6th May - National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

by daadmin

Today is National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. As we know from a recent episodes of “Teen Mom,” “16 and Pregnant” and other shows, teen pregnancy and dating abuse can have a lot of to do with one another. We want to share some interesting facts.

Did you know:

▪   Adolescent girls in physically abusive relationships were found 3 times more likely to become pregnant than non-abused girls

▪   A 2005 study of 474 teen mothers on public assistance found that of the teens (55% of the total sample) experiencing intimate partner violence in the past year, 2 in 3 teen mothers also experience birth control sabotage at the hands of their dating partner

▪   Pregnant teens who experience abuse are more likely to miscarry than their non abused peers.

Also, violence impacts risky behaviors, including sex:

▪   In 2007, sexual dating violence was significantly associated with lifetime sexual experience, initiation of sex before age 11, initiation of sex before age 13, sexual intercourse with more than one person, sexual intercourse with more than four or more people, current sexual activity, and use of alcohol or other drugs before sex. Boys and girls who experience sexual dating violence are more likely to initiate sex before age 11, have sexual intercourse with four or more people or use alcohol or drugs before sex.

These stats and more can be found on this PDF from the Family Violence Prevention Fund.

Also, sex and reproductive health can be used in different types of dating abuse. Remember sexual coercion? Just as a person can be pressured into doing something physical that he or she might not want to do, a person can also be pressured into not being safe while doing that act (ex: a partner refusing to wear condoms or pressuring the other person not to take birth control).

Remember that no one can tell you what to do with your body. That is for you to decide.

Check out the website www.stayteen.org to play a fun interactive game and see if you know the safest way to act in different situations with partner

http://dating-facts.co.in/