Services and educational approaches to adolescent pregnancy.

A historical review of adolescent pregnancy might be helpful if it could be studied for a particular country or in our own country for a particular state or city. Early information would for the most part be unreliable and where available, highly prejudicial. By providing contraceptives, family planning, counseling and abortion it was believed that teenage pregnancy could be prevented. It cannot be said that these techniques have failed. Maturing and self-discipline, however, are required to use the services properly that have been provided. Yet, neither maturity nor self-discipline is a major component of the adolescent life style. As more knowledge and understanding of adolescent pregnancy has become available, it has become apparent that this information has to be integrated into a comprehensive health care program. The Bronx Committee for the Community's Health, an incorporated group of eleven community health centers, is a unique model in the formation of a comprehensive, coordinated and accessible health care delivery system. A sixteen-week curriculum for 10-13 year olds, the Very Important Person (V.I.P.) program, teaches youngsters about developmental changes during puberty, and about reproductive physiology. There is an effort to promote health education for parents and children and to involve the parents in as many activities as possible in the schools, and in the community. There must be continued education for the nation's black leaders to enable them to relate specifically to the expressed needs and desires of black teens and their families. Continued efforts must be expended for political and legislative support to follow through on these initiatives until results can be evaluated and normal, healthy development of black teenagers can be assured.