A billboard for the North Central Health District family planning campaign is meant to get teens thinking about the consequences of their actions.

The Family Planning program of the North Central Health District recently launched a campaign to address unintended pregnancy.  More specifically, the televised public service announcements and billboards target teen pregnancy.  

The North Central Health District family planning campaign PSA is featured on local broadcast and cable stations, in movie theaters and is available on the district website as well as district and state office YouTube channels. Photo credit: Maryann Bates

The PSA features a teenaged couple who are kissing and considering having sex.  The boys asks, "What's the worst that can happen?"  The screen then splits into two scenes.  The scenes on the left show the girl finding out she's pregnant, fighting with her boyfriend, driving away from the hospital alone, and struggling to finish school while working a menial job.  The scenes on the right show what happens when they choose not engage in unprotected sex.  It shows the couple laughing with friends, getting ready for prom, and later getting engaged.  It ends with the married girl happily announcing she's pregnant.  The PSA ends with this statement, "Your future is important.  Plan first."

 "The purpose of the family planning PSA is to remind anyone who watches it that all decisions have consequences," said Debbie Liby, nursing & clinical director for the district. "Decisions about one's sexual health need careful consideration and we know that often young people don't put enough thought  into whether or not they are ready for sex."

District officials are excited about the buzz that the ad has created around the community.  The PSA has been featured in news stories on Georgia Public Radio, the CBS affiliate WMAZ and the Fox affiliate WXGA.  In addition, the PSA has been shown to thousands of teens during various health forums throughout the district.  

The 30 second version of the PSA is featured on local broadcast and cable stations while the 60 second version will be shown in movie theaters and is available on the district website as well as district and state office YouTube channels.  A billboard has also been developed to be placed around high schools throughout the Macon district.

Edye Tillman-Johnson, women's health coordinator, says that she is pleased because she feels that teens can relate to the PSA.  "It's almost as if the PSA is telling a true story," said Tillman-Johnson. "Teens can clearly see the outcome of making an irresponsible choice and at the same time, see the rewards of being responsible."

Jennifer Jones, Public Information Officer who helped to create the PSA, said, "The PSA was never intended to be the magic answer to end unintended pregnancy.  We are not foolish enough to think that teens who watch the ad will automatically stop having unprotected sex.  The goal of the PSA is to make the viewer think about the consequences of their actions and start a community discussion.  We want the PSA to be a conversation starter for parents, schools, community groups, and even churches to discuss what can be a difficult topic."

The district hopes that these conversations will ultimately lower some pretty dramatic statistics.  While the district-wide teen pregnancy rate is very similar to the state average, some of the counties in the North Central Health District are among the highest in the state.  The rates for sexually transmitted diseases within the NCHD are well over the state and national averages.  

"While the PSA doesn't represent every teen mother's situation, we hope that the ad will be enough to make young people stop and think about what could happen if they make the choice to have unprotected sex," said David Harvey, M.D., district health director for North Central Health District. "Our other hope is that the PSA will lead to further community discussion and collaborations and ultimately, we'll see our pregnancy and STD rates drop."

The public service announcement can be viewed on the North Central Health District's website, or their YouTube channel.

-Story by Jennifer C. Jones, Public Information Officer, North Central Health District, District 5-2