Mother & Baby: The Circle of Life

It is critical to give teenagers access to quality reproductive health care. America’s teen pregnancy rate has been declining steadily, but it is still higher than the rates in Canada or Britain (approximately 275,000 a year) Eighty-seven percent of those teenage births occur among unmarried girls. Not only is this a problem in the Untied States, but it is an even bigger problem in many developing countries. There are currently more than 222 million girls and women who want to delay or avoid pregnancy, but lack of access to quality family planning. And this has devastating implications, particularly for teens. Pregnancy is a leading cause of death for adolescent girls in developing countries. Having knowledge about simple, normal body functions and learning about one’s body in a clear, concise and easily understood manner makes a huge difference in the life of a young lady. I am a physician and Lorna Johnson is a midwife and between the two of us; I hope we can make a difference in the lives of women and children across the world.