It is a Chicago public school full of energy and spirit. It has about 800 girls, and 115 of them have something in common.
Why Are 1 Of 8 Girls Pregnant At Robeson High?
Officials Say A Mix Of Factors Are To Blame, As They Try To Help The Young WomenIt is a Chicago public school full of energy and spirit. It has about 800 girls, and... more
On last night's Rachel Maddow Show, Maddow took viewers through what she called a "magic map trick," in which she crunched the numbers on a handful of health-care statistics, such as teenage pregnancy rates, infant birth weight, premature births and infant mortality.
Her findings? At the tail end of all of these quality-of-life measures are various Southern states. And the worst among them? Mississippi and South Carolina! And hey, speaking of South Carolina, isn't that where some of America's Next Top Health Care Reform Obstructionists come from? Why, yes!On last night's Rachel Maddow Show, Maddow took viewers through what she called a... more
U.S. states whose residents have more conservative religious beliefs on average tend to have higher rates of teenagers giving birth, a new study suggests.
The relationship could be due to the fact that communities with such religious beliefs (a literal interpretation of the Bible, for instance) may frown upon contraception, researchers say. If that same culture isn't successfully discouraging teen sex, the pregnancy and birth rates rise.
Mississippi topped the list for conservative religious beliefs and teen birth rates, according to the study results, which will be detailed in a forthcoming issue of the journal Reproductive Health.U.S. states whose residents have more conservative religious beliefs on average tend... more
The sanctity of the nuclear family apparently extends only to people who are not running for the Vice-Presidency.The sanctity of the nuclear family apparently extends only to people who are not... more
Two college students in love get their lives turned upside down.
Matt, 20, a photographer must move across the country for an internship.
Melissa, 19, finds out that she is pregnant.
A short film following them through their wedding and across the country.Two college students in love get their lives turned upside down.
Matt, 20, a... more
Fabulous 99s in West Sussex has been selling pregnany tests for 99p, sparking outrage from parents who believe the cheap tests will encourage kids to have sex. A manager of the shop says it is mostly girls in their late teens buying the tests, although a few 15-year-olds have also made the purchase.Fabulous 99s in West Sussex has been selling pregnany tests for 99p, sparking outrage... more
What kind of lessons can we learn here? During the Bush era, when abstinence education received increased funding, reports of teen pregnancy and STDs "rose sharply," according to a new report from the CDC. Birth rates had been in decline since 1991, but that trend has reversed in more than half the states since 2005, according to the Guardian. The report also finds that syphilis has increased by 50 percent among adolescent girls and that gonorrhea and AIDS among teens are on the rise as well. Abstinence education advocates say the problem is not the failure of their curriculum, but that they need more money to promote their "no sex before marriage" message.What kind of lessons can we learn here? During the Bush era, when abstinence education... more
Birth rates among U.S. teens increased in 2006 and 2007, following large declines from 1991 to 2005, according to a new U.S. government study.
It found that previously improving trends in teens' and young adults' sexual and reproductive health have flattened or may be worsening in some cases.Birth rates among U.S. teens increased in 2006 and 2007, following large declines from... more
Ending child poverty means ensuring America's young mothers receive quality health care, childcare, affordable housing and reliable transportation.
As of late it seems like a there is a good deal of discussion and focus on the topics of abstinence, teen pregnancy prevention, adoption and even the search for middle ground on the issue of abortion. All are subjects worthy of thoughtful discussion, debate and collaborative problem solving, but I find the discussion a bit ironic given that we are facing the first increase in teen pregnancy in 15 years.
Perhaps the teen pregnancy rate is on the rise because we're focusing on the symptoms and not the root causes. Yet there's something else that bothers me about this discussion, something that's left out. We're not talking about how to support teen parents, the ones who have already gotten pregnant and whose babies are here.
