World Population Awareness

Reducing Teen Pregnancy is Important for Many Reasons:

Poor Teens Lack Access to Emergency Contraception

Low-income communities have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the U.S., yet researchers from Boston Medical Center found that pharmacists in poorer areas were more often misinformed about the law and mistakenly were denying 17-year-old girls access to Plan-B. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Plan B, or levonorgestrel, prevents a fertilized egg from attaching to the wall of the uterus, if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. The drug, unlike RU-486, cannot be used to terminate a pregnancy.

In 2006, Plan B became available for purchase by adults in the U.S. without a prescription. In 2009, the age at which Plan B could be dispensed without a prescription was lowered to age 17.

"There is a lot of misinformation about emergency contraception," said senior auther Dr. Tracey Wilkinson, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center. Box labels on the contraception -- as well as the advertising -- may not be clear, and may be contributing to the problem.

In the study, graduate assistants posed as 17-year-old adolescents and called over 900 pharmacies throughout the U.S. to see if pharmacists would dispense the morning-after pill to teens. 19% of all pharmacists and 23.7% of pharmacists in low-income neighborhoods, said they could not obtain the pill under any circumstance.

Given the controversy surrounding the drug, and the changes in the rules and guidelines surrounding access, it's "not really surprising that it permeates everywhere," Wilkinson said.

Whatever the reason for the misinformation, whether it's a problem with staff education in the pharmacies, high turnover, the relative rarity of teens asking for the drug, she said, "at the end of the day, it puts adolescents in poor neighborhoods at a disadvantage," she said.

Another problem is that a 17-year-old may be asked to prove she is 17 and she may not have a license since she isn't driving.

Susan Wood, director of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health said emergency contraceptives should be compared to and accessible as condoms, tampons and pregnancy tests.

Even though the maker of Plan B received approval from the FDA to sell Plan B over the counter, which would make it available to all consumers regardless of age andsafety studies that show that women of all ages can take the drug safely and effectively, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defied the FDA and prevented the drug from becoming available for sale over the counter in December.

Teen Childbearing Cost Taxpayers $10.9 Billion in 2008

An updated analysis released by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy showed that teen childbearing in the U.S. cost taxpayers at least $10.9 billion in 2008, including state, federal, and local taxes.

These costs would have been even higher if there had not been one-third decline in the U.S. teen birth rate between 1991 and 2008. The estimated national savings to taxpayers in 2008 due to that decline is $8.4 billion - ranging from $3.4 million in Wyoming to $1.4 billion in California.

"Reducing teen pregnancy not only improves the well-being of children, youth, and families, it saves taxpayer dollars," said Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

The public sector costs of teen childbearing include public health care (Medicaid and CHIP), child welfare, incarceration, and lost tax revenue due to decreased earnings and spending.

More detailed information is available at www.TheNationalCampaign.org/costs This analysis was funded in part by a grant from the DRH division within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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US Minnesota: Birthrate at 40-Year Low for Teens

Despite elevated birth figures for minorities, Minnesota saw its lowest teen birthrate in at least 40 years, according to a study from Teenwise Minnesota. The rate dropped even though teen sexual activity increased and condom use declined, so it was concluded that increased use of birth control pills must be having an impact.

Minnesota's teen birthrates had an increase in 2006 and 2007, but dropped in 2009 by 10% from 2008. It's the lowest rate since 1970, the earliest records go back.

While Minnesota's overall teen birthrate is far below the national average, its rates were higher than the national averages for Hispanics and Asian-Americans, and among the worst in the nation for African-Americans. Minnesota's teen birthrate for American Indians is nearly double the national average.

Brigid Riley of Teenwise Minnesota said disparities might persist because early childbirth is more of a norm for some racial and ethnic groups. However, she said, the current disparities are extreme -- born of inequalities in income, education and other factors.

She said school-based teen outreach programs in the metro area are "moving from strictly the plumbing lesson into the more nuanced conversation about healthy relationships."

Neighborhood HealthSource says it has succeeded in persuading adolescents in Minneapolis to delay childbirth.

