Experts discuss adolescent health at annual event
Experts discuss adolescent health at annual event KVEO-TV
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6th Annual South Texas Adolescent Health Summit
MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) —The 6th Annual South Texas Adolescent Health Summit took place at the McAllen Convention Center on Thursday.
Introduction
This two-day event allows parents, health officials, and teachers to meet with experts about adolescent health. It aims to address important health topics related to mental health and reproductive health, among others. The summit is organized by Healthy Futures of Texas, a non-profit organization.
Focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The South Texas Adolescent Health Summit aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. These goals include:
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Health Topics for Younger Women
One of the summit’s coordinators, Paris Rangel, highlighted that the event focuses on health topics specifically for younger women between the ages of 17 to 24. The topics covered include sexual and reproductive health education, healthcare access, and community resources.
Discussion on Birth Rates in the Rio Grande Valley
Experts at the summit discussed the concerning birth rates in the Rio Grande Valley. Jen Binudo, Senior Director of Research for Healthy Futures of Texas, revealed that the teen birth rate in the Valley is significantly higher than the rate across Texas and more than twice as high as the US teen birth rate. In 2021 alone, there were almost 2000 teen births in the RGV, equating to a baby born to a teen mom once every five hours.
Importance of Parental Engagement
Binudo emphasized the importance of parental engagement in ensuring the health of teenagers. She stated that when parents have conversations with their children about healthy relationships, contraception, and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), it encourages open communication. Despite the potential awkwardness or difficulty of these conversations, they are crucial for the well-being of teenagers.
Role of Sex Education in Schools
Binudo highlighted that sex education in schools plays a vital role in keeping teens healthy. However, due to Texas law, students can only receive sex education in classrooms if they have a signed permission slip. Binudo encouraged parents to advocate for comprehensive sex education in their school districts by reaching out to school board members and school health advisory council members.
Resources for Teen Parents
For parents who are also teen parents and are looking to continue their education, Binudo mentioned the availability of resources such as childcare programs in schools. These resources help ensure that teen parents do not face barriers to graduating and can acquire good job skills to join the workforce.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs | Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development | Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences | Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The article discusses adolescent health, including sexual and reproductive health education, access to healthcare resources, and the importance of parental engagement in teenagers’ health.
SDG 4: Quality Education
The article mentions the need for sex education in schools to keep teens healthy and highlights the requirement for a signed permission slip for students to receive sex education in Texas classrooms.
SDG 5: Gender Equality
The article emphasizes the importance of universal access to sexual and reproductive health, including contraception and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It also mentions the role of parental engagement in discussing healthy relationships and contraception with their children.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
The article highlights the need for sexual and reproductive health education, access to healthcare resources, and the importance of parental engagement in promoting adolescent health.
Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
The article emphasizes the importance of sex education in schools as a step towards keeping teens healthy and mentions the need for sex education to be included in national education policies and curricula.
Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
The article highlights the need for universal access to sexual and reproductive health, including contraception, and mentions the importance of women making their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.
– Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment.
– Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.
These indicators can be used to measure the progress in ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, integrating reproductive health into national strategies and programs, promoting education for sustainable development, and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs | Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development | Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together. Source: valleycentral.com
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