Broad Support for Contraceptive Coverage

Seven in 10 American adults believe that health insurers should be required to cover the full cost of birth control for women, just as they do for other preventive services.  A new survey from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy also found that an overwhelming 95% of respondents (including 92% of Republicans) believe that, for those who are trying not to get pregnant, "using birth control is taking personal responsibility." 

Other findings of this survey of over 1,000 adults include:

·       8 in 10 Americans favor continuing federal efforts to help women who cannot afford contraception get access to it. 

·       Support for requiring insurance coverage of contraceptives crossed party lines: 86% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 48% of Republicans support the requirement to cover birth control methods.

·       Most Americans (79%) agree that during tough economic times, it makes sense to do all we can to increase women's access to birth control.

Reducing the rate of unplanned pregnancy is an important public health priority.  Nearly half of U.S. pregnancies are unplanned.  Compared to planned pregnancies, those that are unplanned are much more likely to mean late prenatal care, premature birth, poor infant health, educational delay, family violence, and relationship stress. Unplanned pregnancy is also the underlying reason for almost all abortions.

HPV Vaccination does NOT Increase Sexual Activity

Teens who are vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are no more likely to have sex than unvaccinated teens.

A recent study of medical records of pre-teen girls in a managed care organization found that those who received the HPV vaccine were no more likely to have evidence of sexual activity (pregnancy, sexually transmitted infection, or contraceptive counseling).  Girls were followed for up to 3 years after vaccination.

HPV vaccine is recommended for both boys and girls at age 11 or 12 to protect against the most common types of HPV that can cause cervical and other cancers.  Some parents worry that vaccinating against a sexually transmitted infection might promote risky sexual behavior, but there is no evidence that this happens.  The vaccine is recommended for pre-teens, because it can work only if it is given before someone is exposed to these very common viruses. 

In fact, by focusing on the fact that the vaccine is given to prevent cancer, many health providers and parents find that they do not need to discuss sexual activity with preteens before they get the vaccine. 

Of course, talking with teens and preteens about sex is important, but it does not have to be linked to vaccine administration.

The 3-shot HPV vaccine series can be given to males and females as young as age 9 and as old as age 26. 

     

Teen Sexting Common, Linked to Sexual Behavior

One in 4 teens (28%) has sent a naked picture of themselves through text or email. A recent study

Among high school students who participated in the survey, researchers found that 1 in 3 (31%) asked a peer to send a sext, and 1 in 2 teens (57%) have been asked to send a sext. Girls who had sent, received or asked for a sext were more likely to have started dating, to have had sex, and to have had multiple partners. 82% of boys who had sent a sext were sexually experienced, in contrast to fewer than half (45%) of boys who had not sent a sext.

These findings are startling. Sexting in this population was common, and it suggested that teens who sext may be taking sexual risks in their real-world lives. In order to help teens be prepared for the pressures and decisions they will face, parents and other caring adults must include sexting as an important topic in communication.

Healthy Futures of Texas Staff Give Back

In October Healthy Futures of Texas staff took a break from working with parents and teens to take part in United Way's Annual Days of Caring.

Staff partnered with Communities in Schools at Perales Elementary School to help 90 kindergarten students with creating fall wreaths. Artists in the making, kindergarteners decorated their wreaths with colorful leaves, stickers, glitter, and lots of paint!

For over 20 years United Way of San Antonio and the Volunteer Center have offered the Days of Caring as an organized way to engage corporate and group volunteers. This year nearly 3000 volunteers from organizations across San Antonio were mobilized generating $275,000 in volunteer hours.

We left Perales Elementary School exhausted, covered in paint, and with joy in our hearts. Thank you to Ms. Graciela Perez, CIS Site Coordinator, and the kindergarten artists for allowing us to take part in their project!

Have You Seen Our Video? 

If you missed Healthy Futures of Texas's Lunch with the Mayor fundraiser, you can still catch our video  on YouTube or on our home page . Many thanks to the amazing teens, parents, and staff who appear in the video to talk about the pressures on teens, the need for our programs, and the success that Healthy Futures -- along with many in our community -- have helped to create.  

Bexar County's teen birth rate has fallen 32% from 2009 to 2011. That is a decline that is faster than Texas and faster than our country as a whole.