NCJ Number
117072
Date Published
1987
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Teenagers get pregnant for a variety of reasons, but comprehensive sex education programs and school-based clinics have reduced teen pregnancies.
Abstract
One out of 10 teenage girls in the United States becomes pregnant every year, and almost half of these pregnancies result in births, 30,000 of them to girls under age 15. Reasons for such a high rate of teen pregnancy include increased sexual activity at a younger age; unreliable or no contraception; peer influence; the absence of long-range life goals, particularly among lower class girls; and an attempt to meet personal, emotional needs. Many experts agree that the first step in combatting teenage pregnancy is to teach children about sex and sexuality from an early age. The most effective sex education does not just cover reproduction and contraception; it covers dating and relationships, beliefs, and life goals. Such education is most influential when combined with the resources of a clinic, preferably a school-based clinic. There are approximately 50 school-based clinics in the United States; many of them have reduced pregnancy rates and kept adolescent mothers from dropping out of school or becoming pregnant again. Such clinics offer sex education courses, birth-control information, and contraception devices.