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Would You Show Your Child This Video About Teen Pregnancy?

babysugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:00:30 -0700

In a town where one in every 20 teenage girls is pregnant, the kids in Leicester, England came up with a new approach to spreading the word on teen pregnancy. Instead of using the traditional methods of speakers or pamphlets, the Leicester Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Partnership came up with the concept of a "homemade" video that would appeal to their peers.

Like many viral videos on the Internet, this one is taped in a Blair Witch fashion. A crowd of students surrounds another teen giving birth on the lawn of her school while her peers scream and shout over the drama of it all. Graphic and shocking in nature, the clip ends with a punch, "Not what you expected? Being a teenage parent might not be either." A potentially effective campaign, would you show this to your child to drive him or her away from the consequences of teen pregnancy?

Birth Control in Schools: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:00:44 -0700

Whether there was a pregnancy pact at Glouchester High or not, the Massachusetts school made headlines and as a result contraceptives will be distributed there and at other district high schools with parental consent. What's your opinion?

Do You Talk to Your Kids About Teenage Pregnancy?

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:00:23 -0700

Audiences fell in love with Juno, pact or no pact, the girls of Gloucester High School made national headlines and Jamie Lynn Spears left her Nickelodeon stage to set up a nursery - it's been a big year for teenage pregnancy. And, perhaps the finale of it all is the recent announcement that Bristol Palin is expecting. Did you, or would you, use any of these instances to initiate a conversation with your kids about sex or teenage pregnancy?Source and Source

Mayor Said There's No Evidence of Pregnancy Pact

LilSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Seventeen swelling bellies aside, the Mayor of Gloucester, Carolyn Kirk, said that there is no evidence of a pact between the pregnant students of Gloucester High School as reported by Time. And, believes that the spike in pregnancies, which is more than four times the normal number, is similar to what's happening in other cities. Despite her claim, an Associated Press report said that some students and residents aren't buying into that belief. It said:

Gloucester resident Annette Dion, a 45-year-old private music teacher, said school and city officials should have done more to find out whether the girls truly made a pact to become pregnant. She said denying such a pact existed is "pretty naive."

Do you believe there was a pregnancy pact?

Teens Make a Pregnancy Pact

LilSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:00:20 -0700

Seventeen students at Gloucester High School in Massachusetts are pregnant and it appears that many made the decision to have babies based on a pact. No doubt, the girls aged 16 and under, many of who took their confirming pregnancy tests at the school nurse's office, are sure to get a lesson in life. Time reported that the expectant young women plan to raise their babies together.

Teen Sex and the City - and the Country

DearSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0700

If you believe shows like Gossip Girl, you'd think that city-dwelling teens were the randiest and most rebellious. But a recent story on Slate reminds us that teenagers in rural areas are often more sexually active.

According to the article:

Several studies have shown that rural teens are more likely to have sex than their urban counterparts, that they lose their virginity earlier, and that they have more sexual partners.

The story cites various statistics indicating that country-dwelling teens have higher rates of high-risk sexual behaviors, including sex with multiple partners and infrequent use of condoms.

I'm certainly no researcher, so I can't speak to the accuracy of the statistics. But anecdotally, I can say that I know plenty of people from both urban and rural backgrounds who were promiscuous in their teens. Teen sex certainly isn't limited to cities; in fact, it often seems like nonurban teens have more sex. What do you guys think? Did you grow up in the city or the country, and what was the attitude toward teen sex where you grew up?

Photos courtesy of The CW

Trojan Wants You to Wear a Condom

DearSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Ahh, Trojan, the makers of the condoms we know and love, are beginning a campaign called Trojan Evolve. They're touring the US to raise awareness about the poor state of sexual health in America to urge Americans to petition for change. This program came about from the recent statistics that discovered one in four teenage girls has an STI - syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, HPV, and chlamydia are all on the rise, and so are teenage pregnancies. Trojan wants to attack these issues head on - to inspire a positive movement towards healthy sexual behaviors. Check out this video to see what it's all about.

Want to hear more then read more

Their tour bus is going to travel across the country to encourage people to make a personal pledge to use a condom every time they have sex. They're even going to videotape people's testimonials and post them on the Trojan Evolve website. I'm happy to hear that this program is also advocating for more comprehensive sex ed in schools, instead of "abstinence only" education. This video touches on some alarming statistics so I'm glad that Trojan is stepping up to the plate to help do their part to make a change. What do you think about this campaign?

Are You Shy About Buying Pregnancy Tests?

babysugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:08:24 -0800

I don't know if you watch the highly addictive and ridiculously snooty show Gossip Girl, but last night's episode touched on the teen-pregnancy hot topic (Jamie Lynn Spears anyone?)

With a baby in tow, I've definitely lost my fear of walking up to the counter with a pregnancy test but before a child entered my life, I was a nervous wreck - even with a ring on my finger! As a teenage high schooler, I probably would have puked all over the counter from a bad case of nerves.

Do you get nervous buying tests?

Photos courtesy of The CW

Maternity Leave For Teens?

LilSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:06:33 -0800

Most women can't imagine returning to work the day after they are released from the hospital with their new bundle of joy, though some do. A recent article in The Denver Post questioned the current practice of their local East High School that penalizes teen moms who don't make it back to class after birthing. It said:

"Two counselors from East High School approached the school board last month, saying the policy at their school is unfair and inconsiderate because it forces new moms to return to school the day after being discharged from the hospital or face being charged with unexcused absences."

To finish the story, read more
Senior Kayla Lewis who is five months pregnant is asking that four weeks maternity leave be granted to pregnant students. The time will give their bodies a chance to heal and provide an opportunity to bond with their babies.

More Teens Getting Pregnant; Who They Are May Surprise You

TresSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0800

We often hear media stories about teenagers from poor and single-parent homes getting pregnant.

Research conducted for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, however, concludes that only 28 percent of people who reported giving birth or fathering children as teens lived in families with incomes below the federal poverty line, and only 30 percent said they were living with a single parent.

Although teens from poor families headed by single mothers are disproportionately likely to become teen mothers, "teen pregnancy is not limited to a particular racial group or socio-economic status or a particular family structure," says Bill Albert, chief program officer for the National Campaign.

In other words, parents and schools need to be vigilant about teaching teens either to abstain from sex or to have safe sex - even upper-middle-class teens. After 15 years of a decline in teen pregnancy, the number of teens giving birth has gone up in the last couple years. The reason? More sex and less contraception, says Albert, especially because teen boys are less concerned about contracting HIV.