THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 9, 1996 TAG: 9603080004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
According to the Virginia Center for Health Statistics, in 1994, there were 1,114 teenage pregnancies in Virginia Beach out of the 16,811 in the state as a whole. We as a nation have denied our children their childhood because we are still arguing over whose responsibility it is to educate them about birth control and safe-sex practices.
I am a senior nursing student currently enrolled in a course for community health. I found that many teenage women engaged in sex acts that they believe will not get them pregnant. I was surprised to find that nurses employed in the school systems are not at liberty to discuss available community resources on birth control unless a student asks.
Education is the key to prevention. Pamphlets should be available to teenagers at their discretion regarding where to seek information. Providing information does not mean we are promoting sex. We are ignorant to think that we can stop teenagers from having sex just by not addressing this issue.
JENNIFER D. PASCUA
Virginia Beach, Feb. 19, 1996 by CNB