Sex education for teenagers.

1.Should sex education be taught in the nation’s public schools, and if so, what kind of education should be provided? (Abstinence-only? Abstinence-plus?)

With the sexual revolution and the discoveries of new diseases, parents and educators are at ever-increasing odds to what is the best way to educate children about sex. I personally have come across this question twice. One of this question was faced when I was back home (Which is Nepal) and one of which is in the U.S. I managed to come up with two different aspects of self opinion which is- I exclaimed with a genuine gesture as to the belief of not educating children about sex. I was molded by this belief because of the atmosphere I contained in. In a country I belong to, it is unethical to talk about sex with children who are considered to be very innocent and on talking or educating about sex could only influence them into following the path they have never heard of. Similarly, at another instance- with time, I realized my opinion differed from the primary one. I now believe that sex education “is advisable”, advisable, only because it should have an extent of the level of education being given.

With time, the gap in between generations’ is increasing, and the only way to fill in the gaps, in-order to protect and prevent the younger generation, is by understanding the youth mind and helping them think in a way that could prevent and prepare them when taking a step into the unknown. Sex education in public schools would help prevent spreading of diseases and pregnancies. An article from “The Washington post” emphasizes that “the rate of increase in teenage pregnancies has increased sharply in more than half of American states.” With regard to the statistics, there has also been an increase in sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, sex educating children about abstinence and guiding them each step of the way can prevent teenagers from facing such consequences. Although this sounds simple enough, it is rather very difficult to do. There are cases in which parents are hesitant in talking and opening up with their children when it comes to sex. Therefore, the parents should first be encouraged to acknowledge their children up to the extent of sex education they want to give; the issue is the decision between parents and educators on what is the best way.

There are various massages being given to the children who are getting themselves into confusion, for example, “Just Do It”, “Just Say No” and “Just Wear a Condom”. The logo delivered is without proper guidance and clarification. It’s relieving a message to abstain but again says to use a condom. Messages like these have a big impact in the children’s choices, because with out proper guidance and good choices in education, children will make choices of the moment instead of the future.

Thus, Parents and sex educators should teach children about birth control, abstinence, if not- safe sex, because of the opposing morals, psychological and social dilemmas parents and teachers need to decide the best way, “choice differs”

Does encouragement actually help in changing an unhealthy behavior?

How can we encourage adolescents to follow healthy behaviors? Any ideas for parents, healthcare providers, health educators, media, society, etc?

In context to health and healthy behaviors, the cultural, social, physical, emotional and psychological environments are that that shape people and the factors that can facilitate change. There is not just one theory that sums up all the factors in health behavior, but many theories can be used to focus on particular aspects of behavior and to choose the most appropriate method to follow or maintain healthy behaviors.

First of all when talking about behavior in maintaining or formulating a healthy way of living, it can generally be mistaken with an imbalance way of behavioral change. For instance, a case in which a weight gaining person uses a method of harsh behavioral change by constant dieting without a balanced diet and excessive cardiovascular exercise. This scenario is generally applied by maximum number of people (generally, late teens and early twenties), who have less knowledge about the negative consequences during or after the procedure. The solution to this problem would be awareness and educating them by using healthy methods such as exercising 4 times a week for an hour and eating a balanced healthy diet.

Yet! Again, another factor that seems beneficial as well as not beneficial in promoting and encouraging adolescents to maintain a healthy behavior are the media, society and health care providers. Generally when we hear of these three terms we tend to focus on the positive aspects of what they have to say rather than researching and analyzing their attributions and making our own conclusion of what they actually had to say. Below are song examples of the negatively gained information from the factors that could in fact have given a positive outlook.

1. (Media dependency): this usually happens due to the lack of knowledge or advice from peers or family members. An advertisement which forecasts a lady losing 10 pounds of her weight by drinking a formulated drink or by taking 3 capsules per day. Instead of following such advertisements, the media should promote natural healthy methods like, exercising, avoiding smoking; encourage teenagers to participate in healthy activities by establishing programs.

2. Social in-adjustments: A teenage obese girl finds herself out of place amongst her age group members. Therefore there is a tendency for her to be psychologically tormented and as to a result which leads to an unhealthy behavioral attitude. On the contrary what should be done to prevent such consequences is yet again awareness (given by health care providers and parents) to the young group and unaware elderly group that illness or anything related with it can be taken care of by methods of healthy living.

3. Family: It is the main factor that influences a person’s, cultural, social, physical, emotional and psychological behavior. It is on the will of the parents whether they want or don’t want their child to take the path of health. In order for that to happen, parents should create an atmosphere for the adolescent to maintain a healthy way of living. For example: serving a healthy break fast rather than giving money to eat out doors, going for walks with them e.t.c

Behavior' is the general term that covers all the physical acts performed by individuals. Examples of physical acts include, walking, interacting with others, writing, reading and preparing to learn. Behavior includes seeking or not seeking advice for health care and following or not following a prescribed medical regimen. Sometimes in spite of all the facilities given by either the parents or the health providers the process won’t be successful if self will is not involved. If we don’t have the will and the determination for change, nothing can be possible. Therefore, the primary factor (that is “you”), should at first set a determination to act and work with honesty then only can you set a step forward to seek encouragements for others.

