Klerman Lorraine V
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2002 Apr-Jun;14(2):91-6. doi: 10.1515/ijamh.2002.14.2.91.
The rates of adolescent pregnancies and births in the United States are higher than those in most industrialized nations. Fortunately, the rates of sexual activity, pregnancies, and births have declined in the last few years. Contraceptive use has increased and the induced abortion rate and ratio have also declined. The decrease in sexual activity and the increase in contraceptive use are usually attributed, at least in part, to fear of contracting HIV/AIDS. Other contributing factors may be health education programs, a changing moral climate, new contraceptives, and the improved economy. The decrease in sexual activity and increase in contraceptive use have led to the decline in the pregnancy and birth rates. The decline in induced abortions is probably due to legislation restricting access to abortion for minors, harassment of abortion facilities, and violence against abortion providers. Programs to prevent adolescent pregnancies and births have traditionally focused on health education and provision of contraceptive services. Recently there has been increased emphasis, supported by federal funds, on teaching about the value of abstinence. Another new approach has been youth development programs that provide adolescents with opportunities to interact with caring adults outside of their families and to build self-esteem, a sense of self-worth, and skills.
美国青少年怀孕和生育的比率高于大多数工业化国家。幸运的是，在过去几年中，性行为、怀孕和生育的比率有所下降。避孕措施的使用有所增加，人工流产率和比例也有所下降。性行为的减少和避孕措施使用的增加通常至少部分归因于对感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病的恐惧。其他促成因素可能包括健康教育项目、不断变化的道德氛围、新型避孕药具以及经济的改善。性行为的减少和避孕措施使用的增加导致了怀孕率和生育率的下降。人工流产的减少可能是由于限制未成年人堕胎的立法、对堕胎设施的骚扰以及对堕胎提供者的暴力行为。传统上，预防青少年怀孕和生育的项目主要侧重于健康教育和提供避孕服务。最近，在联邦资金的支持下，人们越来越强调讲授禁欲的价值。另一种新方法是青少年发展项目，这些项目为青少年提供机会，让他们与家庭之外有爱心的成年人互动，并培养自尊、自我价值感和技能。
