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Teenage pregnancy AS il ltd an tail iii 34mm WMx twgw mu era Birth control pamphlets are readily available at Barries Birth Control in formation Centre They might be more effective however if they were available at places teenagers frequent such as fast food outlets record stores and jean shops says Judith Widdrington of the centre Examiner Photo New hope for dieters willing to try again By LORI HEN Of The Examiner Overweight people who wamt to learn the art of self control when it comes to eating can do it with the help of new organization in Bar rie Foodaholic Friends is nonprofit organization designed to help those who have tried repeatedly and un successfully to lose weight Formed three weeks ago by Marilyn and Glenn Jarvis who both intend to shed un wanted pounds the group ap peals to people with at least 30 or to pounds to lose Its discouraging to walk into room with large group of people and skinny instructor Mrs Jarvis said referring to the format used by some large weight loss organizations She also wants to get away from the demeaning prac tice of weighing people at the meetings like slabs of meat At the groups first meeting last week there were 10 participants Mrs Jarvis says 10 should be the maximum number per group and if response is large at the next meeting Thursday the group will be leldCd The meeting starts at pm at 43 Charlbrook Ave Barrie Food is not the problem for most overweight people Mrs Jarvis explains Its the lack of selfcontrol The theme of the meetings is learning to eat small por tions and maintain well balanced diet She says the group members discuss various diets but really dont need to be experts in their field Admission to meeting of Foodaholic Friends is $2 to cover the cost of coffee and newsmakers contest Sue Fitzsimmins of Barrie correctly identified last weeks entry In The tea and skinny foods but Mrs Jarvis says fat foods are also put out at the meetings We put out fat foods and tell people to have little but not to lose control she says Mrs Jarvis says the ma jority of overweight people are women between ages and so who after marrige and the birth of children stopped thinking about their personal appearance and allowed themselves to become fat Helping one another in group situation is the main idea behind Foodaholic Friends Mrs Jarvis wants overweight people to turn to each other for encourage ment in the battle to lose weight tell people if you want to put that cream puff in your mouth make sure you call me first she says Newsmakers Contest as mentalist Mike Mandels visit to Barrie North Col legiate and won Big Meal at McDonalds If you know the story behind this weeks entry send your name address telephone number with your entry to Newsmakers Contest The Examiner Box 370 Barrie L4M 4T6 Winners will be notified by mail Winners are selected by random draw of all cor rect answers Examiner Photo Hy NANCY FIGUEROA The Examiner Linda is 16 and like many girls her age she is sexually ac tive She never thought about us ing contraceptives until friend told her about the Birth Control Information Centre on Mary Street in Barrie Its right across from the liquor store her friend told her and Linda had no difficulty finding the centre In many ways Linda is lucky Statistics from study of 1000 teenagers at the Hospital for Sick Children show 53 per cent of pregnant teenagers never practised birth control The same study shows 80 per cent of sexually active teenagers rarely use birth con trol Judith Widdrington Barrie community health nurse and the only employee at the birth control centre said most of the girls who attend the centre hear about it by wordofmouth Mrs Widdrington stresses the centre is an information centre only not clinic We dont dispense contraceptives we dispense information about them she said the pregnant girl l5 or under is most likely to keep her baby In her experience in Simcoe County Mrs Widdrington said it is the pregnant girl 13 or under who is most likely to keep her baby while those 16 and older are more likely to have therapeutic abortions In 1976 Statistics Tanada figures showed that 26768 therapeutic abortions were per formed in Ontario if those 8112 wereto women and girls 15 to 19 years of age if those EH per cent were unmarried Mrs Widdrington referred to an article in the anadian Medical Asstkiation Journal by Dr Martin Wolfish head pediatrician at North York General Hospital and formerly on staff at the Hospital for Sick Children as the explanation why young girls are more likely to keep their babies Ir Wolfish called the trend the unwed mother syn drome He said These girlsin their quest for lover object wish to have baby Figures from Family and hildrens Services of the Coun ty of Simcoc iformcrly Simcoc County hildrcns Aid Society are reflectiveof that trend In 1971 there were Ht