Posted on 08/14/2002 5:29:47 PM PDT by ninenot
More than half of Wisconsin teen girls would stop using sexual health care services or delay treatment for sexually transmitted diseases if their parents were told they were attempting to get prescription contraceptives, a new study says.
The findings, published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggest that mandatory parental notification could increase the number of pregnancies and the spread of STDs in a state already plagued by high pregnancy rates among its teens.
"We have confidential services and we need to keep it that way," said Diane Reddy, an associate professor and director of health psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who is lead author of the study. "Requiring parental notification would have a very negative impact here."
Reddy said that many of the girls "are fearful of being physically or emotionally abused by their parents, not being allowed to see their boyfriends, losing privileges and of disappointing their parents," and that although they would stop seeking services, most would continue to have sex.
"We strongly support parental involvement," she said. "But the point is, requiring parental notification won't force girls to talk to their parents."
According to the study, 47% of the teens surveyed statewide said that they would stop using all Planned Parenthood services if their parents were notified. In addition, 7% would delay treatment or testing for HIV or other STDs and 4% would discontinue pregnancy testing. However, although they would stop using sexual health care services, 99% of the girls indicated they would continue to have sex.
Data for the study was collected from 950 sexually active teens who agreed to take the written survey while waiting to be seen at one of 33 Planned Parenthood sites.
A separate sample, obtained from three clinics in Milwaukee, had similar findings.
Planned Parenthood aims "to ensure confidential access to care" for its patients, said Lisa Boyce, vice president of public affairs at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.
But the organization is required to notify authorities in cases of abuse or if a child is mentally ill or young, Boyce said.
"Government should not be a barrier to teens who are trying to act responsibly and seek important medical care," she said.
Mandatory parental notification for teens seeking prescribed birth control pills or other devices is a controversial topic that has been discussed but not enacted in Wisconsin. Legislation also has been introduced in nine other states and Congress.
State Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) co-sponsored the 1999 parental notification bill, which never made it out of committee. He said parents have a right to know if their children are sexually active.
"It says the types of kids who fool around don't tell their parents about it. That's not surprising," he said. "I side with the parents. By requiring parental notification, these clinics have less influence."
But Clare Schuetz, a 17-year-old senior at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee, disagrees.
"Because they're attempting to be sexually active in a safe way, it's a good thing," she said. "Parents should be talking about what they hope and expect from their children, and that way they'll know the choices they (children) make would be similar to their own because they've articulated what they want from them."
Although Wisconsin teen pregnancy rates are below the national average, Milwaukee's rate needs improvement, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Milwaukee has the second-highest rate of teen pregnancy of major cities in the country after Baltimore - and it's been at or near the top of the list for many years. In 1999, 20.3% of babies born in Milwaukee were born to teenagers, according to a report by the Casey Foundation.
In some suburbs, although the count is much lower than in the city, the number of teen births has doubled or nearly tripled in the last decade, according to the state Department of Health and Family Services.
In addition, gonorrhea cases have spiked in Milwaukee, and chlamydia rates in Wisconsin also are among the country's highest.
"Discussion of sexual activity with parents is a very sensitive topic, and talking about contraception is the acknowledgment of future activity," said state Rep. Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee), who also is an obstetrician. "But parents should have regular discussions with their children about their sexual activity and their sexual function."
That way, "it won't be such a shock when they're 16 and it comes up," he said.
State Rep. Carol Owens (R-Oshkosh), another sponsor of the Assembly bill, said children do talk with their parents about sex.
"My problem with Planned Parenthood is they're encouraging young girls to go behind their parents' backs," Owens said.
Wasserman said that if teens are afraid to seek treatment or delay treatment, they could cause permanent damage to their reproductive systems, as well as raise health care costs associated with treatment.
"I would strongly be opposed to mandatory parental notification just because it just doesn't work," he said. "But not only does it not work, it becomes about life and death, especially with HIV out there."
The rules vary by state, and there are exceptions. If a pair of sixteen-year-olds get married (with parental consent, as needed) they are not required to wait until they're 18 before beginning conjugal relations. Even if a state completely forbids marriage of people under 18, it would still have to recognize the marriage of a 16-year-old couple from another state.
I don't think so!!!!!!
What children need is integrity and a belief in God!
For you to suggest that "Well, gee.......if you don't have an open enough relationship with your daughter..." or "If you just be sure to raise her right.." is wholly disingenuous and, frankly, vapid.
Think before you post something like that.
We're talking about someone ripping a fetus from inside your teenaged daughter without you having to even know about it. We're not talking about sneaking into the "wrong kind of movie" at the local cinema multiplex here.
Fercryinoutloud, what's with people these days????????
And not only am a parent (and old enough to be a grandparent), I was around when birth control for married couples was illegal. Yes, I understand you misinterpreting what I say, but my only point is:
if you keep the lines of communication with your children open, there is a very good chance your children will know that you trust them to make the right decisions. And they WON'T be in that position in the first place.
Teach your kids right. Respect them and they will respect you. If you instill them with trust in what you say and a sense that you will love them unconditionally, that equips them with power. The power to SAY NO to the boys, to SAY NO to premarital sex, to say NO to condoms.
I have seen enough in my lifetime to convince me if a child has been brought up to think for themselves with a sense of values, the values you instill in them from a very young age, understanding and trust will flow...both ways.
It is the child who is brought up to only fear their parents or have learned that they cannot talk to the only person in the world they need the most. In a time of trouble, if they believe you would not be there for them, then the problem goes way deeper than a piece of free latex.
This is not an issue about parent / child communication or trust.
This IS about the government openly supporting an organization that violates every possible concept of parental authority. I find it worse than despicable.
I called these droolers once to verify that this, in fact, was their policy. Not only did they confirm that they will provide abortions (and many other "services") to teenaged girls without any parental notification (let alone consent), but this person said it in a haughty, condescending, snotty tone as if to say "....look, you knuckle dragger, we'll do with YOUR daughter whatever WE wish and there's not a damned thing you can do about it....".
They'll get their comeuppance, I'm convinced.
Precisely! Sean Hannity reported this on his radio show yesterday. He did a creditable job setting it as he had prepped for it. However, when the first caller said she favored the ability for her teenage daughter to gain these services without her consent, Hannity basically went into a Ralph Kramden, "Hommina, hommina, hommina..." response and hung up. The never nimble Sean should have responded, "Fine, sign over your parenting duties to Planned Parenthood if you like, but why subject those who disagree with you to the same fate?" as you suggest.
Welcome 'punkit': Abortion Enthusiast!!
"Here are some other facts you may not know about this prominent member of the abortion industry:
• In 2000 PP took in a record $69 million by performing abortions - one-third of their total income.
• For every adoption referral, they aborted 79 babies.
• Since 1995 the number of PP abortions has increased a whopping 41%.
• As of 1977 PP has killed over 3 million unborn babies.
• From 1985 through 2000, PP has received nearly 2.2 billion tax dollars.
• PP president, Gloria Feldt, receives a salary of $324,217 a year."
Why should strangers (typically with a sick any-kind-of-sex anywhere agenda) be involved in those discussions and decisions?Would it be okay for a stranger to get involved if the parents were insisting that the daughter get an abortion? (Just asking.)
No. It's nobody else's business, so long as abortion is legal, except perhaps that of the family's religious counselor (priest or minister, as an example).
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