Bolg #5: Contraception

Cultures, beliefs, and practices does influence contraceptive decision making. My family believes in using all resources that are available to prevent pregnancy. My mother put me on birth control pills at the age of 16 even though she was reluctant at first. She thought her permission for pills would be agreeing to me having sex. Once she realized that a teenage daughter on birth control pills is a lot better than a teenage daughter pregnant, she agreed. My family also believes that if a young girl becomes pregnant before she is able to handle life with a child, she should have an abortion. My father even gave my brother a bag of condoms once he found out he was sexually active. If I had become pregnant before I was ready to be a mother, I would've had an abortion and my parents would've wanted me to.
Although I consider myself prochoice, I recognize that people of different backgrounds have opposite views. As I watch the popular television show "18 and Counting," this becomes apparent. This is a family of Protestants who don't believe in contraception or abortion. Their faith says that children are a gift from God and he determines how many children a woman will have. Therefore, this family has 18 children. My heart goes out to any woman who can handle 18 vaginal deliveries. I do see childbirth as a beautiful thing, but I don't believe that people should just keep having children who aren't ready. Therefore, their faith says contraception is a bad thing and mine says its okay.

Samisha

Blog #4: My First Cycle

The day a young girl starts her menstrual cycle is a day to remember. She may experience shame, embarrassment or even confusion. My first day was one that I will never forget. I was warned about what would happen by my older cousins so I wasn't confused. They explained to me that one day I would just start bleeding and I shouldn't be afraid. Thankfully, my cousins informed me on what a cycle was because my mother never talked to me about it. Although it wasn't really a traumatic experience, it was a day that I will never forget.
I was 9 years old and in the 4th grade when I started my cycle. I remember sitting at my desk in the classroom and feeling like I was wet between my legs. I knew I wasn't urinating on myself so I didn't understand why I felt so wet. I raised my hand and asked the teacher to go to the restroom. She gave me a hall pass and allowed me to exit the classroom. When I got up from my seat, I felt a sudden rush of something wet in my pants. I ran to the restroom and found a lot of blood in my underwear and pants. I wasn't scared because I knew exactly what it was. So I went back to the classroom and told the teacher that I started my cycle and she sent me to the nurse's office. The nurse gave me a pad and change of clothes then called my mother. My mother asked me if I was scared and I told her no. She also asked me if I wanted her to pick me up and I told her no. I told her that I was okay and we could talk about it when I got home. When I got home, we talked about what my body was going through and she talked about how proud she was of me for being so brave.
Therefore, I understood what was happening to me because of my cousins. If they hadn't talked to me about menstrual cycles, I probably wouldn't have handled that as well as I did.

Samisha

Encouraging Adolescents to Follow Healthy Behaviors

In my opinion, the way to encourage the younger generations to follow healthy behaviors is to open the lines of communication. Health educators , parents and others have a duty to provide education to adolescents. I had to learn things about life, finances, and my body fro either my friends or the television. Looking back in time, my friends were not the best source if information but I couldn't talk to my parents or any other figures of authority about those subjects. I wanted to talk to my mother and get her advice about sex but I was just told that I would learn about it when I got older. Well, the age never came when we could sit down and I could ask her questions. Children want to know that their parents were once young and uninformed too. I vowed to have more communication with my own children. I want them to feel comfortable coming to me with any questions or concerns about any subject.
In order to open those lines of communication, parents have to talk to their children about their past experiences. Mothers must inform their daughters about the importance of PAP Smears and regular well- woman exams. Fathers must tell their sons about the importance of using condoms to avoid STD's and having annual prostate screeeings once they turn 50. Health educators must tell their patients about eating healthy diets and exercising regularly. We have to also tell them what the consequences are if they do not follow our examples. I once heard that life is the best teacher. Yet, if we can avoid these things happening to young people by telling our stories, then we should not be afraid to tell the world.

Samisha

Healthcare: A Right or Priviledge?

I believe that access to healthcare is both a right and a priviledge. The uninsured do have access to healthcare. They are able to go to a hospital or clinic to receive care at little or no charge. If they were to go into a hospital, they would not be turned away without receiving any care. So healthcare is available to them. On the other hand, the uninsured won't receive the quality of care that the insured will receive. The insured can be seen at a doctor's office with little or no wait without entering a hospital. They can also go to a nicer hospital and be seen by the doctor of their choice whereas the uninsured cannot.
I believe that healthcare should be a right that is given to every American. Yet, the men and women in Washington haven't figured out a way to make that happen yet. So, as of today, the uninsured will receive healthcare but the insured will receive a better quality of care.

Samisha

Health Concerns

My main health concern is breast cancer. Breast cancer is prevalent in my family. My cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 22. She found the lump herself and had it checked out by her doctor immediately. Luckily, she baught the lump at the early stages. Four years later, she had the lump removed and went through chemotherapy. She is doing great now. Other family members have also been diagnosed with breast cancer, such as my grandmother and aunts. it seems that family members are getting cancer at younger ages, so that encourages me to do self breast exams more often. My co- workers have many of the same health concerns as me. Amy, a nurse, had a cousin who died from cervical cancer at the age of 32. Amy is concerned about her own health and the health of her daughter. She is even researching the HPV vaccine for her daughter. A student in the ultrasound program at my hospital is concerned about cancer for her family. In studying cancer and what it does to the body systems, she fears for the health of her family. Another co- worker, Kristan, has a strong family history of heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. She has had two uncles loss their legs due to diabetes and her father had a stroke at the age of 50. She is doing her part to lessen the chances of being affected by these diseases, such as not smoking and eating healthier foods. Although we are four women of different ages and ethnicities, we all have similar health concerns.

Samisha