POPLINE Document Number: 286303
Author(s):
Lottes IL
Source citation:
Journal of Sex Research, 2002 Feb;39(1):[13] p..
Abstract:
At least since the early 1980s, health professionals and social scientists in the U.S. have been concerned about high rates of teenage pregnancy, abortion, unplanned pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Major questions have been: Why are these rates in the U.S. so much higher than corresponding rates in other western industrialized countries? Why is the U.S. not a leader in the area of sexual health? Why do less affluent and less technologically advanced countries do a better job in dealing with problems that result from sexual behavior? What distinguishes the approaches and policies of other industrialized countries from those in the U.S.? These questions have concerned researchers and led to projects whose purpose was to compare policies and programs in the U.S. with those in countries with better sexual health indicators. For this discussion, the indicators of most concern involve rates of STDs, teen births, abortion, and unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. In this article I summarize findings of major national and comparative studies that have attempted to understand how the U.S. can better provide for the sexual health of its citizens. I also discuss approaches to sexual health in countries that do substantially better on the aforementioned sexual health indicators than does the U.S. (excerpt)
Keywords:
Developed CountriesIndex page
United States
Summary Report
Comparative Studies
Health Policy
Reproductive Health
Adolescent Pregnancy
Abortion
Contraceptive Usage
Pregnancy, Unplanned
Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention
Sex Education
North America
Americas
Studies
Research Methodology
Policy
Health
Reproductive Behavior
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Planning
Contraception
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Reproductive Tract Infections
Infections
Diseases
Education