Test aims to teach teens
of sex risks

The online quiz was developed
for Teen Pregnancy Month

Isle teens are urged to go online and test themselves to see how much they know about sex, contraception and pregnancy.

Parents might even be surprised at some of the answers to questions designed to encourage youths to think about consequences of sex at an early age.

A few tips Tips for parents to help their children avoid teen pregnancy: » Be clear about your own values and attitudes toward sex. » Talk early and often with your children about sex. » Supervise and monitor your children; establish rules, curfews and standards of behavior. » Know your children's friends and their families. » Discourage steady one-on-one dating before age 16. » "Take a strong stand" against your daughter dating a significantly older boy or your son dating a much younger girl. » Guide teenagers toward options for the future more attractive than early pregnancy and parenthood. » Set high expectations for children's school performance, monitor their progress and intervene if things aren't going well. » Know what your kids are reading, watching and listening to on TV, radio, movies, music videos and the Internet because of "wrong messages." » Build a strong, close relationship with your children from an early age. Source: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Additional info For more information about the teen pregnancy prevention quiz, see www.TeenLineHawaii.org or call 973-5974.

"A lot of people thought they'd get 10 out of 10 and they didn't," said Castle High School junior Kealiiokekai Bertelman. "One teacher only got five out of 10."

The Teen Intervention Program at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children developed the test at www.TeenLineHawaii.org for the second year in recognition of May as Teen Pregnancy Month.

About 269 Castle High students took the test earlier this month and lined up for free Jamba Juice, courtesy of the AlohaCare health plan.

The Peer Education Program created displays about sex, pregnancy and contraception for the lunchtime event, spearheaded by Karen Kimura, GRADS (Graduation, Reality, Dual-Role Skills) teacher. Her class is open to pregnant and parenting students and any other student needing support, she said.

Bertelman, in his third year in the Peer Education Program, gives presentations at "feeder schools" to discourage teen sex, alcohol and drug use, and smoking.

He helped to explain displays and present information on contraceptive methods at Castle's recent open house. Only one or two students out of 250 knew how to put condoms on correctly, he said.

Amber Ledesma, 18, said she and her boyfriend, 19, used condoms and "were really shocked" to learn she's pregnant. "We didn't believe the doctor when he told me," she said.

But, she said, they're excited about becoming parents of a son in August. "I'll be out of high school then. It will be easier on me."

Ledesma is a volunteer at the AlohaCare Clinic and Counseling Center and attends Kimura's GRADS class, learning about child development and care of babies.

"My mom said she wished they had this when she was young," she said.

Donna Tsutsumi-Ota, Teen Intervention Program director, localized a national online quiz for statewide use here during last year's Teen Pregnancy Prevention campaign that attracted more than 2,400 teens.

This year, she invited teens to propose questions with answers and the source, and she asked community members, health educators and youths to help her choose the top ones.

AlohaCare provided $20,000 for the project last year and this year.

Teen births in Hawaii fell 35.5 percent between 1991 and 2002, according to a national analysis released in April. Hawaii had the 10th highest rate of decline in the nation.

"Numbers are going down and I credit teens themselves," Tsutsumi-Ota said. "They're smarter and making better choices."

But Dr. Rio Banner, AlohaCare medical director, said Hawaii's figures are still alarming, with 2,372 youths under age 19 becoming pregnant in 2003, an average of six a day.

The AlohaCare funding was used to print 21,000 postcards and fliers encouraging teens to take the online quiz, with prizes awarded to those taking it this month.

The Health and Education departments are assisting with the campaign, which is reaching 46,000 middle and high school students at 40 public schools and community organizations serving teens.