Teen pregnancy brings social and economic costs. Texas holds the spot for the 4th highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. Recently, there has been a downward trend in teen pregnancies throughout the U.S. The questions are now: how can we continue to reduce this decline, and how can we impact our community? (CDC) recommends three strategies: evidence based sex education at every stage of development, keeping open communication between parents and teens, and providing teens who are sexually active, affordable, effective birth control options.
It is imperative to have an abstinence component in sexual education; however, we do need to be realistic. We to provide access to birth control to sexually active teens. We also need to offer a larger support system to teens who do become pregnant.
Megan Kloman
Buda