The Minnesota Family Council said a key federal study found that two-thirds of teens ages 15 to 17 hadn't had sexual intercourse, claiming more kids are seeing the consequences of premarital sex -- STDs, emotional pain and impact on future plans.

Riley said abstinence still needs to be a part of any discussion, but in the context of talking with teens about what they want out of life. "The more we talk with them about all of these issues, the longer they do wait."

U.S.: Fighting Teenage Pregnancy with MTV Stars as Exhibit A

While MTV's teen mom programs ("Teen Mom", "16 and Pregnant", "Teen Mom 2,") have received swipes for glamorizing teenage pregnancy, and conferring girls-gone-wild celebrity on their stars, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, public-school health educators, church-group leaders, clinic nurses, social workers and parents are using the shows to prompt discussion about sex education, family and romantic relationships and shattered dreams. DVDs and guides are distributed to educators and workers who use the shows to teach life-skills.

One teacher, in her freshman life-skills classes, and in parenting courses for older students says "They're sucked into the drama of it, but they see that they don't ever want to be in that situation. I talk about abstinence first and foremost, but I listen to them, so I know they're not abstinent. So the show offers a good opportunity to teach them about condoms and birth control."

In her classes, she notes how MTV's teenage mothers try to manage school, sick babies, sleep deprivation, rent, errant boyfriends and rearview glimpses of their carefree lives. "Then I ask my students to make up a budget if they had to live on their own with a baby," she said.

Educators say they have never been criticized for using the shows. But one teacher said she didn't want to test limits by showing last December's episode, "No Easy Decision." In that half-hour special, one teenager who has an infant becomes pregnant again. After much agonizing, she and her boyfriend chose abortion.

The season finale of "Teen Mom 2" on March 29 drew 4.7 million viewers, and was the top-rated show that day in the 12 to 34 demographic.

A poll of young people ages 12 to 19 showed 82% of those who had watched "16 and Pregnant" said the shows helped them understand the challenges of pregnancy and how to avoid it. Only 15% said the show glamorized pregnancy.

The United States has the highest teenage birth rate among the fully industrialized countries, although that number has slowly declined over the last 20 years.

There is much more worth reading in this article. Please go to the link above for more.

U.S.: Indiana Nonprofit Reworks Sex Ed Curriculum

Because the funding for A Positive Approach to Teen Health, or PATH, has changed, the curriculum of the agency that teaches sex education has been mandated to shift from abstinence-centered information to teen pregnancy prevention.

PATH is the only organization in the state that received funding as part of President Barack Obama's new Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. The initiative provides federal funding for the first time in more than 10 years to sex education programs that aren't solely based on abstinence, although some of the programs do include abstinence information.

The programs were chosen because they were evidence-based to reduce teen pregnancy.

From 2004 to 2010 the group received a federal grant called a Community Based Abstinence Education grant. In January 2010, the organization learned its funding source had been defunded.

PATH's curriculum aligns with the state's guidelines, which require some abstinence education.

Indiana Code states schools must include instruction on human sexuality and STDs, including telling students abstinence is the expected standard for school-age children, abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent a premarital pregnancy and a monogamous marriage is the best way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.

Some teachers' approach is to teach abstinence first and then discuss the possibilities of what can happen if students choose non-abstinence, looking at not just sexually transmitted diseases, but also physical and mental changes.

World Contraception Day Survey Shows Unprotected Sex Becoming Alarmingly Common in Youngsters

A survey to mark World Contraception Day shows the number of young people having unprotected sex in the West has risen sharply over the past two years.

There were particularly sharp increases among sexually active teenagers in the United States and in European countries such as France who were failing to use contraception with a new partner.

In the United States, the percentage rose from 38% in 2009 to 53%; France increased from 19% to 40%.

62% of young people in Thailand have had unprotected sex with a new partner, and the number was over 50% in countries as diverse as China, South Korea, Norway and Estonia.

In Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America and the United States, the most common reason for not using contraception is a lack of preparedness for sexual activity. Up to a third of young people in those regions said they did not have any form of contraception available when at the time of intercourse.

Jennifer Woodside of the International Planned Parenthood Federation said: "What the results show is that too many young people either lack good knowledge about sexual health, do not feel empowered enough to ask for contraception or have not learned the skills to negotiate contraceptive use with their partners to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies or STIs.

U.K.: More Teens at Risk

In the UK a new study has shown that 43% of sexually active 16 to 19-year-olds admitted to not using contraception when having sex with a new partner, compared to 36% in 2009.

Of the teenagers who admitted having had unprotected sex with a new partner, 23% said they had done so because their partner did not like using contraception and 15% said they had been drunk and forgotten.

The proportion of girls who said they had a close friend or family member who had an unplanned pregnancy rose from 36% in 2009 to 55% this year.

Only 55%of girls said they considered themselves to be very well-informed about all the contraceptive options available compared to 62% of boys, according to the study.

16% of boys and girls said they believed the "withdrawal method" was an effective form of contraception.

19% of girls and 16% of boys said they did not receive any kind of sex education at school, and about the same number said they did not trust teachers to provide accurate and unbiased information.

The study involved 200 British young people as part of a 29 country study. About 61% of these 200 said they were sexually active.

Jennifer Woodside, of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said: "What the results show is that too many young people either lack good knowledge about sexual health, do not feel empowered enough to ask for contraception or have not learned the skills to negotiate contraceptive use with their partners to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections."

Parent Network Scotland said it was important for parents to have an open relationship with their teenagers in order to tackle issues such as "safe sex".

Director Jackie Tolland said: "Contraception should be part of a wider talk about sex as there is both the STI aspect and the pregnancy one. Emotions and relationships should also be discussed."

Canada: Who Are Teens' Sexual Role Models? Turns Out, It's Their Parents

45% of teens consider their parents - not their friends or celebrities - their sexual role models, a study from the University of Montreal shows.

Conventional wisdom tells us that teens put no stock in what their parents think. 32% relied on guidance from their friends, and 15% cared what celebrities thought. The rest relied on their parents' guidance.

The study's findings showed that parents need to stay involved in their kids' lives even if it seems like their teens would prefer they get lost.

U.S.: Colorado's Poorest Counties Have High Teen Pregnancy Rates

The Colorado Children's Campaign has found that there is a wide and growing gulf between the state's affluent and its poor when it comes to how they choose to create and maintain families.

The poorest counties have the highest rates of teen pregnancy, while, in affluent counties, new moms are more likely to be in their 30s.

Many close to the issue are convinced that teenage pregnancy is less a matter of morals or sex education or access to birth control than it is a matter of a girl or boy feeling that they have a future. Or not. Girls with prospects do not have babies. Teen pregnancy is well established as a cause of poverty, but it may also be a result of poverty.

Lisa Piscopo, a Colorado Children's Campaign researcher, said "I believe girls choose to have babies when they don't have a vision of any other options."

The answer is neither handing out condoms nor preaching abstinence, but to offer more of a vision for other options. Debbie Channel made a grant-funded attempt to curtail teen pregnancies by convincing young girls that there was a big world out there and they could claim a place in it.

In Huerfano County the average annual income just over half the statewide average and an unemployment rate that rose to over 10% last year. It has the state's highest rate of births to girls ages 15 through 17, and 54% of babies born in Huerfano County were to unmarried women.

Nationwide five of the wealthiest states had the lowest teen pregnancy rates. But Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada had the highest teen birth rates. All but Arizona and Nevada are among the poorest states.

In 2009, a University of Chicago study reported that by age 17, one-third of young women in foster care reported having been pregnant, and by age 19 the number was nearly half. As many as one third of girls interviewed for the study said they wanted to become pregnant, perhaps "to create the family they don't have or fill an emotional void."

Sierra Leone: Facing Facts of Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancies account for 40% of maternal deaths in Sierra Leone, where early marriage is supported by traditional practice. 70% of teenage girls in Sierra Leone are married, according to a 2008 survey by the World Health Organization.

