A Message to Health Care Professionals: Teen Pregnancy
A Message to Health Care Professionals: Teen Pregnancy
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The video features teens who speak out about how decreasing unintended pregnancy rates in the United States are still too high as every day over a thousand babies are born to teen mothers. Teens urge health care professionals across the nation to talk to their teen patients about pregnancy and contraception to help improve the lives of all young people.
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Read the Script:
A Message to Health Care Professionals
[Nico Ward] Teen pregnancy rates in the United States have decreased, but they are still too high. Every day, over a thousand babies are born to teen mothers.
[Elei Reyes] Having a child can have a huge impact on a young person’s life and aspirations. Half of teen mothers don’t graduate from high school, and babies born to teens face increased medical risks.
[Keenan Carver] Most teen pregnancies happen because of sexual partners not using contraceptives at all, or not using them properly, or consistently.
[Elei Reyes] As a health care professional, you are critical to reducing teen pregnancy rates by encouraging adolescents having sex to improve their use of contraceptives.
[Nico Ward] Talk with your teen patients about whether they’re having sex. Educate those teens about all of the contraceptive options available.
[Keenan Carver] Help them select the method they will more likely use the right way, and every time.
[Elei Reyes] Let teens having sex know they are welcome to use any method of birth control. There are no restrictions on any method based solely on a teen’s age.
[Keenan Brand] Like my girlfriend, some teens may feel more comfortable using longacting, reversible contraception, such as IUDs or implants.
[Nico Ward] If a teen has had a pregnancy and continues to have sex, make sure she knows the benefits of long-acting, reversible birth control as one option.
[Keenan Brand] Most teens who are sexually active use condoms, and that’s really good for preventing STDs, HIV, and pregnancy. But since condoms often are not used the right way and every time, they may not provide complete protection. That’s a big problem.
[Nico Ward] Make sure your teenage patients who are having sex understand ‘dual protection’ – using both a condom and a hormonal method of birth control to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV.
[Keenan Carver] As a health care provider, you can help improve the lives of all young people by giving them the information and tools they need to make healthy decisions. So talk to us about pregnancy and contraception. We’ll listen.
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About Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For over 60 years, CDC has been dedicated to protecting health and promoting quality of life through the prevention and control of disease, injury, and disability. We are committed to programs that reduce the health and economic consequences of the leading causes of death and disability, thereby ensuring a long, productive, healthy life for all people.
CDC Vision for the 21st Century – “Health Protection…Health Equity”
CDC Mission:
Collaborating to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.
CDC seeks to accomplish its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and the world to
- monitor health,
- detect and investigate health problems,
- conduct research to enhance prevention,
- develop and advocate sound public health policies,
- implement prevention strategies,
- promote healthy behaviors,
- foster safe and healthful environments,
- provide leadership and training.
Those functions are the backbone of CDC′s mission. Each of CDC′s component organizations undertakes these activities in conducting its specific programs. The steps needed to accomplish this mission are also based on scientific excellence, requiring well-trained public health practitioners and leaders dedicated to high standards of quality and ethical practice.
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