What Is Teenage Pregnancy Causes And Effects

What Can Be Done To Reduce Teenage Pregnancy

The CDC found that only 65 percent of girls and 53 percent of boys had received any type of formal sex education on both abstinence and contraception. Even lower, 44 percent of girls and 27 percent of boys have had a conversation with their parents about sex, abstinence, and birth control. Adolescents and teenagers at the highest risk for unplanned pregnancy should be the target for education and support 13.

Not only should youth be educated on abstinence and contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, but also make the teenager’s life a part of the conversation. Find out what their perception of risky behavior entails and discover new ways to reduce the amount of risk taking activities in regards to substance abuse and sexual behavior.

Life and education goals, healthy and safe relationships, and planning for the future should also be topics addressed in a mature and helpful way. If necessary, seek out community or faith based programs that can help in fostering a nurturing and non-judgmental voice on the subject.

Reducing the first unwanted pregnancy for a teenager is often the focus, but here are teens who have multiple unwanted pregnancies. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that 1 in 6, or 17 percent of births to all 15 to 19 year old girls is a subsequent birth, meaning the teen has already been pregnant at least once 815. Government programs are available for teen moms and dads who are struggling with multiple teen pregnancies.

Cause And Effects Of Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy refers to female adolescents becoming pregnant between the ages of 13-19. These young females have not yet reached adulthood and the causes of teenage pregnancy vary greatly.

Teenage pregnancy may be linked to things such as lack of education and information about reproduction, peer pressure and early engagement of sexual activity . Although some teenage pregnancies are intentional, the majority of them are unintentional and lead to many negative outcomes for the teenage mother, the child as well as other family and peers . Teenage mothers generally do not have the resources to care for a child and often they are not able to sustain healthy habits throughout pregnancy to ensure they produce a healthy baby. These young females often do not complete their education and they begin a perpetual cycle in which their child may further go on to become a teenage parent as well.

Definition

Adolescent pregnancy is defined as females between the ages of 13-15 who engage in sexual activity and become pregnant either intentionally or unintentionally . Many times, these teens are regarded as selfish, apathetic and immoral by the general population regardless of the teens intention of getting pregnant.

Causes

Drugs and Alcohol

Low Socio-economic Status

Peer Pressure and Sexual Abuse

Media Influence

Effects of Teenage Pregnancy

Mothers

Child

Assisting Adolescent Parents and Prevention

Family and Peer Support

Education/Knowledge

Recommendations To Reduce Teenage Pregnancies At The Social Level

Stakeholders recommended parental and community involvement to openly advise their children and not shy away, sensitization of parents to support the girl child, counselling of both parents and learners about effects of early pregnancy and the responsibilities that come with it, community care and responsibility to keep girls in school, and using the law to legally prosecute offenders.

Parents should openly talk to their children and tell them to abstain and inform them of the effects of early pregnancies and pre-marital sex without being shy. How can people just look on proudly saying those are President Musevenis children. Museveni is not the father of those children being born and the earlier our girls and communities wake up to this reality the better. Museveni has many national issues to take care of and so everyone who gives birth should know it is their responsibility not for Museveni. District Administrator 1.

I remember when we were still at school, a child was looked after by the whole community which is not the case today. They worked together to make sure that students keep in school. If this was done as before, the girl child will be kept in school, thereby reducing their chances of getting pregnant while schooling. The boys/men who impregnate our girls should be strongly dealt with legally. Health-related Personnel 2.

Government should broadcast talks and plays about the disadvantages of early pregnancies over the televisions and radios. Teacher 1.

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Family Planning Is A Human Right

We want all girls and women to make their own sexual and reproductive health choices. Not least because its a human right.

• Each year, 16 million girls aged between 15-19 give birth in developing regionsShare:
• Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the biggest cause of death for girls aged 15 to 19 globallyShare:
• Half of pregnancies among girls aged 1519 living in developing regions are unintended.Share:
• Every year, 3.9 million girls aged 15-19 undergo unsafe abortions.Share:
• 3 in 5 maternal deaths occur in conflict, displacement or disaster situations.Share:

Mental Health Conditions In Teen Moms

Teen moms might face a number of mental health conditions related to childbirth and being a new mom. Examples of these conditions include:

• Baby blues: The baby blues are when a woman experiences symptoms for one to two weeks after giving birth. These symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, sadness, overwhelm, difficulty concentrating, trouble eating, and difficulty sleeping.
• Depression: Being a teen mom is a risk factor for depression. If a mom has a baby before 37 weeks or experiences complications, depression risks can increase.
• Postpartum depression: Postpartum depression involves more severe and significant symptoms than baby blues. Teen moms are twice as likely to experience postpartum depression as their adult counterparts. Women sometimes mistake postpartum depression for the baby blues. Baby blues symptoms will go away after a few weeks. Depression symptoms wont.