A June 23 ABC Primetime special called " Family Secrets" did a good job of presenting the issues and challenges of one segment of the teen parent population. Nearly all the stories told in the special were of young mothers with family support to help them face the trials and to share in the joys. For these young parents, an unintended pregnancy is the result of absent, forgotten or malfunctioning birth control in the life of an otherwise "average" or even "model" young adult. Still, even for these teens, we saw in ABC's special how hard it is for them to make it all work.
For other young parents, however, a birth control failure is the most recent misfortune in a lifetime of poverty, abuse, neglect, addiction and violence. Traumatic experiences have left these young people searching high and low for safety, belonging, love and support. And sometimes, creating a family seems like the only way to get it.
Moreover, in many cases teen pregnancy is a long family tradition. We refer to these young women as young mothers at the margin, because they live at the edge of the American dream, working to break the destructive cycles into which they were born.
There's more at the link...Ending child poverty means ensuring America's young mothers receive quality health... more
By showing interviews with teenagers who became parents and taping documentaries about their daily life, media will help sex educators to promote safe sex techniques among teens.By showing interviews with teenagers who became parents and taping documentaries about... more
At the Mississippi Department of Human Services' summit entitled "Abstinence Works: Let's Talk About It," we didn't talk about abstinence, but we sure did chant, cheer, dance, pray and sing about it. At least sort of. Here's a few (of the many) things that stood out to me.
Before the summit began, rap music blasted over the speakers. The 5,000 kids in attendance spent their time inside dancing and singing along to Soulja Boy's hit song "Crank Dat," the chorus of which repeats "Watch me crank that soulja boy, then superman that ho," which most young people know is a disgustingly explicit sexual innuendo. Shortly after the Grenada Middle School cheerleaders performed their catchy cheer "Stop, don't touch me there! You know this is my no-no square," outlining the shape of a box around their short shorts. Talk about mixed messages.
Follow the link for the rest of the story By Kate Royals, Senior, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS. at the Huffington Post.At the Mississippi Department of Human Services' summit entitled "Abstinence Works:... more
How far should a school go to get help for a pregnant teen?
A mom in Texas says her daughter's school crossed a line when they forced the girl to reveal her pregnancy to staff, then sent her for medical testing and counseling.
Considering it's a Christian school, it's not surprising the First Choice Pregnancy Center, where they sent the teen, just so happens to be one of those abstinence-only, pro-life organizations. But then the Trinity Christian School allegedly expelled the girl in May of 2008, two weeks shy of the end of school.
The girls mom is suing the school, church and specific staffers at the school. But it sounds like her biggest problems are with the center, which the lawsuit says, "The pregnancy center interviewed, counseled and tested Jane Doe without the consent or knowledge of her mother and disseminated her private medical information to [school Bible teacher Shannan] Morgan and [school counselor Brad] Watson without consent or authorization."
So there was a violation of HIPAA here on behalf of the center. Her health info should not have been given to school staff based on federal guidelines regarding the privacy of health information. It's inappropriate too that the school ordered any form of medical testing, and that the girl was forced to reveal her pregnancy. Again, that's private health information. Her pregnancy was not swine flu. It was not going to affect public health. It's where the school clearly crossed a line. As they did by kicking out a student for her pregnancy.How far should a school go to get help for a pregnant teen?
A mom in Texas says her... more
Remember the NHS viral about teenage pregnancy that got blocked by YouTube within hours of it being posted last week? Well, it's apparently been viewed about 1.5 million times, according to Sky News. Even though YouTube blocked the original video, it went viral anyways. It's also a plug for the website Hey Babe, which offers young people advice on sex, relationships and pregnancy.
It's a pretty shocking video. See for yourself. http://www.tressugar.com/3170649
Think it's going to keep kids from becoming parents too early?Remember the NHS viral about teenage pregnancy that got blocked by YouTube within... more
Youtube has banned a recent video of a teen giving birth in a school playground as friends group around chanting!!
The NHS Trust of Leicester posted the clip, which used actors, on YouTube in a bid to scare the $*#t out of youngsters.
