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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!csd2!dimitrov
From: dimitrov@csd2.UUCP (Isaac Dimitrovsky)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Family Planning
Message-ID: <3850003@csd2.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 15-Mar-85 17:44:00 EST
Article-I.D.: csd2.3850003
Posted: Fri Mar 15 17:44:00 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 17-Mar-85 20:54:26 EST
Organization: New York University
Lines: 46

[]

Sharon Badian writes:

>	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.

Here are some facts on the subject (source: New York Times 3/13/85 P A1 C 1):
These are from the results of a two year study which was just completed.
All rates are per thousand.

		pregnancy	birth		median age	cumulative
		rate for	rate for	for first	abortion rate
		15-19 yr olds	14 yr olds	intercourse	to age 18

Canada		   44		about 1		about 19	   24
England-Wales	   45		less than 1	about 18	   20
France		   43		less than 1	about 18	   30
Netherlands	   14		less than 1	about 18	   7
Sweden		   35		less than 1	about 17	   30
United States	   96		about 5		about 18	   60

The level of teenage sexual activity is estimated to be roughly the same
in all six countries.

The level of government support for child care is generally higher in the
other five countries than what the United States provides through the Aid
to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program.

The other five countries have more standardized sex education programs
than the US, where sex education can vary from school to school. In
general, they also allow teenagers easy access to contraceptives.

I'd write about what I think does cause the high rate of teenage pregnancy
here, but I've got to get back to work. I guess it will have to wait till
tomorrow.

Isaac Dimitrovsky

"I'm interested in salt too."