Additional symptoms of postpartum depression include:

• difficulty bonding with your baby
• overwhelming fatigue

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Role Of Drug And Alcohol Use

Inhibition-reducing drugs and alcohol may possibly encourage unintended sexual activity. If so, it is unknown if the drugs themselves directly influence teenagers to engage in riskier behavior, or whether teenagers who engage in drug use are more likely to engage in sex. Correlation does not imply causation. The drugs with the strongest evidence linking them to teenage pregnancy are alcohol, cannabis, “ecstasy” and other substituted amphetamines. The drugs with the least evidence to support a link to early pregnancy are opioids, such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone, of which a well-known effect is the significant reduction of libido it appears that teenage opioidusers have significantly reduced rates of conception compared to their non-using, and alcohol, “ecstasy”, cannabis, and amphetamine using peers.

Girls who mature early are more likely to engage in sexual intercourse at a younger age, which in turn puts them at greater risk of teenage pregnancy.

The Adverse Effects Of Teen Pregnancy

The high social and economic costs of teen pregnancy and childbearing can have short- and long-term negative consequences for teen parents, their children, and their community. Through recent research, it has been recognized that pregnancy and childbirth have a significant impact on educational outcomes of teen parents.

• By age 22, only around 50 percent of teen mothers have received a high school diploma and only 30 percent have earned a General Education Development certificate, whereas 90 percent of women who did not give birth during adolescence receive a high school diploma.1
• Only about 10 percent of teen mothers complete a two- or four-year college program.2
• Teen fathers have a 25 to 30 percent lower probability of graduating from high school than teenage boys who are not fathers.3

Children who are born to teen mothers also experience a wide range of problems. For example, they are more likely to:

• have a higher risk for low birth weight and infant mortality
• have lower levels of emotional support and cognitive stimulation
• have fewer skills and be less prepared to learn when they enter kindergarten
• have behavioral problems and chronic medical conditions
• rely more heavily on publicly funded health care
• have higher rates of foster care placement
• be incarcerated at some time during adolescence
• have lower school achievement and drop out of high school
• give birth as a teen and
• be unemployed or underemployed as a young adult.4

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Components Of Teen Pregnancy

Many factors contribute to teen pregnancy, with the leading contributing factor being family dynamics. For example, an article published by the journal Families examined 709 families that consisted of at least one teen girl found that when there is a lack of communication in the family or when parents and children do not express their emotions towards each other, it has a negative effect on teenage girls, limiting the awareness about their sexual health and activities that could save them from unexpected teen pregnancy.

Another factor that triggers teenage pregnancy is a sense of low self-esteem among girls . According to an article published by the American Psychological Association, ompared with peers who did not have intercourse, teens whose self-esteem was lower were more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. This means that when people have little regard for themselves or their lives, they are less likely to worry about unexpected outcomes such as pregnancy.

Doe 2

Additionally, there has been a significant rise in young girls who report feeling depressed and suicidal. In 2009 alone, 823 reported cases of suicide were related to pregnancy. This statistic is alarming because it shows that girls are killing themselves at an age when they should be happy and carefree. It also tells us that more effort must be put into helping these young people feel good about themselves instead of ignoring their cries for help or telling them, just dont do it.

Doe 3

Doe 4

The Importance Of Prevention

Teen pregnancy and childbearing are associated with increased social and economic costs through immediate and long-term effects on teen parents and their children.

• Pregnancy and birth are significant contributors to high school dropout rates among girls. Only about 50% of teen mothers receive a high school diploma by 22 years of age, whereas approximately 90% of women who do not give birth during adolescence graduate from high school.10
• The children of teenage mothers are more likely to have lower school achievement and to drop out of high school, have more health problems, be incarcerated at some time during adolescence, give birth as a teenager, and face unemployment as a young adult.11
• On a positive note, between 1991 and 2015, the teen birth rate dropped 64%, which resulted in $4.4 billion in public savings in 2015 alone.12

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Causes And Solutions Of Teen Pregnancy

Posted on December 7, 2011

Do you think that teen pregnancy happens purposely or not meant to happen? Many people think that teens try to get pregnant when that is not always the case. There are many different ways that can cause teen pregnancy. One way, is that schools and parents are lacking to educate their kids and they should try to give out more sources. Another way is that the media influence teens lifestyle they should try posting more positive things for teens to look up to. Last but not least is peer pressure from their friends in which teens should seek out advice to make the right decision. Teen pregnancy can be caused by lack of sex education, the media, and peer pressure.

Teens get influence by many things in society whether it may be good or bad. Parents should help teens on making responsible decisions about sex because it will help teens make wiser choices which may impact their future. Also, teenagers should not let their friends decide on if they should or should not have sex because this may cause an unwanted pregnancy. Teens should not get brainwashed based on what the media is showing. Teen pregnancy is preventable, there are safe ways to have sex without the fears of getting pregnant.

