May 5 Marks Ninth Annual Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Hundreds of Thousands of Teens Expected to Participate in Online Challenge about Relationships, Sex, Contraception, and Pregnancy

INDIANAPOLIS--- State health officials say although teen pregnancy rates have declined in Indiana since 1997, the pregnancy rate for Hoosier teens was 51.2 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 in 2006.  According to the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 49.1 percent of high school students reported ever having sexual intercourse.  And, among the students who reported having sexual intercourse in the last three months, only 57.1 percent used a condom.

That's why Hoosier teens are being urged to participate in the ninth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 5, 2010. The purpose of the National Day is to focus the attention of teens on the importance of avoiding too-early pregnancy and parenthood.

On May 5, hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide are expected to take a short, scenario-based, online quiz (available in both English and Spanish) at: www.StayTeen.org.  The online quiz challenges young people to think carefully about what they would do in a number of risky sexual situations.

"Sex has consequences," said Stephanie Woodcox, adolescent health coordinator at the Indiana State Department of Health.   "We hope that by participating in the National Day, teens will be empowered to make healthy choices in their lives, which includes avoiding too-early pregnancy."

The National Campaign is also offering an online game with challenging puzzles testing teens' knowledge about issues related to teen pregnancy.  Teens can add the game their social networking profiles and those who complete the puzzles will be eligible to win prizes.

In addition, The National Campaign is launching a PSA design contest encouraging teens to submit their artwork and ideas about teen pregnancy prevention.  Winning submissions will be distributed nationwide.

The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is sponsored by the nonprofit, nonpartisan, National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and National Day founding partners, TEEN PEOPLE magazine and TeenPeople.com.

Source: Jennifer Dunlap [ISDH]