unmar ried mother referrals to the ser vices In 1974 there were referrals By 1978 there were only 60 referrals Jean Gradwell president of the services explains these figures saying girls deciding to keep their babies usually do not go to the services Most girls stay at home to have their babies Mrs Widdrington said the trend by young women to keep their babies has led to yet another trend most young pregnant girls decide to stay at home to have their babies she said Attendance at homes for unwed mothers is showing sharp decline Girls just arent going to them guess unmar ried pregnant women are more acceptable now The majority of girls Mrs Widdrington sees at the centre are sexually active before their first visit study from the Teen Tlinic at the Hospital for Sick hildren in Toronto shows 98 per cent of the teenagers at tending are already sexually active As more girls learn about the centre attendance climbs Mrs Widdrington said Girls know they can be sure of con fidentiality here she said request only first names The youngest girl to attend the centre was 14 years old will see anyone regardless of age said Mrs Widdrington ur function is to provide ace cessible birth control informa tion to promote responsible sex ualactivity There are still many myths about pregnancy Mrs Widdrington said there are still many myths about pregnancy Myths such as didnt know it could happen the first time should have been squashed years ago but according to Mrs Widdrington that myth and many others still iound such as Simcoe Countys human relations course better promotion of birth control and more birth control information centres said Mrs Widdrington Teenagers have to become more aware of birth control she said She regularly leaves pamphlets at the hospital and has numerous pamphlets with sign saying Help yourself at the centre Mrs Widdrington said it would be much better however if birth control information could be advertised at places where teenagers frequent fast food outlets record stores and jean shops She said such advertising would probably cause reac tion from many parents If some of those parents ever sat in the position Im in theyd know greater promotion is necessary she said But most parents theyjust dont know Everyone who attends the clinic is given folder with in formation on all types of con traceptives Girls can take this information home read it and then make decision said Mrs Widdrington Fearing lack of confidentiality many refuse to see own doctors She advises all girls to con tact their family physicians Many girls however fearing lack of confidentiality refuse to see their family doctor In that case Mrs Widdrington refers them to other doctors in the county Seeing the family physician is by far the better route though she said As well as encouraging them to see their family doctors Mrs Widdrington discusses with all girls the responsibility of being sexually active dont make any decisions for anyone said Mrs Widdr ington With girls who decide to keep their babies discuss all the alternatives and discuss after care of the child also talk with them about their future and goals Most preg nant girls drop out of school so we discuss returning to school and other alternatives Mrs Widdrington keeps in contact with most girls who keep their babies like to follow up with home visits she said We can discuss pro blems after the child is born All girls who attend the clinic are asked about their menstrual history advised to have pap smears and do self breast examination Mrs Wid drington also discusses venereal disease That goes ha ndinhand she said Three times week Monday and Tuesdays from to 430 pm and Thursdays from 630 to 930 pm the centre is open and Mrs Widdrington is available for confrontation But even when she isnt there she is more than likely discussing birth control with Simcoe Coun ty teenagers The Pill is most effective but the condom is popular ftcn Mrs Widdrington is in vited to speak at schools At all talks she brings her collec tion of contraceptives con doms diaphragms intralt uterine devices oral contracep tivcs and foam Students are very interested in the failure rate of each method she said tell them the pill is the most effective she salt The condom however is popular with young people because they can get it without prescription at any drug store She warns them however that the condom has high failure rates The high failure rates are often due to human error she said Either it isnt put on proper ly or it isnt put on at the right time Also many make the mistake of leaving it in pocket Eventually the rubber wears away When girls ask about con traceptives for men she tells them not to hold their breath think it will be at least 10 years before reliable con traceptive for men is in vented Teenagers have every right to know about all contraceptives Mrs Widdrington said teenagcis have every