Students' Access to Birth Control Services

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that today's teenager, whether in senior high school or middle school, should be given access to confidential health care - e.g., condoms and prescription birth control - in order to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy and to avoid the physical and psychological ramifications of pregnancy. It discusses the problem of teens' sexual activity levels and various initiatives that have been tried in the past to reduce the incidence of teen pregnancy.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Literature Review

From the Paper:

"In Texas, when George W. Bush was governor, he endorsed legislation that now requires schools to teach "abstinence as the 'preferred choice' for unmarried young people." It's clear that the Bush initiative has not succeeded to the level that it was hoped for. Meantime, when comparing California and Texas, one has to understand the universe of difference in approaches to social issues and problems. For example, first look at the data between the two states; in California the teen birth rate (2004, latest statistics available) is now at 39 per 1,000 girls between ages 15-19. That is down from 74 births per 1,000 in 1991. In Texas, the 1991 mark was 78 births per 1,000 girls (ages 15-19) and in 2004 that Texas data changed only slightly, to 63 births per 1,000 teenaged girls."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bakalar, Nicholas. "Adolescence: Abstinence-Only Programs Not found to Prevent HIV." The New York Times 14 August 2007: Retrieved Dec. 3, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com.
• Garrett, Robert T. "Texas teens lead nation in birth rate." The Dallas Morning News 5 November 2007: Retrieved Dec. 2, 2007, from http://www.dallasnews.com.
• Green, Tanya L. "Parents Have the Right to Know when their Children Receive Family Planning Services at School." Opposing Viewpoints: Students' rights. Greenhaven Press, 2005.
• Hurley, Jennifer A. "Promoting the Use of Birth Control Reduced Teen Pregnancy." Opposing Viewpoints Digests: Teen Pregnancy. Greenhaven Press, 2000.
• MSNBC. "Doctors slam abstinence-only sex ed." The Associated Press. Retrieved Dec. 1, 2007, from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8470845.

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