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State ranks fourth in teen pregnancy; new law might impact increased rates
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by savannah lange staff writer
t is causing girls to drop out of high school and creating financial hardships for families. Ranking fourth in the nation, Arizona has one of the highest teen-pregnancy rates. According to the non-profit Sexuality Information and Education Council for the United States, 70 pregnancies occur per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19. And because of Senate Bill 1309—which was passed this July in Arizona—pregnancy rates may start to increase. Senate Bill 1309 mandates parental consent before their child can be informed about any sexual education in school. According to the law, it is up to individual districts whether or not to enforce it. “In general, if kids are not aware of how their body works, and if they don’t know how to form a healthy relationship, then they can make poor decisions which can lead to unplanned pregnancies,” said Laura Ilardo, school social worker, about Senate Bill 1309. Ilardo just started a support group for teen moms at this school. The group is not only for teen moms, but for the dads, and the parents of these teens. So far, four girls signed up. Ilardo said they are going to be
talking about setting goals, parenting skills, nutrition, building positive relationships, and juggling school with family life. Among Arizona teenagers ages 15 to 19 there were 18,100 pregnancies in 2005, the council said. As for this school, seven girls are moms and four are pregnant that Ilardo is aware of. From 1999 to 2005 teen birth rates of girls ages 15 to 19 increased by 23 percent. But according to Ilardo, this school’s teen-pregnancy rate has stayed steady throughout the years. According to Ilardo, some pregnant students will graduate and some will not. She said she does not have any studies done though. Ilardo says the father of the child stays with the mother 50 percent of the time. In addition, she said, “Girls that keep the pregnancy, keep the baby.” According to the council, around 70 percent of pregnant teens in the United States drop out of high school. But Ilardo says that the majority of teen moms at this school stay. Some have to drop out because of financial problems. “A lot of them want to stay in school and will do what they can to stay in school,” Ilardo said.
STDs makes appearance in teenagers The teenager wakes up one morning and immediately feels painful itching. Running to the bathroom to get a closer look, he discovers bleeding and—unfortunately— clumps of red sores all around places they should not be. Looking for answers, he decides to Google his most intense symptoms. Shocked, he sees one of the first things that pops up—Sexually Tr a n s m i t t e d Disease. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, best known as STDs, are one of the most common infectious diseases in the United States, according to avert.org, an international AIDS charity. According to Darah Lee, junior, the stereotypes for persons with STDs are people who date around and go from pa r t n e r to partner. However, this is not the c a se i n many situations. Not only do the teenagers who involve themselves in multiple relationships receive them, in fact, anyone who is sexually active is prone to infection.
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How does sex affect the day to day life of teens?
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The way to get an STD is by having unprotected sex, according to Edgar Pacheco, senior. Being involved in sexual intercourse without a condom or some sort of birth control can give someone an STD; however, it can be passed on through birth and breast feeding. A more common avenue to acquiring an STD is by associating in anal sex. Human Im m u n o d e f i c i e n c y Virus, or HIV, is the virus that causes AIDS. It is particularly easy to make cuts or minor tears in and around the rectum. The tears are where HIV passes into your blood system. The most common STDs in teenagers, as stated by avert.org, are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Herpes. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are curable with antibiotics; however, Herpes will stay for life. Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. The bacterium normally infects the cervix of women and the rectum and urethra of both women and men. Chlamydia can also affect various body parts such as the eyes and throat. Gonorrhea is passed through all forms
of sexual intercourse, and infects the genital region as well as the throat or cervix. Patients with Gonorrhea experience a burning sensation while urinating, and can have a painful discharge from the anus. There are two types of genital herpes; HSV1 is acquired through oral sex, where as HSV2 comes from regular intercourse. Itching or burning sensations in the affected area are often the first sign, which then turns into blisters on the infected regions. Enduring swollen glands of the throat (in the event that the herpes are located orally) is another symptom of her pes. Her pes of the mouth, w h i c h are H S V - 1 related, can easily be passed on through kissing. Testing is absolutely necessary in those who believe they may have contracted an STD. In Maricopa County, the Department of Public Health offers STD testing at its clinic for $20. Additional information is located at its website.
“It always annoys me that once people have sex they have to act different. It shouldn’t be that big of an impact on a teen.”
