HEALTHIER YOU: Making and keeping healthy resolutions for the new year

BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES, OB/GYN

DR. ANNETTE MAYE

There is a definite link between unhealthy teen relationships and domestic violence. We need to break that cycle: this February, let’s commit to helping our young people understand their worth — and modeling behaviors that will help them better prepare to establish healthy relationships.

Unwanted pregnancies among young African-Americans remain at a higher-than-average rate; but young people who proactively build healthy relationships will develop value systems that give them tools for prevention.

The focus on healthy relationships reflects a recent shift in public health strategy — from an emphasis on disease prevention to one of health promotion. Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control calls for approaches that foster respectful, non-violent relationships — as well as other characteristics that constitute a healthy relationship, such as trust. A healthy relationship approach to violence prevention also allows for the array of risk factors associated with dating violence to be considered. For example: a healthy relationship is not only free from violence, but also from substance abuse and sexual risk taking.

The bottom line: communication is the key to opening doors for your child to talk to you about relationships and the consequences of negative behaviors.

Communication and education assistance for teen girls is available at the Las Vegas All Women’s Care Offices: 700 Shadow Lane No. 165 (1st floor) in Las Vegas | (702) 522-9640.