British Boys to get Credit Cards for Condoms

A new British Government program will distribute condom cards to boys as young as 12. The program will allow boys to get condoms by showing this card at various locations, including football grounds, barber shops, and "scout huts."

Cards will be available to boys who have attended a safe-sex "lesson."

Josephine Quintavalle, who founded the group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, is quoted in a Daily Mail article as saying:

We are just facilitating and encouraging sexuality without any deeper understanding of the emotional side of relationships. We used to talk about recreational sex among 18-year-olds - now it is 13-year-olds.

To read the TimesOnline story, click here.
To read the Daily Mail story, click here.

Survey delves into high birth rate for young Latinas

Report says 53% of Latina teens become pregnant as teens

According to a study conducted by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, in conjunction with the National Council of La Raza, 53% of Latina teens in the U.S. become pregnant before age 20; this in spite of 81% of Latino teens believing that getting pregnant as a teen will delay or prevent them accomplishing their life goals.

The pregnancy rate among young Latinas is nearly twice the national average.

Although 79% of teens indicated that their parents had talked to them about sex, and 49% indicated that parents were their biggest influence in decisions about sex, 64% felt that parents did not know how to carry on a discussion about sex.

Another noteworthy finding from focus groups conducted in this study was that Latino teens often felt frustrated because of the pressure their parents placed on them to succeed academically, while those same parents were not prepared or in a position to help them reach those educational goals.

In light of all of the long term consequences that may result from a teen pregnancy, this report is very concerning. Community groups, churches, etc. working with and within the Hispanic population in the U.S. would do well to review this report, and particularly note that Hispanic parents may need additional assistance in working with their teen children.

Download the report here: Toward A Common Future: Latino Teens and Adults Speak Out

Read the CNN story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/19/latinas.pregnancy.rate/index.html?eref=rss_us

Additional Links:

National Council of La Raza

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

Bristol Palin calls teen motherhood 'hard work'

Bristol Palin appeared on the NBC's Today show on Wednesday, May 6th. During her interview, she stated that whereas she previously was advocating safe sex, she is not advocating abstinence.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30597615/

Levi Johnston, the father of Bristol's baby appeared on CBS's The Early Show also on Wednesday and said that abstinence-only for teens was not realistic. He is quoted as saying, " ... It's a great idea and a great message she's trying to send out to the world and all the young kids. It's not easy raising a baby. But I do think there's more things to it than just not having sex."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/06/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main4995425.shtml

ABC news headlined a story "NYC Teens Chide Palin's Abstinence Call - Students Say Bristol Palin is a 'hypocrite,' a 'Celebrity' and 'Hasn't Been in Our Shoes'.

Bristol had appeared before approximately 150 teens in a town meeting forum at The Times Center.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ReproductiveHealth/story?id=7516975&page=1