The rates of pregnancy and childbearing among teenagers are a serious problem. Adolescent pregnancy has long been a societal concern but in the past decade, the issue has become one of the most frequently cited examples of the perceived societal decay in the United States. About 560,000 teenage girls give birth each year. Prevention of adolescent pregnancy should have the highest priority. In both human and monetary terms, it is less costly to prevent pregnancy than to cope with its consequences. (McCuen 163). Society should believe that the involvement of families, communities, schools, and local, state, regional education is essential in addressing the issues of adolescent pregnancy prevention.
School-based health centers increasingly are becoming part of mainstream health care, providing an important source of primary and preventive medical services to young people in the United States. Family planning that meets the need of sexually active teenagers in schools, have caused heated debates in many communities across the nation. Because the school-based health centers offer contraceptive services on-site, parents and communities have argued that by having it available, than they are saying it is okay to have sex. Americans want teenagers to wait until they are mature before they have sex, to wait until they are married and financially secure before they have children. That is a great concept, but the fact is they are having sex. By offering them an option of birth control through these centers, kids that are scared to confront their parents might in fact seek protection through school based centers. .
Many parents admit that they do not do enough to teach their children about sex. But parents, more than anyone else make the difference. Sex -education courses can help remind those parents of their responsibilities. These courses for parents should encourage them to offer advice needed for that particular child.