Risk Factors For Teen Pregnancy

• Preventing Teen Pregnancy

Teen pregnancy has declined in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that teen pregnancy is at an historic low in the U.S., but the reason isn’t exactly clear.

Some experts suspect that teens today are delaying or reducing their sexual activity. Others believe that teens are becoming more educated about birth control methods and being more proactive about preventing pregnancy.

That said, teen pregnancy does still happen. Although most parents would like to think their teen would never have unprotected sex, teen pregnancy can happen in any family.

However, there are certain risk factors that make some teens more likely to become pregnant. As a parent, educating yourself about risk factors can help you support your teen and mitigate the risks.

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How Does Plan International Support Girls

We are committed to tackling adolescent pregnancy, especially among younger adolescents who are most at risk and yet often overlooked. We also support girls who have already become mothers.

We call on governments to strengthen national health systems, implement comprehensive education on sexuality and relationships in and out of schools, and provide affordable, safe contraception to tackle the root causes of adolescent pregnancy. We also demand governments do more to support pregnant girls and young mothers to continue and complete their education.

Why Is It Important To Look Into Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy has become a growing concern nowadays and hence it has become imperative to look into the various causes of teenage pregnancy in order to deal with this issue carefully. Teenage pregnancies are widely discouraged because the of health risks they raise for the young mothers and their babies.

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Why Is It A Problem In Our Society

Teen pregnancy is a communal problem, a family problem, and a personal problem all rolled into one. It frequently goes hand in hand with premarital sex. Problems come when the news needs to breach each parents party. A spring of thought flash before ones eyes, and registers only two whether, to back the hell up abort the child or carry on with the pregnancy but sign up for adoption – or get the hell in have the child with all its perks and consequences alike. After which, these impressions simply serve no purpose but to put them off, and deduce to mere nuisance to them when the truth of their situation slowly sinks in. How do they provide for the child if their parents cut them short financially? Will they be able to go to grad school? What will become of their future? What will become of their childs future? By this time, they would have to contend with the pressures of parenthood. Whatll truly bother them in the long run is the reality of whether or not they can fulfill their obligation as parents, and the security of their childs future. Teenage pregnancy is becoming a societal problem that branches out to other problems.

Teenage Pregnancy: Causes Effects And How It Can Be Curbed

What at all is going on among our teenagers? What brings about teenage pregnancy? These are questions Ghanaians and stakeholders ask over and over again.

A teenager is someone from the age of 13 to 19. Teenage pregnancy means a teenager who is pregnant. Specifically in Ghana and as in many other African countries, most teenagers are in school. Naturally, after puberty, girls can become women and be pregnant. But, it is neither safe nor convenient for a schoolgirl to become pregnant. I would like to highlight few of the factors that bring about the menace.

popParental supervision

The first primary cause of this canker is the lack of proper supervision from parents. In some urban areas, parents do not supervise their children. They dont care where they are, where they sleep and what they eat. Parents must provide for their children physically, mentally, financially and spiritually to mould them into individual leaders for the future.

Poverty

The second major cause to this menace is poverty. The high level of poverty in the country, especially in the rural areas, pushes many teenagers into the cities to engage in sex trade. They easily exchange sex for food and other favours. In effect, some of them sleep with multiple partners, thereby risking teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases .

Ignorance

Irresponsible adult behaviour

Social misfits

Preventive measures

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Mitigation Measures For Preventing Teenage Pregnancy:

1. Abstinence

• Self-restraint from sexual activity at early age is the best way to prevent teenage pregnancy.

2. Contraceptives

• Using contraceptive devices or emergency pills during a sexual intercourse helps in preventing teenage pregnancy and early parenthood.

3. Communication

• Active and positive interaction between child-parent regarding sex education or difficulties may prove beneficial to step down the barriers of early pregnancy.

4. Provision sex education in higher secondary schools along with the consequences.

• Targeting messages at teen boys, not just at the girls.
• Increasing the availability of condoms to teens.
• Encourage mentoring by older teens to younger teens regarding teenage pregnancy and consequences.

5. Organizing community-based programs on teenage pregnancy and adverse effects.

6. Schools should provide adolescent-friendly health services along with counseling.

Social And Economic Consequences

Social consequences for unmarried pregnant adolescents may include stigma, rejection or violence by partners, parents and peers. Girls who become pregnant before the age of 18 years are more likely to experience violence within a marriage or partnership.16Adolescent pregnancy and childbearing often leads girls to drop out of school, although efforts are underway is some place to enable them to return to school after child birth, this may well jeopardize girls future education and employment opportunities.19

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