Unwanted and unplanned teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs)Teen pregnancyThe teenage birth rate in the United States has declined by 9% between 2009 and 2010, a historically low level among adolescent girls. all racial and ethnic groups, with the fewest born in 2010; and in 2011, the number of babies born to adolescents aged 15 to 19 was 329,797 (“Birth Rates for US,” 2012). Although the decline in unwanted and unplanned births among adolescents is increasing, the United States remains among the industrialized countries most affected by this problem. This is a prevailing social concern due to the health risks to these young mothers as well as their babies. Adolescents at higher risk of becoming pregnant are raised at or below the poverty line by single parents; living in environments that cause high levels of stress (i.e., divorce, sexual, psychological, and physical abuse); are influenced by peers or family members who are sexually active; and lack parental guidance that would encourage them to be responsible and self-controlled. Compared to women, children aged 20 to 21 born in this age group live in environments that lack stimulation with minimal support; experiencing delays in cognitive development and having academic difficulties; are mistreated; living in poverty and receiving welfare; often become teenage parents themselves; exhibit more behavioral problems and have higher rates of incarceration. Parenting adolescents, especially those aged 15-17, unlike non-parenting adolescents, commonly drop out of high school and experience parenting stress which is a common indicator of maternal depression (Huang, Costeines, Kaufman, & Ayala, 2014) . Teen birth rates are higher among Hispanic and non-Hispanic blacks, with 52% Hispanic adolescents...... middle of paper ......-013-9807-1Kirby, D. ( 2007). Abstinence, sex, and STD/HIV education programs for adolescents: Their impact on sexual behavior, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. Annual Review of Sexual Research, 18(1), 143-177Lewis, K., Lesesne, C, Zanhiser, SC, Wilson, MW, Desiderio, G., Wandersman, A., Green, DA (2012). Develop a prevention synthesis and translation system to promote science-based approaches to the prevention of adolescent pregnancy, HIV and STIs. American Journal of Community Psychology. 50, 553-571. doi 10 1007/s10464-012-9510-1Medoff, M. (2010). The impact of national abortion policies on adolescent pregnancy rates. Social Indicators Research, 9Benson, MJ (2004). After adolescent pregnancy: parents, sexually transmitted diseases, (nd). Retrieved May 11 from http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/stds.html#.U29g8D9OXj0