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The im photos by kalee morris
Student tells of her str by katie binkley/krystal morgan editor-in-chief/photo editor
The Challenge had an opportunity to enter a day in the life of a pregnant teen, Felicia Ruff, senior. Here are just some of the struggles a young and expecting mother can face while still in high school: TC: What was your first reaction? FR: I cried because, you know, it’s a big thing in life. I thought of a lot of things, like what I am going to do and how I am going to do it. TC: How did you tell your family? FR: I actually told my sister, and she told my mom that I needed to talk to her and my mom pretty much knew what was going on anyway. TC: What was her reaction? FR: Disappointed. Really disappointed. She cried,
Kevin Kallet, sophomore
staff writers
Tiler Ross Pitts, freshman
by d. soal and c. pignato
but not in front know she did. B TC: What set in? FR: Actuall once I start gett I have to be ha mistakes I have TC: What c FR: I don’t I pretty much and then I’m in choice. TC: Are yo FR: Yeah. TC: What a
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Pledges to remain abstinent prevail by kalee morris head page designer
Teens face extreme choices every day. One of the more high-pressure decisions is whether to have sex or abstain. “I watched a lot of my friends’ relationships crash and burn after reaching that point in their relationship, and I knew I never wanted to go through that. A lot of them felt used,” said Samie Kastiel Utyro, senior. Although being sexually active is deemed normal by the media, some students believe it to be special and worth waiting for. “Along with my religious beliefs, I just feel that I am respecting myself and my future husband by waiting,” said Jamie Heath, senior. Religion often plays a large role in the choice to remain abstinent. According to Heath, Jesus is her biggest
encouragement to remain abstinent. “I went to catholic school and that was one of the religious teachings that really stuck with me,” Kastiel-Utyro said. Those who make the choice to abstain often face ridicule. “My friends are supportive, despite their own beliefs, but others who don’t really know me generally scoff and say ‘good luck with that!’ sarcastically. I feel bad for those people,” Kastiel-Utyro said. According to Chris Va n d e n b e r g , senior, people are extremely surprised when they find out his choice to abstain until marriage.
“So many people think it’s impossible to avoid sexual acts these days... they think there’s no way out of it, but there is,” said Vandenberg. The choice to abstain is often influenced by the future, and the one that person will be married to. “A l t h o u g h I h av e n’ t maintained a per fectly pure lifestyle, I bel ieve it will still make my future w ife feel important and when that time does come, I believe it will be the best possible feeling anyone could ever have. Spiritually and physically.” Vandenberg said.
Exposure: Sex in the
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Three out of four teens think TV shows and movies make it normal to have sex.
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13-15 year olds say that TV is their major source of sex education U.S. music videos contain more sex per minute than any other country Teens are exposed to 14,000 sexual references on TV per year *information from “The National Institute on Media and Family”
ruggle with teenage pregnancy
ly, I don’t think it has sunk in. I think tting bigger it will sink in. I’m happy, appy because I have to deal with the e made. changes have you made so far? t party. I don’t go out every weekend, go to school, work, do homework, n bed by eight p.m., It’s my personal
ou still with the father?
nk about so they king about becomes they want he time.”
Vanja Stupar, junior
are his feelings and reactions?
FR: He’s a lot happier than I am right now. Obviously he is because he doesn’t have to go through everything that I have to go through, but he’s a great support. TC: What are your plans for the rest of senior year? FR: Finish. I’m taking an extra class, an Odyssey class, so when I have my baby next semester I can stay a couple more hours in the morning. TC: Have you had any unusual cravings? FR: I love Mexican food, but for some reason I can’t stand it now that I’m pregnant. The first two months I couldn’t stand grease or fast food, but once and a while I can. TC: Have you thought about baby names? FR: Yeah, Candice if it’s a girl.
“It could mess up their relationship or people can get addicted to it, and it is the only thing they think about or the only thing they do.”
photo by colleen pignato
Felicia Ruff, senior, talks to The Challenge about her pregnancy.
Luke Atkinson, senior
of me. She cried when I wasn’t around. I But she is trying to be strong for me. are your feelings now that it has
“It can make you take care of yourself more and try to make yourself look good.”