Preventing Teen Pregnancy: Recommendations for a Comprehensive School Based Intervention

Teen pregnancy is a prevalent problem in the US as well as locally. The United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the developed world, and rates in our county are higher than both state and national rates. Teen pregnancy is costly for the teen, her child, and society. A review of international and national trends and interventions reveals that there are some proven methods which can decrease teen pregnancy by delaying onset of intercourse and increasing the use of condoms and contraception. Evidence shows that a well structured Comprehensive Sexual Education curriculum coupled with additional support for at risk teens; a program tailored to the local population but based on proven methods, is the most successful approach. Currently, the public school system in Durham County has no organized approach to this serious problem. Sexual education in our school systems is fractured and taught by teachers with varying levels of education and experience with no standardized training or curriculum. A revision of the current policies to include a standardized curriculum taught by well trained teachers and combined with additional support for at risk teens would provide our teens with the ability to make responsible sexual decisions, reducing teen pregnancy and its associated costs.Master of Public Healt