Blog # 5

Dear Classmates,

There are so many urban legends in the world that we want so much to believe and hope are true but we know in our hearts that they couldn’t possibly be. One legend that stands out to me is the one about the pulling out method. Can you get pregnant if your partner pulls out before he ejaculates? Absolutely. According to Planned Parenthood, “Of every 100 women whose partners use withdrawal, 4 will become pregnant each year if they always do it correctly.” We need to educate boys and girls so that they know exactly how the can become pregnant. Hoping and praying is not going to do it. Girls need to know that any contact with sperm could result in pregnancy. I believe as a young man, I thought I was invincible to anything that could happen to me. Knowing that I could have gotten someone pregnant by not using protection and pulling out was a big eye opener to me. Many of my friends have had babies when they weren’t expecting them. I think teen-age boys need to be aware just as much as teen-age girls and we need to not be embarrassed to talk about all aspects of sex ed even if it feels uncomfortable for us because there are so many false legends out there that kids will believe because they sound better to them then the truth. Parents have to step up and say what is really the truth!

References:

Planned Parenthood (2008) Is withdrawal for me? Retrevied on February 27, 2009 from

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/withdrawal-pull-

out-method-4218.htm

Blog # 4

The question of whether sex education should be taught in schools is a hot topic for many people. There are many people for and just as many against. I believe that sex education should start at home with an open honest communication between a child and their parents. Age appropriate answers to questions and ongoing dialogue should be important in a family when discussing sex. That being said, I also believe that many children are missing out on that open dialogue with their parents due to embarrassment on the part of the parents and the child. I believe we should have trained professionals who are devoted to pre-teens and teens and that these professionals provide open honest teaching of all aspects of sex education with the parent’s permission in some sort of school setting. I believe that abstinence only programs are the most valuable morally to teach student’s how to respect themselves and their bodies but I also believe that the student’s should have the knowledge to deal with situations that might happen. Teaching abstinence only without the other pertinent information just leads to more problems. That is where STDs and unplanned pregnancy come from. I want my children to know that abstinence only is what I expect from them but I am open to discussing sex and what it means to them.

Healthy Behaviors??

In today’s society, healthy sexual behaviors seem to be more and more accepted because of an increase in awareness and communication. Although some families may communicate with their children more than others. According to the Vital and Health Statistics report in 2004, “Nearly half (46%) of all 15-19-year-olds in the United States have had sex at least once.” (Abma, 2004). There are so many ways that we can help our children become more educated on health sexual behaviors. Parents need to be the key. When parents speak age-appropriate language regarding our bodies and sex, children respond with understanding. Studies show that kids who feel they can talk with their parents about sex are less likely to engage in high-risk behavior as teens than kids who do not feel they can talk with their parents about the subject. I think parents who feel strongly about communicating all aspects of sexuality including the emotional parts not just the physical. Health care providers and educators need to be also open to communicate according to the child’s age. They should also be aware of the child and their families believes. Many people believe in abstinence only and don’t want to teach about safe sex practices because they feel it would condone having premarital sex. This is where families need to be honest with each other and make sure their teens know what they expect. When no sexual advice is given, that is when negative things can happen like pre-marital sex, unprotected sex, STD’s and unplanned pregnancies. Our society needs to recognize what open communication without shame can accomplish.

References:

Abma JC et al., Teenagers in the United States: sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2002, Vital and Health Statistics, 2004, Series 23, No. 24.

DB #2

Is Health Care a Right or a Privilege?

When asked the question whether health care should be a right or a privilege, I have to say I believe it is both a right and a privilege. I believe every American should have the right to affordable health care. Insurance companies don’t seem to want that. Insurance companies seem to be raising premiums and choosing not to cover more and more people Affordable healthcare is needed to prolong life and make America a healthier place to live. When we lose the right to health care, we lose the right to a high quality of life. We are dependent on our health. The life expectancy rate has increase so over the years that people are living longer and needing more health care as they age. So many people can not afford insurance and when they don’t have insurance they choose not to seek medical attention until the last minute. When people have insurance they almost always use prevention as a key part of their health. Healthcare being a privilege is also an important key in a healthy life. We need to take better care of ourselves and our children and know that our health depends on it. Without using the health care system to our benefit, we lose certain privileges. Taking care of all aspects of our wellness should be required. Physical wellness should only be part of how we take care of ourselves. We were given the right when we were born in the Unites States to be “ endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (Declaration of Independence, 1776.) Without good health there is no life!


References:

The National Archives. Archives.org (n.d.) Retreived February 5, 2009

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html