National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month

May is National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month

May is National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month. Teen pregnancy prevention is a national priority. Despite declines in teen pregnancy and birth rates in the U.S., the national teen pregnancy rate continues to be high. It is higher than the rates in other Western industrialized nations. Racial and ethnic disparities remain. There are higher rates of teen pregnancy for Hispanic and non-Hispanic black adolescents than non-Hispanic white adolescents. Teen pregnancy prevention is a major public health issue.

In addition, teen pregnancy directly affects the immediate and long-term well-being of mother, father, and child. Teen pregnancy and childbirth contribute significantly to dropout rates among high school females. Further, it causes increased health and foster care costs. And, it contributes to a wide range of developmental problems for children born to teen mothers. Wear white to observe National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month. Personalized Cause offers enamel awareness ribbon pins, fabric lapel ribbons, and white silicone awareness wristband bracelets.

Wear White for National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month

Addressing teen pregnancy prevention requires broad efforts that involve families, service providers, schools, faith- and community-based organizations, recreation centers, policymakers, and youth. The development and implementation of evidence-based prevention efforts require an understanding of the problem. This includes knowledge of target populations. It also requires understanding trends in the rates of teen pregnancy and birth. And it also needs understanding of the risk and protective factors associated with teen pregnancy. This information can be used to inform decisions.

Decisions include choosing which risk and protective factors to focus on in order to help better guide the effective implementation of evidence-based practices. These evidence-based practices prevent teen pregnancies. Currently there are a number of initiatives being implemented through the support of the federal government.

Pregnancy Rates in Teens

Two of the main causes of teenage pregnancy are:

• Lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Inadequate access to services tailored to young people.

Recent reports show that the number of teen pregnancies in areas where long-acting revisable contraceptives (LARCs) are easily available have fallen.

Reducing the Shame During During National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month

Since 1991, sexual and reproductive health organizations have designated May Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. The initial goal? Increase conversations about reducing teen pregnancy rates in the United States. Educational campaigns that provide the information and resources needed to avoid unintended pregnancy are vital. In fact, young people have a right to learn all of the information they need to make informed decisions when it comes to sex. This includes options related to pregnancy.

However, over the years, campaigns have also incorporated a slew of messages that, instead of advancing education, actively shame young parents. For example, previous campaigns have reinforced negative stereotypes about young mothers. They’ve featured slogans like, “You’re supposed to be changing the world…not changing diapers,” relying on shame and fear as motivations for avoiding pregnancy.

This May, we’re focusing on reframing conversations about unintended pregnancy. While it’s important to provide young people with all of the information they need, it can be shared in a way that avoids shaming and stigmatizing young parents.