List and explain John Conger's four recommendations for reducing the high rate of adolescent pregnancy.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Conger's four recommendations for reducing the high rate of adolescent pregnancy are: sex education and family planning; access to contraceptive methods; the life options approach; and broad community involvement and support. Age-appropriate family-life education benefits adolescents. There are a number of programs that attempt to show adolescents the reality of life with an infant. In addition to family-life and sex education, adolescents need access to contraceptive methods. These needs can often be met through adolescent clinics. However, access to birth-control methods is only part of the equation. Adolescents must be motivated to reduce their risk of pregnancy. They need to see a future that includes the opportunity to become self-sufficient, successful adults. Adolescents need resources to improve their academic skills, career related skills, job opportunities, life-planning consultations, and mental-health services. Finally, we need broad community involvement and support. For example, outreach programs that focus on helping teens to stay busy and productive in their communities have been shown to be a factor in decreasing teen pregnancy.