Web site tests teen knowledge
Hawaii teens can test their knowledge of sex and teen pregnancy this month by answering questions in privacy at www.teenlinehawaii.org.
A contest was conducted to have teens develop the questions "because teens listen to other teens," said Donna Tsutsumi-Ota, Teen Intervention Program director.
The program created a local campaign to help prevent teen pregnancy in 2004, modeling it after a national campaign with an online quiz.
More than 2,400 teens across the state take the online quiz each year in May, which is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, said Tsutsumi-Ota.
AlohaCare gave the teen program $15,000 to update the quiz "to encourage our teens to think carefully before having sex," she said. "A lot of questions the kids created talk about outcomes of teen pregnancy."
She added, "The situation is getting better. These teens are awesome. They're making good choices and changes. The numbers are going down."
"These teens are awesome. They're making good choices and changes. The numbers are going down."
Donna Tsutsumi-Ota
Teen Intervention Program director
Hawaii teen pregnancies dropped from 2,851 for youths 19 and younger in 1999 to 2,806 in 2000 and 2,223 in 2004, according to the Teen Intervention Program.
Youths under 18 accounted for 1,051 of the teen pregnancies in 1999, 941 in 2000 and 807 in 2004.
"Although teenage pregnancy, abortion and birthrates have declined in the United States, the U.S. continues to have the highest rates in teen pregnancy and births in the Western industrialized world," said Dr. Rio Banner, AlohaCare medical director.
The state Education and Health departments and AlohaCare are helping to get the message to teens about the consequences of teenage pregnancy.
They are trying to reach more than 46,000 intermediate and high school students at 40 public schools and organizations that provide services to teens. The AlohaCare grant was used to print 21,000 postcards and fliers.
The Teen Intervention Program is offering prizes for teens who take the online quiz this month.
The program also held its seventh annual slogan contest, won last year by Campbell High School student Javis Faletagaloa with "Don't Become a Father Before Becoming a Man."
The Teen Intervention Program offers counseling and outpatient clinic visits for youths 18 and younger, their partners and parents. For more information, call 973-5974.