Parisian teens handed ‘contraception chequebooks’

As of Tuesday, some 160,000 Parisian adolescents can receive a “contraception chequebook” at school, which will entitle them to free contraception without having to involve their parents.

By Sophie PILGRIM (text)

The “contraception pass”, which the local authorities describe as a “chequebook”, was launched across the Paris region Tuesday. The pass will allow students aged between 15 and 18 to access free contraception anonymously, without having to visit a family planning centre or see their family doctor.

At a school specialising in beauty and fashion in the east of Paris, where over two thirds of the students are girls, the news was warmly welcomed. “It’s great!” shouted Morgane, 18, as she was applying eye shadow to a fellow student. “It will motivate people to use contraception earlier”.

The programme, originally conceived by socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, has already been launched in the western Poitou-Charentes region, where she is the leader of the regional council. There, the passes are distributed by a family doctor or family planning practitioner, but in Paris, they’ll be handed out by the school nurse.

“In a system where young people have to go through their parents to access healthcare, the right to acquire contraception and decide on abortion autonomously is not being provided for”, a leaflet on the project explained.

Coupons for condoms

Along with the pass, the local authorities want to boost sexual health and pregnancy awareness among teenagers in the Paris region. Over 20,000 abortions are carried out each year in France – around the same number as in the late 1970s. A quarter of those take place in and around Paris and 5.7% of the women concerned are under the age of 18.

“I think fewer people will get pregnant if free contraception is available at school”, says Leticia, 17, a communications student. “Students form a bond with the school nurse, so they’re more comfortable asking her [for contraception], instead of going to some woman in a clinic they don’t know”.

The chequebooks comprise a selection of coupons: two for check-ups with a sexual health practitioner, two for a chosen type of contraception, and one for tests for sexually transmitted infections.

Parental guidance

“With this system, we’re not forced to tell our parents”, says Tina, 17. “Of course it’s better to talk to your parents about it, but for those who can’t, there’s a way around.”

Until now, the girls at this college have been travelling 10 kilometres to get free contraception. “We don’t always have much money, and the family planning centre is ages away”, says Morgane. "We’re always at school, so it’s far more accessible”.

When one of her friends, who preferred not to be named, voiced concerns that accessible contraception would make it easier to have sex, Morgane rolled her eyes. “Just because you can get contraception at school doesn’t mean you’re forced to start having sex”, she said.

Boys at the school were less willing to discuss the issue, refusing to “talk about that” with a journalist.

France's right-wing ruling party has also shied away from the issue. Just last year, Education Minister Luc Chatel tried to stifle the same project in Poitou-Charentes by banning schools (rather than doctors) from distributing the chequebooks.

But apparently Chatel has since made a U-turn. On Tuesday, he participated in the scheme’s launch event, and described the project as “educational for both boys and girls”.

Royal, who was applauded for her “inspiring spirit” at the launch, has expressed hope that the programme will be expanded to other regions across France.

The scheme was launched at the Elisa Lemonnier college in east Paris on Tuesday 26, and is available to some 82,000 boys and 77,000 girls across the Paris region. Photo credit: Sophie Pilgrim/ FRANCE 24.

The project was designed with girls and boys of 17 in mind - the average age French people become sexually active. Photo credit: Sophie Pilgrim/ FRANCE 24.

The number of abortions among girls under 18 continues to climb in France, from 10,722 in 2002 to 13,230 in 2006, and thought to be at around 15,000 currently. Photo credit: Sophie Pilgrim/ FRANCE 24.com.

"At college we’re mature enough to decide for ourselves about contraception." Two students at Elisa Lemmonier train to become beauty and make-up artists. Photo credit: Sophie Pilgrim/ FRANCE 24.

One in two French people say that there is not enough information on abortion, according to a study released by OpinionWay on 7 March this year. Photo credit: Sophie Pilgrim/ FRANCE 24.

Date created : 26/04/2011

Comments (6)

Abortion

by Anonyme (not verified) - 02/09/2011 - 06:37

I see an unborn child as a potential human life, and for this reason oppose abortion. Giving the child up for adoption is a better alternative in the case of unwanted pregnancy. Of course the preferable thing is not to get pregnant in the first place.

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Great News-now if we could

by Anonyme (not verified) - 28/05/2011 - 00:04

Great News-now if we could sell the one child per family idea we might get the population under control.

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laws and ethics assignment

by Anonyme (not verified) - 02/05/2011 - 22:26

laws and ethics assignment

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contraception

by kate middleton (not verified) - 28/04/2011 - 13:36

France doing some good things afterall. It will help teens not ruin their lives having children too young. Abortion is a right, enabling better access to contraception is a duty

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Contraceptives provided at school

by Anonyme (not verified) - 27/04/2011 - 18:56

Great article. This is a really good idea. It will help to prevent teen pregnancies. Hopefully the students will still talk to their parents about what they are doing.