What could be done to help reduce the rate of teen pregnancy?
Sex educators felt that better, earlier, and more relevant sex education coupled with confidential, free access to contraceptives would help reduce teen pregnancy rates. Not surprisingly, sex educators were concerned about the way sex education is being delivered. One respondent noted that, while teens need essential information about reproductive cycles, sex education “is often delivered in a very technical way that doesn’t engage youth to learn and ask questions”. Sex educator respondents were particularly concerned that teens weren’t being taught negotiation skills. They felt that teens needed role plays and practice to learn to say “not now” or “not ready for this” or “not that way”. Further, boys and girls have different desires and need to understand each other’s agendas. Sex educators felt that people delivering curriculum need to loosen up the atmosphere, encourage discussion and straight talk, and provide more factual, explicit information about sex and its consequences. One s
