European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 30, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Study Calls for sex education contraceptives to counter teen age pregnancies  control device Are wham with someone miss Youa  that Youw i Ejov counsel teenagers by Warren e. Leary associated press Een age sex which results in a million pregnancies a year must be countered Wilh aggressive sex education programs and diligent Contra Ceplice use to reduce births and abortions among Tho nation s youth said a study released Early this month. An expert panel assembled by Tho National research Council lol loping a two year study of teen age pregnancy said Tho highest priority must be Given to pregnancy prevention including widespread distribution of birth control devices to youths. There is Little evidence that existing Elloris to discourage teen agers irom engaging in sex Are Elf Clive and no convincing data that the availability of contraceptive services encourages Early sex the panel said. The panel believes that Tho major strategy Lor reducing Early unintended pregnancy Musl be the encouragement of Dit genl contraceptive use by All sexually Active teen agers concluded the 337-Page report. Accordingly the panel said birth control pills Are the Best contraceptives Lor Young women and should be encouraged or the sexually Active. It also endorsed Iha widespread distribution of condoms at Low Cost where teen Aga boys congregate. The study sold about 1 million lean age american girls become pregnant each Yea with 470,000 giving birth and 100,000 obtaining abortions. About half the mothers Are younger than 18 years of age. This teen pregnancy rate is higher in the United states than in other industrialized countries. Even though the Ages of starting sex and Levels of sexual activity Are comparable the report said priority must be Given to stopping these pregnancies through sex education and contraception followed by programs to encourage youths to delay sexual initiation and assume More responsibility Lor their actions the report said. Although prevention through abstinence or contraception is far preferable to unintended pregnancy the Legal options of abortion or adoption should be available to a Young woman unable or unwilling to Bear a child. The report said. There is no scientific basis Lor restricting the availability of abortions to teen agers said the panel adding that minor adolescents should be encouraged but not required to involve their parents and partners in the decision making process the panel also said society must avoid Iro Aling Loen pregnancy As a problem solely of girls the attitudes Solival ions and behaviour of boys Are Centrallo the problem and must gel More attention in said. Tho slurry. Supported by live major philanthropic foundations was conduct cd by a 15-member panel of doctors social scientists and Public health experts chaired by or Daniel d. Federman of Harvard medical school contraception among teen age girls rough estimate of population Atac atfpln1m2 aia All adolescent gifts Ages to to 9.77 million Roma do not idd up due to gip in it it Iceo to tent graphic Seine Nimni a much con the National research Council is the research Arm of the National Academy of sciences an Independent Leder Alfy chartered study organization which investigates technical issues Lor the Federal government and others the report Nolod Hal the problem of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing is a controversial matter of National concern that slips so Many deep seated emotions and  Many of the recommendations of the panel based on new analyses of existing data and information gathered irom workshops and meetings with those concerned Wilh the problem previously have been hotly debated. The panel said the problem is so Large and the reasons behind teen age sexuality so diverse that no single approach can serve it. Different programs supported by government business religious groups foundations and others Are required it said. The report said it is mainly the responsibility of families to teach human values and appropriate behaviour to children. Bui it said private and Public institutions including government should supplement his Rols. During the past two decades there has been no coherent . Policy toward adolescent pregnancy and childbearing despite explicit recognition on the Par Al Many that government involvement is needed and appropriate the study said. Noting that the problem is not unique to any economic or ethnic group the panel said it exacts a High economic Cost from society. For example Federal assistance such As Aid to families with dependent children and food Stamps to families begun by birth to a teen Mother totalled $17 billion in 1935. In said. The Young mothers often become High school dropouts and Are More Likely to face chronic unemployment inadequate income later unintended pregnancies and dependence on Public assistance the report said. To help ease these problems the report suggested programs to help teen age parents Complete their educations get Job training and learn How to be Good parents. To make teen lathers More aware of their responsibilities for child support experimental programs should be tried to link enforcing child support to Job training and work opportunities the report said. Page 16 the stars and stfi1pes tuesday december 30.1986