May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, and we at Planned Parenthood of Hawaii are concerned about teen pregnancy in Hawaii and throughout the country.

This year we learned some disheartening information: A report by the Guttmacher Institute found that in 2006 the national teen pregnancy rate increased for the first time in more than a decade, with nearly 750,000 teens becoming pregnant every year.

Hawaii has the 17th highest teen pregnancy rate in the country. About 7 percent of our girls aged 15-19 become pregnant every year. More disconcerting is that the abortion rate among Hawaii's teens is among the highest in the nation, indicating that the large majority of teen pregnancies in Hawaii are unintended.

According to the most recent Hawaii Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Hawaii's high school and middle school students are reporting more risky sexual behavior than they have in the past. The number of teens reporting sexual activity increased over the past two years and is now about 30 percent. Only 47 percent are using condoms.

The message is clear: Hawaii's teens need help to make smarter and safer decisions about sex. That our teenagers do not have the knowledge, skills and health care that they need to prevent unintended pregnancy is a major public health failing.

What can we do to help our teens?

To start, be an “;askable”; parent. Parents and families have the strongest influence on children's lives and are the best people to pass on information and values. Talking to your kids about sex is not easy, but being open and knowledgeable goes a long way.

Second, we must ensure that our teenagers receive medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education that gives them the tools to make responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

Last year, the Hawaii Legislature passed a law that required all state-funded sex education to be comprehensive and medically accurate, including information on contraception and condoms, as well as teaching kids about abstinence.

We must encourage our schools to provide quality and effective sexual health education.

Finally, we must support effective teen pregnancy prevention programs. This session, the Legislature passed a budget that cut off Department of Human Services funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs, some of which actually save our state money.

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, unplanned teen pregnancies cost Hawaii $22 million in 2004. Prevention programs saved the state $21 million that same year. Hawaii cannot afford to lose programs that help teens make responsible choices.

Planned Parenthood of Hawaii serves the sexual and reproductive health needs of the people of Hawaii through its clinical services, education programs and advocacy.

During May, do your part to help prevent unintended teen pregnancy. Talk to your kids about making healthy choices, and if you need help, talk to Planned Parenthood of Hawaii or visit http://www.pphi.org.

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Andrea Anderson is CEO of Planned Parenthood of Hawaii.