Surprising Poll Results

A poll conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy examined opinions about faith, morals, and teen pregnancy.

• Thirty-nine percent of adolescents reported that their "morals, values and/or religious beliefs" most affect their decisions about whether to have sex.
   
• Forty-nine percent of teens stated that their parents are the most influential when it comes to decisions about sex. This was the most common response, followed by "friends" (16%) and "the media" (11 percent).
   
• Ninety-two percent of adolescents believed that "morals and values should play a major role in efforts to prevent teen pregnancy" as well.
   
• Seventy-two percent of adolescents stated that "churches and other houses of worship" should be doing more to help prevent teen pregnancy.
   
• According to the Medical Institute for Sexual Health, "The faith community represents a powerful but often under-utilized avenue for impacting adolescent sexual activity."
   
• Additionally, the importance of parental influence is once again a vital key to a young person's decision to abstain from sexual activity. According to Dr. Resnick in an article published in JAMA, September 1997, "If parents don't want their teenagers to have sex, they should make sure their teenagers understand and hear loud and clear that they don't want them to have sex."