right to know about all contraceptives In There is one problem though dont know how Id explain my collection to the police if were in an accident she said statistics education is definite ly the answer 1974 She said that from looking at had risen again to 12869 births Myths about pregnancy such as didnt know it could happen the first time still abound among todays teenagers Myths and general ignorance about birth control and pregnancy should be com batted with proper education better promotion of birth control and more information centres and Qgcdeoficig By CAN GARLIC Barrie Horticultural Society Lets call this column Preparing for Spring It sort of makes it seem closer when you are preparing for it If you are planning on getting small fruit plants shrubs or trees get your order in This way you will get the pick The same goes for strawberries have ordered no Ever Bear ing and mo Ited Ioat Get the lawn mower checked over always feel sorry when the people who do this work get them all at once and of course everybody wants it done by the weekend Get your stored bulbs out also your tubers and corms Look them over for rot divide it necessary and dust with sulphur Get your wheelbarrow oiled Maybe decide on garden cart this year All pruning shears should be sharpeiml also saws hoes and shovels If you did this work in the fall you will be ahead of the game but how many do Wash and clean thoroughly all pots and containers you are going to use Make few flats if you have spare time It is also great time to get some stakes made and some name tags use plastic bottles cut in strips for name tags Got in some dormant spray Your horticultural society still has some of this for sale all Iiob Irrock at 7286326 Remember the birds who gave you pleasure this winter Plant some shrubs with berries for them Purple Martins cat 2000 mosquitoes per lay so if you have good open space they would dearly love house They must have some open space to soar and dont like house in the woods Bring your potted bulbs up to light now If you have Geianiuius that you hung up March is the month to get them started again The stalks must be firm and green Tut the old plant right back and let it shoot ip trend of increasedlive births to girls from 15 to 19 years old In one way County is different from other areas of Ontario and Canada Simcoe County not only has teenagers to worry bout but Statistics Canada reported 9653 live births to single women aged 15 to 19 in Canada In 1973 that number had risen to 12497 and in 1976 it Simcoe ountv follows the the examiner Wednesday Feb 28 1979 13 More birth control education best solution local nurse among todays teenagers Ignorance about birth control and pregnancy has to be com batted with proper education also because of the numerous facilities for the mentally retarded has to worry about pregnancies among mentally retarded girls It happens more often than youd ever think said Mrs Widdrington however Simcoe clinics says Judith Widdrington public health nurse and head of the Birth Control information Centre in Barrie The centre on Mary Street is open Mondays and Tuesdays from to 430 pm and Thursdays from 630 to 930 pm Examiner Photo by David Burcsik Preparing for spring makes it seem closer with new growth Growers have decided Geraniums grown from seed are much better than those grown from slips They are more disease resistant and bloom better StNIICIY NEWS Dont miss the open meeting to be held at the llarric city compch on Fcriidale lirivc at it pin lhursday March ltcuny Delloer our city gardener will be speaker and then we will tour the greenhouses The tour to the Toronto Garden lub Show and the Iatio Pool and Garden Show on March it is not filled yet all Hookers Both events should be spring tonic lhc societys incinbcrsi ip drive will commence April to John Smith is chairman lhe iiicmoiial comiuittccs plan was approved by the societys board on Feb 21 Everyone was delighted to hear Wiiitario will contribute to this project aim except for labor District It convention is being held in Huntsville April It Iwo car loads from llarrie will be going Delegates to the DNA convention in Iiine will be Mr and Mrs John Smith Mr and Mrs ltay liisliop and ican Gable if possible The Society is anxious to sell its tickets for the Dr Ray Ives Bursary Fund This bursary helps student in hor ticultiirc student from Angus won it in 1977 and one from Barrie in ltt7tt Ask any director If you have got to leave your housc and plants while you leave on school break rememberJim Driver 7284193 Jun is coordinator for thc societys able It programs He is most enthusiastic so you will likely see gardening programs on ablc it for quite awhile oiiiing up are sterilizing soil tuk ing slips and so on at ltrays Nursery then they move to the Old Sugar Bush for maple syrup time and later pruning hedges shrubs and trees at Instant Shade