Adolescent pregnancy has been a occurring situation for many years now, many data reports have shown a difference in the years of teenage pregnancy and it will show how the impact of public health interventions and policies have affected the decline and or rise of teenage pregnancy (Klein, 2005).
Birth rates of adolescents have been on a steady decline for over the past 50 years, but the United States is still in the lead with the birth rate being 9 times higher than any other country (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). In the 1960’s many adolescents were becoming sexually active at ages between 15 and 19 increasing the rate of adolescent pregnancies (Hofferth, Kahn, & Baldwin, 1987). A percentage of high school students reported of having a sexual intercourse has dropped since the years of 1991 to 2001 (Elfenbein & Felice, 2003). Adolescents not involving in sexual activity and using effective contraceptives are helping the decline in teen pregnancy (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013).
Teen Outreach Program helps many adolescents make life decisions for the future by using many volunteer opportunities (Coley & Chase-Lansdale, 1998). Health Services and Programs have been the most influential for the decrease of pregnancy in adolescents (Coley & Chase-Lansdale, 1998). Interventions that put efforts in the decline of adolescent pregnancies have shown progress, but many schools are only allowed to discuss abstinence which hasn’t helped the decrease of adolescent pregnancies (Coley & Chase-Lansdale, 1998).
Abstinence, Sex, and HIV programs do not increase adolescent involvement with sexual activity, these programs have shown to delay sexual activity and promote adolescents to use protection within sexual activity (Kirby, 2001). Also Title X, a federal grant program that was established in 1970 provides access to affordable health care and birth control for people in the US (Parenthood, P., 2018). Programs for many adolescent parents to attend are usually targeted for those with low income (Coley & Chase-Lansdale). These programs are aimed to inform the parent of the adolescent on education and support services for the child (Coley & Chase-Lansdale).
References
- CDC – Teen Pregnancy
- Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenthood: Understanding its responsibilities and impact on young parents
- Teenage pregnancy prevention: the role of young men
- The decline of teen marriage in a context of increasing parental marital instability
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Peruvian Public Health Facilities are not Youth-friendly
