Let's Encourage a National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Teen pregnancy is the hot topic today. May 6^th is, "National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy." Prevention of teen pregnancy by any means should be a hot topic every day, so, national year to prevent teen pregnancy, would be a better awareness program. Teenage pregnancy prevention by awareness programs is so important. We shouldn't be afraid to touch this subject with our teenage population.

Bristol Palin, a young teen girl, the daughter of Sarah Palin who is an ex-vice presidential candidate, had her life exposed when she was reported to be pregnant during the campaign. Now Bristol Palin has entered the public arena further by deciding to promote the, "National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy." Due to her personal circumstances, I don't know whether she should be a definitive role model for teenage girls, but in this particular subject she certainly will draw attention to this cause. Total abstinence is the preferred belief Bristol was raised with, but unfortunately it failed in her case. Abstinence though, is the only reliable failsafe method to prevent teen pregnancies.

Having a conversation with teenagers can be quite difficult to begin with, with teenagers at the age when they believe adults are considered to be brain dead. Teenage hormones rage and sexuality is something to be explored. This is a normal process of growing up. Curbing raging teenage hormones to prevent teen pregnancies could be considered a, Nobel Peace Prize project, but as parents we have to try to dive into the brain of a teenager and forge understanding about sexual responsibilities. We have to delve through the fog and teach them how their lives will be drastically altered with teen pregnancy. This goes for female teens and their male companions, who often slide out of the responsibilities of being teenage fathers.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) reports that between 2005 and 2006, birth rates increased three percent nationwide, with higher cluster numbers in certain regions. Overall statistics for teen pregnancies are still rising today.

Teenagers have made pacts to attempt to get pregnant together. Emotional wrought female teenagers from dysfunctional homes often believe babies will fulfill the emotional emptiness. They believe they'll receive love from an infant, replacing the love they haven't received from adults in their lives.

Parents argue against teenage sex education being taught in schools, but refuse to have open discussions in their homes. If they deny the situation, they can believe their teenagers will abstain from sex until adulthood. They believe if they tell their teenagers no, teenage pregnancy won't occur.

Teenagers suffer through incredible peer pressure, bullying, craving to fit it. Their teenage heroes are music idols and movie stars indulging in sex, getting pregnant and being thrilled over it. They proudly show off their pregnant bellies. Consequences of teen pregnancy aren't a vital point to many teenagers who believe they're immune. Not to mention the risks of having sex early, physical trauma, sexual transmitted diseases, poor prenatal care. Bringing an infant in the world, unprepared to take care of it emotionally or financially, isn't on a teenager's mind that is planning to have sex.

As a nurse and parent, when I've talked to teenagers, I've heard so many excuses about teen pregnancy. "I didn't think it would happen. We only did it once. We didn't have protection. He said he loved me. It just happened, we didn't plan it," are just a few.

Teenagers need to have interesting teenage pregnancy prevention programs, have educators and parents they can go to, to freely discuss sexual issues, besides getting their information from inexperienced peers. "National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy," is an important awareness day, hopefully daily awareness, to initiate discussions on ways to reduce the high teenage pregnancy statistics. Parents along with teenagers should jump on board.

Here are two informative and interesting sites with further info about, "National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy."

www.stayteen.org This site is for teenagers discussing all issues of relationships.

www.thenationalcampaign.org This site is for teenagers, parents, educators and people in the health field.