KEY POINTS:
I suspect my point of view on abortion may be significantly different from Laurie Guy's in the Herald. However, there is a crossover in that I agree with him that abortions are at an unacceptable level.
The trauma is not only to the emerging life but also to the fully formed and existent one. Few people could survive the experience of termination with complete equanimity.
I belong to the organisation Cafe for Youth Health in Taupo, albeit in a voluntary and fairly new role. Among other work, the organisation seeks to provide clinical services and, most importantly, sexual health information to our young people here in Taupo. From my vantage point of being new to the health sector yet deeply interested in its outcomes, I would like to supplement Mr Guy's article with some questions of my own:
1. Why is New Zealand society still excessively squeamish about sex education?
2. Why do we attempt to educate our young people some time after puberty? If the average age for menstruation starting is just under 12 years, why do we leave sex education until college? Surely this education should be taking place at intermediate age.
3. Is there really still debate about the benefits of education in bringing down the high rate of terminations? Experiences in the United States, where abstinence programmes are increasing teen pregnancy rates, show the futility of simply telling teenagers not to have sex.
It is hard for every parent to consider their children becoming young adults and their transition through puberty with all the questions that brings about the right age to be sexually active.
It is inappropriate for the state or any health organisation to make pronouncements on this (other than the minimum age requirement to provide a statutory protection) but there is a role for the state to ensure that every child receives unbiased, fact-based information.
We should be providing information covering such topics as contraceptive options, how sexually transmitted diseases spread and how to be responsible about your own body and mind and those of your lover as a matter of course at the right age and not be tempted to fudge the issues. It would be fantastic if this information could also be encapsulated within a larger framework of health services for this age group.
Often teen pregnancies are surrounded by myriad other health and social issues, such as drugs and alcohol, mental health and access to education.
Funding which addressed these connected elements would help the organisations to liaise more successfully to provide a basket of care and education.
It is not that hard, really, to make a difference. It requires a dedication to education and openness, some sensible funding allowing agencies to work together and not have to compete for health money and the will of all of us to let education occur. I am often advised by more experienced and knowledgeable people that the major issue is a disinclination for this to be discussed in schools for fear of upsetting the parents. I agree with Mr Guy. We should be talking about this.
* Susannah de Bievre is on the committee of Cafe for Youth Health in a voluntary capacity. This organisation provides health services to young people and is involved with health promotion.
