The 'Juno' Effect Strikes Washington: Page Three

The 'Juno' Effect Strikes Washington: Page Three

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Continued from The 'Juno' Effect Strikes Washington

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy issued the following in response to the announcement that Bristol Palin, the 17-year-old daughter of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, is pregnant:

The teen pregnancy and birth rate have declined dramatically since the early 1990s (down 38% and 32% respectively) driven by decreases in sexual activity and increases in contraceptive use.
Even so, recent data show that the declines in teen sex and improvements in contraceptive use have leveled off and that the teen birth rate is on the rise for the first time in 15 years.
At present, 3 in 10 girls in the United States become pregnant by age 20.
There are more than 729,000 teen pregnancies annually and in 2006, there were 435,000 teens gave birth.
At present, half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned and about 8 in 10 pregnancies to teens are unplanned.
The teen pregnancy and birth rate in Alaska is below the national average and, since the early 1990s, has declined more steeply than the national average.

"Getting pregnant and bearing children is one of the most important steps any person takes and we certainly wish Bristol Palin and her family the best," said Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign. "Given that teen pregnancy will once again be in the national spotlight, we also hope that parents nationwide will take this opportunity to talk to their own children about sex, love, relationships, values, pregnancy and family formation."

Bill Albert, spokesman and chief program officer of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, adds: "This really is a golden opportunity for parents to sit around the kitchen table with their teens and discuss pregnancy prevention. I often have mothers tell me that they want to talk to their kids about this but don't know how. Well, the starter's gun just went off!"

When it comes to Bristol's pregnancy, do you think Juno is to blame? And will this have any impact on your vote or not?

3 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

I wish Bristol the best, although I can’t help but wonder about Palin’s efficacy and I’m curious how this will effect other’s view of her? After all, when Jamie Lynn Spears got pregnant, everyone criticized Lynn Spears parenting…and she’s just a celeb mom, NOT a VP hopeful!

- Jules77

Posted 09/02/08 04:21 PM

Jules77, “everyone” did not criticize Lynn Spears’ parenting - I think you’re generalizing there. I also don’t think that anyone’s parenting skills has anything to do with whether or not they can handle their job. I’m a mom to two girls and no one judges me at work based on how they behave. Nor should they. I also don’t think that a teenage girl getting pregnant has to do with cut and dry good vs. bad parenting - every one makes mistakes. What’s important is that she’s taking responsibility for her choice, which is *exactly* what her parents taught her. In the end, I’d say that’s pretty good parenting - at least some of it got through to her.

- Amy

Posted 09/02/08 05:24 PM

Well, I can tell from personal experience that you can be an amazing parent… and in the end your kids can make the very mistakes you warned them against. People assume that if you are a good parent, your kids will be good kids. They forget that teenagers have their own minds and the ability to make their own choices… and frequently do. I’d know, I had an amazing mother and did exactly what she warned me against. I got pregnant and it totally changed my life. So it wasnt a matter of her not being a good parent, it was a matter of me making my own choices regardless of the consequences. Lets not crucify Palin yet please.

- Callie

Posted 09/03/08 12:50 PM