In the US, adolescent pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates are declining along with the numbers of adolescents who engage in sexual intercourse before they finish high school. Contraceptive use among adolescents is also rising. The adolescent pregnancy rate remains the highest in the industrialized world, but it is finally heading in the right direction and is at its lowest level in two decades. Responsibility for this favorable turn of events is assigned to a variety of factors including greater emphasis on delaying sexual activity; increasingly conservative attitudes about casual sex and out-of-wedlock births among adolescents; fear of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS; popularity of long-lasting contraceptive methods; more consistent or effective use of contraception; and a strong economy with better job prospects. Others credit adults, parents, teachers, and health professionals. Adolescents themselves also deserve credit and praise for adopting responsible sex behavior. While some argue that adults must continue to provide adolescents with dual messages promoting abstinence and contraceptive usage, educators should also praise adolescents. Educators should also consider accepting a portion of the blame for the persistent homophobia in the US that has led to the brutal murders of young homosexuals. Educators must not shirk from addressing this issue, and if the subject is banned from the classroom, educators must take advantage of whatever opportunities arise in their homes and communities to answer questions and respond appropriately to inappropriate jokes and slurs.
In 1998, 42 health professionals and graduate students from the US traveled to Europe to study successful approaches to adolescent sex behavior adopted by Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The main lesson learned was that the policies of these countries are based on research not ideology and accept adolescent sex behavior as normal and healthy. The countries fund sex education and reproductive health services for adolescents, including contraception and abortion services. Rather than leading to promiscuity, as compared to the US this policy has resulted in a higher average age at first intercourse, fewer sex partners, longer waits between partners, and reduced numbers of abortion. Europeans expressed astonishment that controversies about values in the US are permitted to compromise the health of US adolescents. The governments also support massive social marketing campaigns designed to normalize condom use and reduce incidence of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Thus, instead of presenting absolutely contradictory views about sexuality, the media presents a positive view of sexuality, as long as it is safe. In the US, if efforts are made to involve young people in honest dialogue about sexuality and the difficulties of growing up in such a contradictory society, then they may become sexually healthy adults and provide better guidance to their adolescents about the pleasures and dangers of sex.