A United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF) report, "A Glimpse Into the World of Teenage Pregnancy in Sierra Leone", states that "such importance is given to girls marrying as virgins that the age of marriage often coincides with the first occurrence of female menstruation".

The typical consequences of teen pregnancy are social stigma, unstable marriages, poverty, end of a girl's education, extreme poverty, and prostitution.

Sierra Leone's mortality rate is extremely high, calculated as 970 deaths per 100,000 live births, with the risks of childbirth by young women an important contributing factor.

Babies born to teenage mothers have 50% more neonatal deaths and frequent low birth weights.

Few teens have ante-natal checkups, instead trying to hide their pregnancy or try to abort. This makes early detection of potential problems in a high-risk group very difficult.

Dr Helenlouise Taylor, in a World Health Organization draft report, says measures to reduce coerced sex and unsafe abortion and increase access to contraception for adolescents are all important, and urges a review of life skills and biology in the school curriculum, as well as tighter links between schools and antenatal clinics - possibly even offering antenatal care at schools. She also calls for appropriate training for health personnel and teachers to help both groups communicate accurate and effective information on sex and birth control to teens.

Condition of Adolescents in India Among the Worst

Twenty per cent of the world's adolescent population live in India, which has one of the worst track records in health and education, according to UNCIEF in its 'State of the World's Children' report.

47% of girls from 11 to 19 are underweight. 56% of girls and 30% of boys in the same age group are anaemic which places the country along with the least developed African nations.

This same age group comprises 25% (243 million) of India's population. Almost 40% of the section is out of school and 43% get married before the age of 18, out of whom 13% become teenage mothers.

86% of those 11-13 and 64% of 14-17 year olds attend school.

Fortunately the number of girls getting married before the age of 18 years has decreased from 54% in 1992-93. But the figure is the eight highest in the world and Pakistan fares much better with just 25% of girls getting married before the age of 18 years.

6,000 adolescent mothers die every year and there is a 50% higher risk of infant deaths among mothers who are under 20 years.

Correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS is held by 35% of adolescents boys and 28% of girls.

One-third of adolescents report physical abuse and and the same number report sexual abuse.

A representative said "health and reproductive services and knowledge" must be provided to every person in this age group.

South Africa: Pregnancy Tsunami

Almost 5000 schoolgirls in the Gauteng province became pregnant in only one year. Even more shocking is that more than 113 primary school girls became pregnant in the same period.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said teenage pregnancy statistics were of greater concern than those for HIV. "What this proves is that our children are having unprotected sex, which makes them more vulnerable." ... "Young girls are having sex with older men ... old men are targeting young women, whom we must protect."

Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe said "Future generations will curse us and spit on our graves if we do not address this problem head-on." She was said "Bodies of young girls are not only unprepared for pregnancy and child birth, they are also not prepared for sexual intercourse.

A Sowetan teenager who has seen many of her friends become young mothers said: "It's fashionable to have a baby. You are like an idiot if you don't have sex".

Peer pressure, dysfunctional family units, and alcohol and drug abuse were some of the main contributing factors to the unprecedented increase in teen pregnancies, said Mekgwe.

Young Adulthood is a Period of High Risk for Unintended Pregnancy and Birth

The Guttmacher Institute has produced a report which says that, in 2008, more than two-thirds of pregnancies among unmarried women aged 20-29 were unintended, while only half of pregnancies among all women of reproductive age were unintended. In 2008, nearly 10% of unmarried women aged 20-29 experienced an unintended pregnancy.

Guttmacher policy expert Adam Sonfield said "Expanding insurance coverage and public funding for the most effective methods of contraception -- and for the counseling and education needed to help women and couples choose the method that is best for them -- can go a long way toward reducing unintended pregnancies and births in this high-risk age group."

