MALONE — Franklin County Public Health professionals are creating a Facebook page to raise awareness about teen pregnancy and condom availability.
The agency will use other social media, as well, to educate sexually active teens and those considering becoming so about unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Part of the message will also include information that abstinence is not the only method of birth control and that there are options.
“By preventing teen pregnancy, we can increase tax revenue over a generation,” Erin Streiff of the County Public Health Office said during a recent presentation to the County Legislature with Public Health Director Katie Strack and Patti McGillicuddy.
ABOVE STATE AVERAGE
The State Health Department found that 36.3 percent of live births in Franklin County in 2012 were from unintended pregnancies, compared to 32.2 percent in Essex County and 26.4 percent in Clinton County.
The state average was 26 percent, but the goal of the State Department of Health for 2014 is a statewide average of 23.8 percent.
Officials said that reducing unplanned pregnancy in teens will reduce Medicaid cases, school dropout rates among young women, incarceration expenses and transportation costs to counties.
BUSTING MYTHS
Streiff said the Facebook site in development will provide information about sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy-prevention options and delaying the decision to have sexual relations.
It also tries to dispel commonly held beliefs among teens. One example of that is the myth that a young man’s sperm count is reduced the more he drinks Mountain Dew soft drink and therefore he cannot get a young woman pregnant, Streiff said.
“They really believe that?” asked Legislature Chairman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay).
“Oh, yes,” Streiff said.
The Health Department offers free condoms and is also encouraging school districts to consider increasing what they offer for sex-education classes since most teach the subject just two days a year.
“And if you’re absent those two days, you don’t get the education,” Streiff said.
BACKLASH POSSIBLE
Legislature Gordon Crossman (D-Malone) asked if the staff expected “resistance from religious groups.”
Steiff said they anticipate the backlash — including the argument that having condoms available will lead more teens to having intercourse — but the agency still intends to be a resource for those seeking help and information.
“We have to reduce the stigma that goes along with sexual health,” Streiff said.
The teenagers “are having sex, but they’re not talking to their parents about having sex, so the Health Department is the best entity to do it.”
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