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The facts are that twice as many Black teens have sex than their White counterparts and almost twice as many Black teens have STIs than their White counterparts. More over African American teens make up a harrowing 49 percent of the nation's teenagers living with AIDS.
So, where do these new Pap smear recommendations leave our young girls who likely don't want to tell their parents that they're having sex? If these teens are not going to the doctor, how many of them are living with STIs they don't know about and are having unprotected sex?
Last week CNN published an article that asked, "Will cutting back on teen Pap tests result in more STDs?" Some sexual health practitioners think it will, if sexually active young girls aren't seeing their doctors, they're likely to not be getting the tests, contraceptives and the information that they need to prevent them from contracting STIs.
A recent report from Washington University Law Review revealed that most Black teens do not receive sufficient sexual education beyond abstinence recommendations. Studies have shown that abstinence-only education is faulty and what's more is that African American youth do not feel the same amount of social pressure to remain virgins that teens from other racial groups do. On the contrary, AA teenagers are comfortable with the idea of being sexually active by their early teens, according to the Washington University report. This info may be a bit surprising, but the good news is that Black kids are often more open to talking about sex since they feel less remorse for engaging in sexual activity due to religious and social influences.
This insight, paired with the new Pap test recommendations means as parents and guardians we need to talk to our young girls about their bodies sooner rather than later. If you believe in abstinence, don't hide that option from her in fear that she won't take that route, but combine your abstinence-education with prevention-education and teach her how her sexual organs work, how to protect herself from STIs. Tell her to come to you to discuss her options if she's having sex and do not overreact when she tells you she's sexually active.
Most importantly, tell her she's smart and beautiful early on and very often so she'll love and respect herself enough to think about the consequences of unprotected sex before it's too late.
So, where do these new Pap smear recommendations leave our young girls who likely don't want to tell their parents that they're having sex? If these teens are not going to the doctor, how many of them are living with STIs they don't know about and are having unprotected sex?
Last week CNN published an article that asked, "Will cutting back on teen Pap tests result in more STDs?" Some sexual health practitioners think it will, if sexually active young girls aren't seeing their doctors, they're likely to not be getting the tests, contraceptives and the information that they need to prevent them from contracting STIs.
A recent report from Washington University Law Review revealed that most Black teens do not receive sufficient sexual education beyond abstinence recommendations. Studies have shown that abstinence-only education is faulty and what's more is that African American youth do not feel the same amount of social pressure to remain virgins that teens from other racial groups do. On the contrary, AA teenagers are comfortable with the idea of being sexually active by their early teens, according to the Washington University report. This info may be a bit surprising, but the good news is that Black kids are often more open to talking about sex since they feel less remorse for engaging in sexual activity due to religious and social influences.
This insight, paired with the new Pap test recommendations means as parents and guardians we need to talk to our young girls about their bodies sooner rather than later. If you believe in abstinence, don't hide that option from her in fear that she won't take that route, but combine your abstinence-education with prevention-education and teach her how her sexual organs work, how to protect herself from STIs. Tell her to come to you to discuss her options if she's having sex and do not overreact when she tells you she's sexually active.
Most importantly, tell her she's smart and beautiful early on and very often so she'll love and respect herself enough to think about the consequences of unprotected sex before it's too late.
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