You got to love this nation!! Kids having kids at school?? That would scare the hell out of me.Youtube has banned a recent video of a teen giving birth in a school playground as... more
A hard-hitting NHS viral advertising campaign about teenage pregnancy has been banned by YouTube for showing what appears to be a schoolgirl giving birth in a playground while being watched by students.
The video clip, posted by NHS Leceister, was unbranded and appeared to be real footage shot on a mobile phone and posted on YouTube.
This footage, which was blocked by YouTube after just 24 hours on the video sharing website, was designed to target the hard-to-reach teenage demographic.
In the past YouTube has said: "If your video shows someone getting hurt, attacked or humiliated, don't post it."
I agree with the first two, but humiliation is one of the founding fathers of viral. Without it we wouldn’t have Gary Brolsma, Star Wars Kid and many, many, many more. And what sort of a world would that be? A rubbish one.A hard-hitting NHS viral advertising campaign about teenage pregnancy has been banned... more
The Candies Foundation announced Tuesday it has appointed teen mom Bristol Palin as its new ambassador. The foundation, which encourages abstinence to prevent pregnancy among teenage girls, has chosen Palin to help promote National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 6.
In a release from the foundation, Palin said that she feels she can be an example to other young women about the consequences of teen pregnancy. "If I can prevent even one girl from getting pregnant, I will feel a sense of accomplishment," she said.
According to a press release, Palin will participate in a town hall on May 6 and in various interviews to promote the event.The Candies Foundation announced Tuesday it has appointed teen mom Bristol Palin as... more
A 19-year-old girl who allegedly took an abortion pill illegal in Australia was charged with organising her own miscarriage and faces 14 years in jail for doing so. She's gotten support from pro-choice lobby groups who are against her charge and see this landmark case as setting "an ugly precedent for the rights of women."
The 21-year-old man who impregnated her is also being charged for attempting to procure and supply drugs to procure an abortion. The pair decided to terminate the pregnancy because they were too young themselves to have a child.
You may wonder, like I did, why she's being charged even though abortion is legal in Australia.
"In their first court appearance on Thursday, it was alleged the pair did not ask about the lawful process to have an abortion. Medical abortions are legal in Queensland but are often expensive with 90 per cent or more terminations performed in private clinics for a minimum out-of-pocket cost of about $370. But it remains an offence under the 100-year-old criminal code to access or procure an abortion."
What do you make of this case? Do you think she'll be sentenced?A 19-year-old girl who allegedly took an abortion pill illegal in Australia was... more
Pregnant teenagers and young parents in the UK are to have the opportunity to gain nationally recognized qualifications in parenting for the first time, it was announced this week.
Those who are 'considering becoming pregnant' or are so already will learn about caring for newborn babies, breastfeeding, family finances and how to deal with toddler tantrums.
And they will be offered to girls of all ages. Some of the 1,000 girls who have already been on the course were just 12.
The country’s biggest exam board, Edexcel, will now recognize the course as an official qualification.
Courses are currently held in special training centres but they will be expanded and could even be funded by the Government.
However, family campaigners fear it will only encourage underage sex and lead some girls to continue with pregnancy despite their young age.Pregnant teenagers and young parents in the UK are to have the opportunity to gain... more
Pre-birth nerves are to be expected in any first time mum and dad - but they are even less of a surprise in Germany's youngest parents-to-be!
Kathrin (13) and her 15-year-old boyfriend Christian are eagerly awaiting the arrival of daughter Selina, but the teenaged girl admits she is "terrified" about the impending birth.
The young couple, from Bergisch Gladbach, have packed the suitcase for the hospital and are excited about their new baby.
They have already bought pink clothes, bottles and a buggy.
Christian said: “It was really exciting buying all the baby things. We went to Cologne to go shopping and bought nearly everything in pink.”
He tenderly strokes his 13-year-old girlfriend’s pregnant belly. They met ten months ago and Kathrin became pregnant after the first time they had sex.
For the full story and photos head to BILD.comPre-birth nerves are to be expected in any first time mum and dad - but they are even... more
