Oklahoma climbed this year to second in variety of teen births in the country. In 2014, 4,802 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 gave birth in our state, along with some Oklahoma counties having rates that are triple the national standard (the national fee is 24 births per 1,000 girls; Oklahoma’s standard is 38.5, according to data collected by the National Campaign to Avoid Teen Pregnancy). While addressing this will certainly require a multipronged solution, as a pediatrician, I believe that my colleagues and I have actually a responsibility to play a role.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital recently reported that pregnant adolescents had on standard visited their primary care provider 2.7 times in the 12 months prior to their pregnancy. This means that for these girls, their providers routinely missed opportunities to ask basic questions that could have actually altered the path of their futures.
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Imagine for a moment simply one of these girls. We’ll call her Jennifer. Jennifer is a vibrant and energetic 17-year-old that routinely comes in to my office for a sports physical. Even though her mom has actually constantly been proactive in Jennifer’s wellbeing, she is uncomfortable talking to her daughter regarding sex. Jennifer has actually been tiptoeing in to sexual activity, and she has actually questions. They the two hope to have actually the conversation, however neither of them knows exactly how to start it.
As Jennifer’s doctor, I have actually a choice. I can easily wait for either Jennifer or her mom to ask me regarding sexual health, or I can easily be proactive and offer a prompt. A basic and standard questionnaire provided to Jennifer as quickly as she checks in that asks, “Do you have actually any type of questions today regarding your sexual health?” can easily provide Jennifer and teens love her a nonthreatening means to quietly boost their hand. Questions love this need to be as routinely asked as those regarding vaccinations, however unfortunately pediatricians go on to skip opportunities.
Making a pediatrician’s office an expected place to talk regarding sex simply makes sense. If a teen is sexually active, or is thinking regarding becoming active, they will certainly have the ability to discuss sexual good health and safety issues, abstinence, too as exactly how to access safe and highly efficient contraception that can easily carry them — pregnancy free — in to their adulthood. There are so numerous good choices today to delay pregnancy, including IUDs and implants, however numerous times teens merely do not understand just what or exactly how to ask.
For every Oklahoma teen that is able to delay parenting, our entire state will certainly reap the benefits. Our community will certainly have actually much less reliance on public assistance; there will certainly be fewer pre-term births and fewer Kids living in poverty; and there will certainly be much more women able to attain their educational and profession goals.
Tulsa is fortunate to have actually the Tulsa Campaign to Avoid Teen Pregnancy at the forefront of a movement to manage this issue as a community. Could is the National Month to Avoid Teen Pregnancy; whether or not you have actually a teen at home, you have actually a portion to play. I am calling on my fellow pediatricians to grab involved, however there are opportunities for anyone interested:
• For parents, guardians or any type of adult along with a teen in their life: Download pointers and resources for talking to the teens in your life (http://ift.tt/20EX6Oz)
• For teens and adults: Take the quiz! Through the month of May, the National Campaign to Avoid Teen Pregnancy is asking individuals to think about exactly how they could respond to a tricky situation prior to they discover themselves in the heat of the moment. (stayteen.org/quiz)
No matter that you are, I ask that you learn much more regarding teen births in Oklahoma. Educate yourself, educate others and reach out to the teens in your life.
Charity Pollak, MD, FAAP, is a Tulsa pediatrician.
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