Prevention to Reduce Abortions in Texas The Texas Senate passed a controversial abortion bill (
HB 2) late Friday night, after weeks of protests and rallies that drew thousands of people to the Capitol and made Texas the focus of the national abortion debate. Governor Perry is expected to sign the bill into law in the next few days, while opponents prepare to take the issue to court.
Given that the measure does not address the prevention of unintended pregnancies, some Texans are raising the issues of effective sex education and access to contraception. Abortion is a polarizing issue, but one thing most people can agree on is the value of prevention.
Prevention is Key
Regardless of political affiliation, we all want to live in healthy communities and want the best for our children. Focusing on prevention can bring together people from both sides of the issue.
Unplanned ("unintended") pregnancies are the chief reason that women seek abortions, and unplanned pregnancies are exceedingly common. Half of U.S. pregnancies - and 47% of Texas births - are unplanned. Effective prevention requires that women have access to health care that includes contraception.
A recent poll showed overwhelming support for access to contraception, with 73 percent of Texans - and 77% of Hispanics -- favoring state funding of family planning services.
Abstinence-Plus Sex Education
It is also important to ensure that young people get medically accurate information about birth control as well as abstinence. The teen birth rate in Texas ranks fifth-highest in the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 22 percent of teen births in Texas are repeat births, the highest rate in the country.
Right now, Texas does not require public schools to provide sex education. If it is provided, sex education must emphasize abstinence, but there is no requirement for medically accurate information about how to prevent pregnancy or STDs, or for using effective programs.
The vast majority of Texas public schools teach abstinence-only or nothing about sex education. This is in spite of the fact that most parents want abstinence-plus education. A statewide poll conducted in February 2013 found that 84% of Texans support teaching about birth control, including condoms, along with abstinence in high school sex education classes. .
In the current special session, several legislators have filed bills (e.g., SB 26 by Sen. Rodney Ellis and others) that would improve sex education policies in Texas. However, it is unlikely that these bills will receive a hearing.
Advocating for Prevention
The Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA) is a community coalition to reduce teen and unplanned pregnancy in San Antonio. Led by Healthy Futures of Texas, HFA advocates for access to preventive care and for effective sex education. Our focus is to ensure that young people have the best possible chance to live healthy lives and reach their goals and dreams. We also want all Texas women to have access to the preventive care they need to plan their families.
