Explore the potential impact of beliefs, barriers to sex education in schools and social pressure. Return to Chapter 1 of the McKenzie text to further examine the outlined factors that affect the health of a community and explore these in relation to teenage pregnancy in your community.

For this written assignment you will once again return to a case scenario that is outlined in the McKenzie text. Read Joan’s story on the top of page 165, located in Chapter 7. This deals with community health concerns related to teenage pregnancy, as well as maternal and infant health.

Then consider the following questions in a well developed and supported 3-5 page paper that analyzes these health issues and assesses your own community’s response to them. You may explore community health strategies on a town/city or county level. Be sure to address ALL of the following critical questions and include your own analysis/evaluation of both the problem and your community’s response to it. This should reflect your own critical thoughts about the nature of the problem and needed strategies.

1) Consider the rate of teenage pregnancy in your town or county. Provide the data and discuss what factors contribute to its incidence. Explore the potential impact of beliefs, barriers to sex education in schools and social pressure. Return to Chapter 1 of the McKenzie text to further examine the outlined factors that affect the health of a community and explore these in relation to teenage pregnancy in your community.

2) What programs are present in your community to help prevent teenage pregnancies? To help teenagers such as Joan if they do become pregnant? Explore these in-depth.

3) Is there a gap in the type or scope of these service programs? What are your recommendations to meet this gap? If they are adequate- why? Be sure to support your recommendations with resource information to substantiate them.

4) Consider the impact of teen pregnancy, infant mortality and family planning on the health of both individuals and of the community. How specifically are these related? What have been the effects in your community and how has community health programming in your town or county addressed these?

5) Develop a well-substantiated conclusion as to whether your community’s approach to these issues has been successful and why. If not, why and what can be done about it?