Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site cbosgd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!rbg From: rbg@cbosgd.UUCP (Richard Goldschmidt) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: Family Planning Message-ID: <967@cbosgd.UUCP> Date: Thu, 14-Mar-85 08:03:51 EST Article-I.D.: cbosgd.967 Posted: Thu Mar 14 08:03:51 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 15-Mar-85 02:14:13 EST References: <557@ahutb.UUCP> Organization: Columbus Bell Labs, Silver Lining Lines: 39 > I was watching the McNeil Lehrer Report last night and they > had a segment on teenage pregnancy in the US. We're talking about > a major problem here, folks.... > My question for the listening audience is this: Do you think > planned parenthood programs that provide contraception and education > to teenagers are the cause of the high teenage pregnancy rate in this > country? Or are there other things that convince teenagers to have > sex early and without any contraception? This argument is important; > the current administration bases a lot of its stand on family planning > programs on the premise that these programs are responsible for the > high teenage pregnancy rates. > Sharon Badian I heard a discussion of a study on this issue just last night on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered". It compared the number of abortions and teenage pregnancies in the U.S., U.K., France, the Netherlands and Sweden. The U.S. has the highest rate of teenage abortions (96/1000/yr.). At the other extreme was Sweeden, which years ago combined a liberalized abortion policy with greatly increased sex education, family planning facilities targeted for teenagers and strict enforcement of medical confidentiality with respect to minors. They were concerned that their liberalized abortion laws would lead to an epidemic of abortions, with all the associated trauma and expense, they took active measures to educate young people and provide alternatives, and they now have one of the lowest rates of teenage pregnancy and abortion. My own opinion is that puritanical attitudes in this country which prevent public sex education and free contrceptives for teenagers are major contributors to our problems with teenage pregnancy and abortion. It is only natural for teenagers going through puberty to be interested in exploring their sexuality, and attempting to repress that instinctive curiosity is not only ineffective, but hazardous! -- Rich Goldschmidt {ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax,allegra,ulysses} !cbosgd!rbg ARPA: cbosgd!rbg@ucbvax