In 2008, black and Hispanic women had rates of unintended pregnancy twice those of their white counterparts, while rates among poor women were more than four times the rate for women in the highest income group. In the same year, 54% of births among unmarried 20-29-year-olds resulted from an unintended pregnancy, compared with 31% among their married counterparts. And black and Hispanic women had unintended birthrates more than twice that of white women, while poor women had an unintended birthrate more than seven times that of women in the highest income group.

Since young women typically have sex for the first time around age 17, but generally don't marry until their mid-20s, co-author Laura Lindberg said "We can't just focus on reducing teen pregnancies anymore. We need to expand our focus to include helping young adult women and their partners reduce their risk through improved contraceptive use."

Click on the link in the headline for more.

International Year of Youth Started August 12th

To harness the energy, imagination, and initiative of the world's youth to help overcome global challenges, the UN proclaimed an International Year of Youth that started on Aug. 12, 2010. To commemorate the close of the Year of Youth and International Youth Day, PRB has published content that highlights the reproductive health challenges facing youth:

Are the 58 Million Girls Who Married Early Overlooked by Policies and Programs? http://www.prb.org/Articles/2011/married-adolescents.aspx International * Discuss Online, Aug. 18:"Mobilizing Youth in the Development Process" http://discuss.prb.org/content/interview/detail/6528/

* Involving Youth in Development Programming: Interview With Cate Lane, USAID - webcast http://www.prb.org/Journalists/Webcasts/2011/youth-development-programming.aspx

* Commemorating International Youth Day: Reproductive Health of Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa - Power Point Presentation - http://www.prb.org/Reports/2011/youth-reproductive-health-africa-ppt.aspx

* PPT:Reproductive Health of Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa - http://www.prb.org/Reports/2011/youth-reproductive-health-africa-ppt.aspx

* Graphics Bank:New PowerPoint Slides on Youth - Graphics Bank: Children and Youth - http://www.prb.org/Publications/GraphicsBank/Youth.aspx -- These files are part of a collection of PowerPoint graphics for speakers, trainers, and others presenting information on population and health topics. For more information, please see the Graphics Bank home page.

* Report:Facts of Life: Youth Sexuality & Reproductive Health in the Middle East - http://www.prb.org/Reports/2011/facts-of-life.aspx - (June 2011) One in five people living in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, or nearly 90 million in 2010, is between the ages of 15 and 24, a demographic group called "youth." No longer children, but not yet independent adults, these young people are at a crucial juncture in their lives. The vast majority are physically ready to initiate sexual activity, making it critical to reach them with accurate information and accessible services to protect their sexual and reproductive health. All too often, however, young people's sexual and reproductive health is excluded from countries' health and development agendas, particularly in the MENA region.

37 Percent of U.S. Births Out of Wedlock

Out-of-wedlock births in the US accounted for nearly 4 in 10 babies born last year. The birth rate among girls 10 to 17 dropped last year to the lowest level on record. Births among unwed mothers rose among women in their 20s which reflects the number of people who are putting off marriage or living together without getting married. It also reflects that having a child out of wedlock is more acceptable nowadays. The increase was seen in all racial groups, but most sharply among Hispanics. It was up among all age groups except 10 to 17. The government also reported that Caesarean delivery continued to climb to a record high, despite efforts to bring down the number. Experts believe a large number of C-sections are medically unnecessary. About 4.1 million babies were born in the US last year, up slightly from 2004. More than 1.5 million were to unmarried women; about 37%. In 2004, about 36% were out of wedlock. More women in their 30s and 40s are choosing to give birth despite their single status. Younger women are not as worried about being unmarried. About 20% of all new mothers under 20 were unmarried but living with the father. The same was true of about 13% of those ages 20 to 24. The median age at first marriage was 27 for men and 25 for women. The number of unmarried-couple households with children was 1.7 million last year, up from under 200,000 in 1970. The birth rate among teenagers declined 2% in 2005. The rate is now about 40 births per 1,000 females 15 to 19, the lowest in the 65 years for which rates is available. The U.S. teen birth rate is still the highest among industrialized countries. Births to women in their early 20s rose to 102 births per 1,000 women 20 to 24. Births to women in their late 20s was about 116 per 1,000 women ages 25 to 29.The C-section rate rose to 30.2% in 2005. rw

