Teenage Pregnancy: a Multi-Variate Solution

A letter to: The National Campaign to Prevent Teenage and Unplanned Pregnancy.

By: Daniel Mastrovito

Abstract

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 How can teenage pregnancy be stopped? Teen pregnancy has been a problem for decades

that in the recent past has seen success, but is slowly reversing its progress. Since 2006, teenage

pregnancy is rising, and whether its due to a concentration in the wrong areas, an influx of

immigrants, or simply a false alarm, it is still a problem that needs to be solved. The main

problem is that many of those who fight to eradicate it consider only one option and discredit the

rest. Some only support abstinence programs, others reject abstinence programs and believe

solely on contraceptives. The teenage pregnancy problem is multifaceted, and all areas should

receive an equal amount of attention. There needs to be a focus on abstinence and sexual

education programs, both school based, and both starting early. There needs to be a high

availability of contraceptives in all public schools. There should be more, and more efficient

programs for pregnant teenage mothers. It is imperative that it can reach all teenage mothers.

And ultimately there should be an effort to reach poor neighborhoods and improve them; they are

ripe with current and potential teen mothers.

Background

I am writing this paper because I want whoever is heading the movement to stop teenage

pregnancy, as well as anyone else who supports this movement to have a new perspective and

possibly a new plan of action. In short I want to change the audiences view and motivate them to

act. This essay is directed at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

because as the name suggests, it is a national campaign aiming to do exactly what my essay will

eventually ask to do. They have much more power to change and influence the necessary

people/organizations to act. Also, the campaign is more likely to read and seriously consider this

essay than any one senator, or all Congress combined. We share a common interest, and

hopefully my insight would hope better their plan and use of resources. Obviously, the National

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Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is extremely knowledgeable in the area of

teen pregnancy, so I will try to keep my statistics and basic explanations to a minimum. What I

will concentrate on will be on what they might be doing wrong and how to better it, as well as

tell them what they are doing right and to continue as they are. The document will be a formal

essay, will the standard background information and facts kept brief. Although it will be a

formal essay, I’ll include personal accounts to pack some emotional punch, some pathos. At the

end I will detail a plan that ideally would be followed closely by the Campaign.

Short literature review

My research has resulted in a multitude of facts and some personal accounts of

pregnancy. I have noticed many one sided solutions that have solidified my belief in a multi-

faceted solution. Its not that each of those sources are wrong, it is that they are not completely

right. My plan would be to combine all the information found in my research, which would be a

plan containing a strong focus on abstinence and sexual education programs, a much higher

availability of condoms for public school students, more programs for teenage mothers, and a big

effort to reach those affected by it in any way outside of public schools.

Description of research method.

I plan to research as I have been, looking at peer-reviewed journals and rejecting any

website that ends in “.com”. I want my sources to be completely credible and serious. As

before, I will research through the FIU library services. I plan to focus now on all proposed

solutions, as well as exactly how the teenage pregnancy rates were lowered before the recent

rise. I also plan to find exactly why there was a rise and how to eliminate its source. I will not

look for any more personal accounts or statistics; from now on my research is going to be solely

to formulate a perfect solution, or as near to it as possible.

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 Works consulted

Guttmacher, Sally, Lisa Lieberman, David Ward, Nick Freudenberg, Alice Radosh, and Don Des

Jerlais. "Condom Availability in NewYork City Public High Schools: Relationships to

Condom- Use and Sexual Behavior." American Journal of Public Health 87.9

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 (1997): 1427-433. Alpha Publications. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Web. 8

Dec. 2010.

Moore, Kristen A., James L. Peterson, and Christen W. Nord. Children of Teen Parents:

Heterogeneity of Outcome. Tech. 262 139 ed. 1985. ERIC Document

Reproduction Service No. 143. Education Resources Information Center. Web.

8 Dec. 2010.

Morris, Alex. "Truth and Consequences at Pregnancy High." New York 42.17 (2009): 26-31, 91.

OmniFile Full Text Mega. Web. 2 Mar. 2011.

Rinaldo, Denise. "The Tough Life of a Teen Mom." Scholastic Choices 25.4 (2010): 4-7.

OmniFile Full Text Mega. Web. 2 Mar. 2011.

Stein, Rob. "Rise in Teenage Pregnancy Rate Spurs New Debate on Arresting It -

Washingtonpost.com." Washington Post - Politics, National, World & D.C. Area News

and Headlines - Washingtonpost.com. 26 Jan. 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. <http://

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/25/AR2010012503957.html>.