Unintended Pregnancy

Unintended Pregnancy is generally defined as "pregnancy either unwanted or mistimed at the time of conception."

As this committee began focusing on the health problem of unintended pregnancy, several issues came to the forefront:

• How should the research of pregnancy or births be organized? On women at risk? On males and families? On the issues of infant mortality and children?
• Was this a medical issue or a social issue? How would different groups view this problem? How could a vision for a healthier community be explored best with these diverse groups?
• How could a thorough community discussion of the issues lead to understanding and solutions, rather than trigger the emotional "hot buttons" focused on abortions, teen pregnancy, and welfare moms? Could common ground be found amidst these polarizing issues?

The committee decided to build on the solid work of reputable researchers and organizations, describing this community health problem in the context of broader societal trends and scientific studies. To these national trends would then be added a profile of Mahoning County. A slide presentation was developed to share key issues and statistics with numerous community forums. A diverse group of 150 people representing all aspects of the community were invited to participate. From the ideas and concerns shared in these forums emerged a widespread agreement for more dialogue and focused community strategies on the issues surrounding unintended pregnancy.

The objectives developed for this health problem, as a result, emphasize education and communication as the beginning steps of a very complicated process of social change. This public health problem defies simplistic solutions and ready answers because it is entwined with the most private and complicated of our human beliefs, emotions and relationships, and oftentimes our religious and social upbringing. The committee, however, believes that its recommendations will eventually lead to a reduction in the rate of unintended pregnancy in Mahoning County.

Goals

The committee firmly agreed that the following five nationally recognized goals should be the basis for future public policy development and action strategies:

• Improve knowledge about contraception* and reproductive health. Eliminate the fears and misconceptions that impede the careful, consistent use of contraception.
• Increase access to contraception* methods. Reduce financial and structural barriers that will promote and provide methods of birth control.
• Examine and address the major roles that feelings, attitudes and motivation play in using contraception* and avoiding unintended pregnancy.
• Develop criteria and scrupulously evaluate both public and private programs that deal with unintended pregnancy.
• Stimulate research that will develop new contraceptive methods, answer questions regarding contraceptive services, and understand the causes and effects of unintended pregnancy.

*For purposes of clarification, the committee understands contraception to mean all forms of pregnancy prevention, including abstinence.

Objectives

• Educate the public about the major social and public health burdens.
• Provide factual comprehensive sex education for grades K-12 that is consistent throughout the community.
• Encourage and provide increased opportunities for adult sex education.
• Campaign for and promote responsible sexual images and messages in the media.
• Increase availability of activities that build self-esteem, decision making, and communication skills for healthy relationships, while decreasing the amount of unsupervised time among youth under 18.
• Increase the use of contraception among women and men.
• Reduce the level of sexual activity among women and men under 18.
• Reduce the incidence of pregnancy among women under 18.

Strategies

• Develop parent education programs to enable parents to learn the factual information they need to talk knowledgeably and comfortably with their children at appropriate stages of development.
• Create opportunities for use of available resources and curricula by congregations and other religious institutions.
• Promote a legislative and political strategy that assures adoption of public policy regarding unintended pregnancy and its negative consequences in our community.
• Refine and continue community forum presentations and discussions regarding unintended pregnancy and its impact on community health.
• Create and utilize a survey for Mahoning County citizens eliciting responses about their understanding and comfort in dealing with sexuality.
• Adopt and promote the publications of the "Best Intentions: Executive Summary" and the "Unintended Pregnancy: Prevention Strategies for Local Health Departments" for community distribution.
• Develop a comprehensive program to survey all schools to determine what type of sex education is currently available.
• Survey community students to determine the level of sexual knowledge, behavior, and attitudes held.
• Develop an evaluation model to monitor program effectiveness.
• Create a resource guidebook on what programs are working within our community.
• Develop a community research initiative that would measure key indicators of community health status related to pregnancy.
• Foster research by YSU faculty and students to build a greater understanding of community and university student perceptions and behaviors regarding the issues of unintended pregnancy.

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