Youths Support Abstinence as Sex Education

According to a new Harris Poll, 56% of people 18 to 24, and 60% of those 25 to 29, think abstinence programs reduce or prevent the occurrence of HIV. Another 49% of people 18 to 24 and 52% of those 25 to 29 say the programs reduce or prevent unwanted pregnancies. Younger respondents showed the strongest support for abstinence over safe-sex programs. Adults under 30 are more likely to believe that abstinence programs are effective, and they are the main targets for the programs. Indeed, 43% of 30- to 39-year-olds felt abstinence programs were effective against HIV; the number fell to 41% among those 40 to 49, 37% among those 50 to 64 and 31% for those older than 65. Older people less often agreed that the programs were effective against pregnancy, 30% to 33% among those from 40-plus to over 65. Among Republicans, 50% felt abstinence programs were effective against HIV and 46% felt they countered unwanted pregnancies. Among Democrats, the numbers were 39% and 28%. Among independents, the numbers were 34 and 32. The U.S. Department of Health set aside $31 million two years ago to help 50 communities in 22 states and the District develop abstinence-only education programs. A first-year review revealed that a majority had a change in attitude. Students had become more supportive of abstinence and less supportive of teen sex, with a keen awareness of the consequences for risky behavior. Researchers at Ohio's University School of Medicine had similar findings. rw

US Indiana: Study Finds Rural Men Often Use Condom Incorrectly

Men in rural Indiana often use condoms incorrectly due to the shortcomings of sex education in Indiana's public schools. Almost half the men who answered the survey's questions about their latest sexual encounters with women admitted waiting too long to put on a condom or taking it off too soon. Rural men were singled out as part of attempts to track AIDS prevention efforts. The study shows that schools should teach students how to use condoms properly. Many schools don't talk about condoms for pregnancy and STD prevention, and fewer talk about the correct way to use them. Critics worry this could encourage teenagers to have sex instead of waiting until marriage. State law requires schools to emphasize abstinence outside marriage as the only safeguard against pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease but exact lesson plans are up to local school boards. rw

Youth Infonet 20 - November 2005

This issue of the electronic newsletter features 15 program resources focusing on youth reproductive health and HIV prevention. It also includes summaries of four peer-reviewed articles featuring research on youth reproductive health and HIV/AIDS from Nepal, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.

Safe Sex Promoted at Cannes by American Filmmaker's Free Condom Handouts

Producer James Hergott and the cast of his reality film, "All That I Need," have become known as promoters of safe sex with free condom handouts at the Cannes Film Festival. The Company, together with the producer of "All That I Need", have received offers from distributors within Germany and the United Kingdom worth an estimated $350,000 to $700,000, as well as an offer for the North American market, in the form of a pay-per-view deal, worth an estimated $1 million. Roger Ebert has requested a copy of the film to review for the Chicago Sun Times. The distributors feel the film is targeted to 16 to 30 year olds. rw

US New Mexico: Health Workers Ask State to Reject Federal Funding for Abstinence

Public Health workers are pleading with State Health Secretary-designate Michelle Lujan Grisham to not incorporate abstinance programs with incorrect information regarding condoms and the prevention of pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. The Congress will give $170 million this year for "abstinence-only" programs that promote abstinence until marriage. Grisham stated that the Public Health workers are encouraging her to not accept the $500,000 given to her for the "abstinence-only" program for Albuquerque, New Mexico public schools. A report last month by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., found 11 of the 13 most widely used programs contain misinformation. He said they underestimate the effectiveness of condoms in preventing pregnancy and the spread of disease, exaggerate the prevalence of emotional and physical distress following abortion, blur science and religion or get fundamental scientific facts wrong." Grisham, however, stated that if she decides to use the program that she will not allow the use of the incorrect information in the public school system.

Contraception Reduces Number of Abortions LTE

It is unfortunate that individuals may use this column to further their religious and personal views by promoting incorrect medical information.

