What's a pediatrician to do?After reviewing the most up-to-date data on teenage sexual activity, contraceptive use, pregnancy and parenthood, the American Academy of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics ("AAP") is an organization of pediatricians, physicians trained to deal with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. Its motto is: "Dedicated to the Health of All Children. Committee on Adolescence has outlined ways in which pediatricians can address their patients' emerging sexual and reproductive health needs. (1) These include encouraging young people to postpone sexual initiation; offering confidential, developmentally appropriate services; and ensuring that teenagers know about contraception and know where to obtain birth control methods. The committee also encourages pediatricians to participate in programs geared toward preventing early sexual activity or teenage pregnancy teenage pregnancy Adolescent pregnancy, teen pregnancy Social medicine Pregnancy by a ♀, age 13 to 19; TP is usually understood to occur in a ♀ who has not completed her core education–secondary school, has few or no marketable skills, is , and to be aware of all available options and resources that young people may need to draw on for comprehensive medical and psychosocial support psychosocial support A nontherapeutic intervention that helps a person cope with stressors at home or at work. See Companionship, Most significant other. . According to the committee, the pediatrician's role also extends to providing resources or referrals for services to assist teenage parents with arranging child care, obtaining educational and vocational training, and developing parenting skills. (1.) Klein JD and the Committee on Adolescence, Adolescent pregnancy adolescent pregnancy See Teenage pregnancy. : current trends and issues, Pediatrics, 2005, 116(1):281-286. FYI "For your information." See digispeak. FYI - For Your Information is compiled and written by Dore Hollander, executive editor of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. |
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