Blog 2 - Contraceptive Decision Making Based upon Culture, Beliefs and Practices

A culture can be defined as shared attitudes, values, goals and practices and can vary by as large as the country of origin or as specific as to the region, state, or city that you are raised or live in.  Coupled with personal beliefs – either bestowed through family traditions or personal growth and knowledge – outward behavior can manifest a multitude of social thought, attitudes, or viewpoints.  For example, according to state law WAC 180-50-140, my home state of Washington views public school sex education as a necessary contributor to the overall development of a wholesome, healthy personality.  Open access to knowledge assists teens with information to make critical decisions regarding their personal sexual reproductive health and wellness.  As a result, Washington State reports that teenage pregnancy rates have dropped from a rate of 95.4 per thousand in 1980 to 41.8 per thousand in 2010.  The rate of abortions has dropped as well – from 48.3 to 14.9 per thousand.

Texas, on the other hand, has the 3rd highest rate of teen pregnancies at 60.7 per thousand as compared to the national average of 39.1 and an abortion rate of 19.6 per thousand.  The Texas Education Code Section 28.004 (e) requires abstinence as the preferred sexual education teaching method in the public schools – should the school districts chose to teach sexual education at all.  Because teens are not given the appropriate information regarding safe-sex resources, they are engaging in risky sexual behavior without the tools to protect their health and wellness and the knowledge to empower their decision making regarding the appropriate time to start a family based on their personal goals.

It is for regional reasons, as well as personal belief stemmed from education and life experience that I believe sexual reproductive health and wellness is indeed an aspect of one’s overall health and wellness and should be approached openly.  Additionally, contraception, sexual transmitted diseases, and abortions should be approached as public health issues and concerns and not as stemming from religious beliefs – as our constitution protects my right to freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion.  I believe that emphasis should be placed upon preventative measures and family planning to avoid emergency measures.  What is right for one is not right for all and each woman should be empowered with personal choice when it comes to her sexual health and well being.

I'm trying to keep it personal, but for good measure, here are references if anyone is interested in the numbers:


* Guttmacher Institute. (2012). State facts about abortion: texas. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from      http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/sfaa/texas.html
* Kaiser Family Foundation. (2009). Teen birth rate per 1,000 - texas - kaiser state health facts. Retrieved from http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?rgn=45&ind=37&cat=2
* Local School Health Advisory Council And Health Education Instruction. (1995). Texas education code. Title 2 § 28.004 (e). Retrieved from http://law.onecle.com/texas/education/28.004.00.html
* Prejean, J., Song, R., Hernandez, A., Ziebell, R., Green, T., Walker, F., Lin, L. S., et al. (2011). Estimated hiv incidence in the united states, 2006–2009. (V. Lee, Ed.)PLoS ONE, 6(8), e17502. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017502
* Washington State Department of Health. (2010). Washington state law on health and sexuality education. Retrieved from http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/personal/famplan/educators/walaw.aspx
* Washington State Department of Health - Epidemiology, H. S. and P. H. L.-R. S. (2010). Table 3: teenage pregnancy rates by age group, 1980-2009 - washington state dept. of health. Retrieved from http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/chs/chs-data/abortion/htmltables/Intro_tb3.htm