May 2 has been designated as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day. Once again, it's time for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition to focus attention on the problems teen pregnancy presents for teen parents, their children and the entire community.
Teen pregnancy is not just another problem. It is a core problem, meaning many other societal problems stem from or are related to teen pregnancy.
As the teen pregnancy rate declines, communities experience a concomitant decline in the number of premature infants and children born with medical complications, a decrease in children's behavior and learning problems, and fewer cases of child neglect and abuse.
"YOUTH IS THE HAPPIEST TIME OF ALL. BUT ONLY AGE KNOWS IT."
Conversely, when teen pregnancy rates are high, you have a high incidence of school dropouts, juvenile delinquency, sexually transmitted diseases, and teen depression and suicide.
The teen pregnancy rate is closely related to poverty, both as a cause and effect, and Potter County's high rate of poverty is due, in some part, to its high teen pregnancy rate.
Many different individuals play a role in addressing this complex issue. The TPPC comprises more than 100 professionals and volunteers who share ideas and work together to reduce teen pregnancy. These professionals include school counselors, Region XVI representatives, director and staff members of Worth The Wait, medical professionals, clergy, directors and representatives of non-profit agencies, law enforcement, Child Protective Services, the city health department, the hospital district, Texas Workforce Development, Amarillo Area Foundation and the Amarillo Globe-News. The Coalition meets monthly at the United Way office to review programs and research pertaining to pregnancy prevention.
Because of the sensitive nature of many of the issues related to pregnancy prevention (i.e., contraception, abstinence-only vs. comprehensive sex education), the TPPC maintains a neutral philosophy and does not advocate any one position over another. It tries to present scientific data as objectively as possible and focuses on the common goal shared by all coalition members: reducing teen pregnancy.
The TPPC also recognizes that teens are a diverse group in terms of age, religious orientation and cultural background. What works for one group of teens in one setting might be inappropriate for others.
Coalition members believe that it isn't pregnancy or having children that is the problem. Rather, problems stem from teens being sexually involved and having children too soon, before they're mature enough to realize the responsibilities parenthood requires.
Research on pregnancy prevention recognizes that there are certain factors that protect teens from becoming pregnant.
These include but are not limited to involvement in school and extracurricular and sports activities; having strong religious ties and a sense of moral values; close associations with parents; and participation in service learning projects.
By the same token, other variables have been identified that increase the probability that teens will become pregnant. They include poor performance in school, alcohol and/or drug use, growing up in homes with little parental supervision, having siblings who are teen parents, and being involved in dating relationships when the boy is two or more years older.
The TPPC works to increase the protective factors and decrease the risk factors.
The most current data on teen pregnancy are from 2005, and these statistics indicate that the number of pregnant females age 13-17 in Potter County was 178; in Randall County, 47. The teen pregnancy rate, which is determined by the sum of live births, abortions and miscarriages per 1,000 girls, has declined since 1998. The rate of decline, however, has slowed, and there are increases in some segments of the population, such as foster teens and youth younger than 14.
Although these statistics are important in terms of trends and information, they are less important than the lives of the individual teens who become parents.
Undoubtedly, there are some youth who are effective parents and whose children grow up with relatively few problems.
At the same time, there are large numbers of teen parents who encounter multiple problems in coping with the stresses of caring for their infants. Often these teens do not make decisions that are in the best interests of themselves or their children.
The problems of these teens become the responsibility of the entire community.
An unknown author said, "Youth is the happiest time of all. But only age knows it."
Research consistently shows that adults can and do make a difference in teens' sexual behavior. Adults have a responsibility to talk to youth about sexuality, to encourage teens to delay sexual activity and, in doing so, to enable teens to find the happiness that all youth deserve.
Myrna Raffkind of Amarillo is co-chair of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition.