Local residents react to Spears' pregnancy

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Story Published: Dec 19, 2007 at 8:48 PM PDT

By Kim Quintero

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EUGENE - The entertainment world is abuzz today after news that Britney Spears' 16-year-old sister is pregnant. But the news isn't just being discussed on gossip websites. It's also raising some serious questions about teen pregnancy among parents and teens themselves.

One agency says even though Eugene's teen birth rate is the lowest it's been in ten years, the national stats are alarming.

Bidyut Das is picking up her seventh grade son from school. The mom from India relocated to the U.S. and says she's still getting used to some cultural differences.

"We did not have boyfriends and girlfriends until we went to college," said Das.

She says news of teen icon, Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy, was a little hard to swallow. But not shocking.

"And I'm sorry that this happened to Britney's sister, but it happens every day. When I was working in the hostel, I saw all of these 18-year-old's pregnant," said Das.

In fact, sex education advocates agree with Das' statement.

"The truth is, the United States has the highest unattended teen birth and abortion rate in an industrialized world," said Planned Parenthood Vice President of Education, Mary Gossart.

But officials believe there are ways to combat those stats. Planned Parenthood says open communication between parents and kids is key. That's why the Eugene branch published, "There's No Place Like Home For Sex Education." The manual is a tool for parents that helps them explain sex.

"The fact that teenage pregnancy is such a huge issue here is partly due to the fact that it's taboo," said Eugene parent Catrin Rode.

Rode says that "taboo" topic should be discussed more in public education.

Planned Parenthood says schools have been very receptive of integrating sex education into their curriculum.

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