Health care - A right or a privilege?

Health care - A right or a privilege?

Sometimes, in our day to day life we realize that the most difficult questions that we find hard to answer, are the questions raised from simple basic things. Basic things like health care.

When we talk about health care, “generally”- the demands range from person to person. There are the figures and theories that emphasize the necessity of ones need to health care and on the other side, there are the self lived tragedies which create the perception of the need of health care based on the experiences one has lived. The topic health care wasn’t heard of before, as it is in the air presently and on dissecting the problem, a lot of reasons came through it. One of which is the declination of the U.S. economy. The economy has in fact, had an adverse effect on the health care system recently, which is why majority of a problem raised are related.

Millions of Americans and over 11 million illegal entrants working in the United States have no form of health care coverage and rarely an ability to pay for services provided to them when they choose to utilize the U.S. health care system. Typically these patients practice poor preventative health and wellness practices and often present with very acute and very serious medical and surgical illnesses. By law hospitals and providers have no right to refuse the non-payer treatment and in turn, billions of health care dollars are "spent" annually on care for which hospitals and providers will never be compensated. Each and every one of us pays directly and indirectly for the billions in uncompensated care. That care is paid for in taxes, in medical costs and other billings.

All people in the US have the right to health care but only one line separates the good from the ugly, which is the quantitative demand it is asked for. The general health are facilities given by the American government and they should be justified with a positive posture because that is every one’s ‘Right’ and on receiving the services with positive attributes makes the health care a ‘privilege’ to receive it.

Health Issues taken into consideration.

What health issues you are most concerned about? Why? Interview 2-3 women (different ages, ethnicities and/or cultures if possible) and ask them the same question. Are your concerns similar or different? Explain

For many years, the U.S. health care system has been the leader of the world. High technological equipment and continuously updated professional skills have supported the U.S. healthcare system to become the best. However, being the most advanced does not mean that it is a perfect system for the whole country. Nurse shortages, lack of universal health care and the extremely high cost of health care services and drug prescriptions are three primary problems that are of the most concerned for our health care system in the next decade.

Although there are many diseases that are being risked by many individuals presently, (many of which can be treated or can be prevented), the diseases and health instabilities I particular focus on are the health issues that are pandemic which is - the emergence of a disease new to a population in a short period of time. Pandemics are generally caused by agents that infect humans, causing serious illness. These agents spread easily and are sustainable among human. Diseases associated with pandemics are tuberculosis, influenza, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-(‘S.A.A.R.S’- which out broke in the 2003), Human immune Virus (HIV) and recently – Swine flu. On researching about various categories related to the causes and the effects of the outbreak of the disease and on contrary the causes was as a result of improper sanitation, close contact with the domestic animals, lack of awareness towards proper health management etc. I am particularly concerned about this issue because of my personal ethnic background as to where I origin from. Asian countries are more susceptible to epidemic diseases than anywhere in the globe. It is from where the unidentified disease is transferred from place to place. Due to the lack of awareness, individuals either die without proper cure or transfer the disease by means via portal of exit from country to country.

Even though my concept of health issues varies from one another, all objectives merge into one, forming a major objective which is to enhance the critical issues related to health. I have various examples to put forward when it comes to talking about the present health issues and I came up with a positive assertion after I asked the same question to various groups of people (educated-uneducated, financially crucial people, single mothers, elderly and teenagers). Turns out that the ideas resemble amongst the elderly and it’s similar with the youngster.

Fadila Orlando, Age (40): A former student of the University of the Philippines, who had completed her studies in Masters in Public Health, had to say that the present health issue which increased the number of many women death population is because of substance abuse. Women are more susceptible to having drug borne diseases than men. “I don’t understand whether it is without awareness or without sane thoughts women intake drugs/alcohol/tobacco during pregnancy”, she implies. Woman should be more thoughtful regarding health maintenance as she will be in charge of a family later.

Lisa Ray, Age (18): A student of Wesleyan high school said that the great issue in health at the moment is teenage pregnancy. “Although this sounds to be very simple and can be taken care of with a very legitimate solution, it is very intense and has many psychological disorders,” – she added. “I had a friend who had been falsely taken out and ended up getting her impregnated in her early teens and without notice from her parents she gave birth prematurely. Cases like these are a lot now days.”

Teen pregnancy is a topic of concern due to the significant impact on the health of the mother, child, and community. The resources available for supporting the needs of teenage mothers are decreasing; resulting in the majority of teenage mothers being caught in the vicious cycle of poverty, school failure, and limited life options (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2000).

Cristina (not willing to disclose her last name) Age (25): A former classmate in Richland Collage (Richardson, TX), had written an essay a semester back. She wrote about her personal psychological distress and the problems she faced since childhood being obese. Although it was genetics that played its part, she emphasized how it was to be in the shoes of an obese and the circumstances she faced in her daily life. Her younger brother being obese too suffered from cardiovascular congestive heart failure at a very young age of 23. With her thought she imposed that the disease of obesity as well as the manifestation of diseases it brings about, are the major issues presently.

As a review through all ideas presented by different individuals, I end up with only one conclusion, “Prevention and Care”. Diseases can be caused without knowledge and it is only our adversity to either eradicate them or to keep building them.

THINK SMART, LIVE HEALTHY.