According to the Food and Drug Administration and the American Medical Association, emergency contraception does not cause abortion under any circumstances. It allows a woman who has been attacked or coerced into sex, or has had contraceptive failure, to prevent pregnancy.

What people like a previous letter writer don't want to acknowledge is that emergency contraception, and contraception in general, decrease the number of abortions by reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies, something we should all want.

Millions of women around the world have used emergency contraception safely and effectively. The FDA has approved it for short-term dosage for the prevention of pregnancy. No drug is completely without risk, but a review of government reports shows that it is remarkably safe and effective. We need emergency contraception to be readily available over the counter to any woman who wants it.

Finally, it was stated that emergency contraception is "another ploy to subvert parental authority." I submit that if your child is having sex, and you don't know about it, your parental authority is already lacking.

JAMES HUFNAGEL Wilson

A Battle Over the Morning-After Pill

Virginia state delegate Robert Marshall learned that the James Madison university had prescribed an emergency contraceptive more than 2,000 times since 1995. This is, in Marshall's view, abortion. Mark Obenshain, a pro-life candidate, introduced a measure to stop the center from providing the pills and it passed by a 7-6 vote. Schnebel, a member of the student government, objected that a group with so much power made a decision that affects the health and safety of the students, "I couldn't imagine why they would take away something that is legal in the U.S." .. "It was the fact that a group that has so much power, our board of visitors, made a decision that directly affects the health and safety of the students, and they didn't ask us, and that's just not fair." The pill acts by delaying ovulation, preventing fertilization or inhibiting implantation. rw

US California: Teen Birthrates in California's Central Valley Almost Double State, National Averages

Agricultural areas in California's Central Valley have higher teenage birthrates, with immigrant parents working long hours and young people having few employment options and limited access to birth control. The Central Valley teen birthrates rival teen birthrates in developing countries such as Namibia, Haiti and Cambodia, State Sen. Dean Florez is working on legislation to change California's per capita-based family planning budget to assure that more money for sex education and pregnancy prevention go to isolated rural areas. In his District, teen birthrate in 2000 was 94.8 births per 1,000 compared with the state rate of 48.5 births per 1,000. rw

Most New Mexico Parents Approve of Condom Information, Disapprove of Condom Demonstrations During Sex Ed Classes

A survey of New Mexico parents found that 61% approve of teaching adolescents about condoms and contraceptives, 24% disapproved and 14% were neutral. But 73% disapprove of having students learn to unroll a condom, while 15% approved. 44% of parents disapproved of teens being told how to obtain birth control pills without parental permission, while 40% approved. 70% of parents wanted children to be taught that intimacy should occur between people involved in a lifelong, faithful, marriage. A majority of parents want to review sex education materials prior to their use. rw

U.S.: Most Parents Unaware That Teens Can Be Treated for STDs, Receive Contraception Without Their Involvement

In 2002 more than 1,000 parents of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 in Minnesota and Wisconsin were surveyed by phone. 71% of parents would not object to mandatory parental notification regarding minor health care, including a five-day waiting period for contraception. 68% of parents said that a teenager should have access to confidential care in cases of rape or incest. 34% of parents said that teens ages 16 to 17 should have access to reproductive health care without parental consent. rw

U.K.: 100 Percent Increase in Teenage Girls Using Morning-After Pill

The use of the morning-after pill has more than doubled since it became available over the counter. One in five 16 year olds takes them each year, some use it repeatedly. The figures suggest the reduction in pregnancy is due to availability of the pill rather than a drop in teenage sex. Teenagers on the pill are not protected against sexually transmitted infections which affect one in 20 girls under 16. Teenage girls are more likely to use the pill than older women. The rise in teenage use supports campaigners who tried to stop chemists selling the pill as its easy availability would increase pressure to have sex while increasing the risk of infection. Girls under 16 need a prescription, which can be obtained without parents' consent from a doctor or a school nurse. But many buy it from a chemist because there are few checks to ensure it is not sold to under-age girls. Fear of sexually-transmitted diseases seems to have little impact on behaviour. rw