What Are Teens Telling Us About Sexual Health? Results of the Second Annual Youth Conference of the Pennsylvania Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Abstract

On April 29, 1999 the Pennsylvania Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (PCPTP) held its Second Annual Youth Conference. The Conference, held at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, PA, was designed to listen to teens and gather detailed information from them about their sexual lives and how adults can enhance the sexual health of today's youth. In small discussion groups conducted by trained facilitators, 120 teens from across Pennsylvania shared their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on 9 specific topics related to teen sexuality: talking with parents about sex, communicating in male-female relationships, the decision to abstain, contraceptive decision-making, high-risk sexual behavior, body image, media images of sexuality, sexual orientation, and sexual decision-making. The conference demonstrated that if adults will just listen, teens have much so share about important issues in their lives.