect themselves and what to look out for as far as STD's. Then explain the risks of pregnancy, instead of just preaching abstinence. There is no way teenagers are going to stop having sex, it WILL NOT happen. If they are better educated they will be able to practice safe sex instead of just being clueless. Unfortunately, a lot of teens no matter how well you educate them will still put themselves at risk. It never fails, for some teens when you tell them not to do something it is exactly what they will turn around and do.


You also have to consider that some pregnancies are by accident. Even with the best protection some people still end up pregnant. In those cases, there really is no way to prevent it.


I also think if protection such as condoms and birth control were easier accessible then more teens would use it. I know you're probably thinking they already are, but I have heard too many times that teens do not want to go to the store to buy condoms because it is embarrassing. Not because they are ashamed to be having sex, but because of the way the store clerks treat them for being teenagers. They are given a hard time for buying them or told that they should not be having sex and it is enough to keep the teens away. As for the birth control, a lot of teenage girls think they HAVE to go through their family doctor which means their parents would know. Not every teen has parents who will understand and just be glad they want to be responsible (I was lucky my Mom was). Too many times have I seen my friends be grounded for months on end for asking for birth control. They can't go to the doctor themselves because the parents would see it on their health insurance. Yes, there is Planned Parenthood but there is also a stigma attached to going there and people assume you are already pregnant. So like I said, the best methods of protection aren't ';easy'; for teenagers to get too. Birth control should be free for teenagers and available in a non-judgmental environment.


Over all, there is no way to completely prevent teenage pregnancy, but some things will help reduce them like you asked.


So I think there are a lot of things that need to be done and I really don't know if it ever will, at least not anytime soon. I believe the parents need to step up and educate their children no matter how embarrassing it is. They need to make sure their child has all the knowledge they need to protect themselves and early. Teenagers are doing things earlier and earlier these days and it is important that they are taught before they are in that situation. Parents also need to make sure their child can come to them for anything and really mean it. It is easy to say it but you have to follow through if you want to be involved in the child's life. If more teens could go to their parents for protection, help when there may be a scare and so on I think that alone would help reduce the number of pregnancies.


I'm sorry this is so long but I hope it helps.


Good luck in your project.


-BritIn what ways could the government and society in general do to reduce the numbers of teenage pregnancy?
I think in someways the governments interventions has proved to make things worse or even just become a running joke. However, I think the actually responsibility of preventing teenage pregnancy falls on the teens having sex and parents talking with them. I think if more and more people changed there out look on teenage sex ( that it is okay to wait for more reasons than just pregnancy) younger children could grow up with thinking it's okay to wait. The government could of course do their ads on abstinence. They could do commercials of teens talking to teens about waiting so there is no chance of pregnancy. The government could (and I am not saying either way this is good or bad) crack down once again on television programs and the sexual content. If we rely on the government to ';fix'; this ';problem';, then all were are doing really is looking the other way as parents and or just passing the buck. I think teens need to learn there are different ways to show deep affection for one another without sex. Intimacy doesn't mean sex. If maybe they had different tools and understanding, maybe that would help. Good Luck on your project. You'll get a lot of people thinking about this subject. It wont be just teens either, it will also be parents like me. Thank You.
I would say give out free birth control. Have a free clinic for girls to come to, and guys too.
';In what ways could the government and society in general do';... ???





A good education is the first thing that comes to mind.
they could make it mandatory for teens to take birth control.


kinda like in the book ';The Giver'; where they make them take medication daily to control their ';stirrings';
Finally teach quality and realistic sex education. Allow schools to have condoms available. Make sex less of a taboo and accept that it is natural. I could go on and on. This society blows my mind. It glorifies the perfect body, celluloid sex is in but the real deal, MTV is cumming all over us but your teens exploring what is natural is a no-no. Come on.
Dear Whitty,


If more families were spending time with their children and in the house of God there would be less teen pregnancies.