It's Time To Summarize Teen Pregnancy

Teen pregnancy continues to be a problem in America even though the CDC documents a decrease from 2007-2009 in all racial groups. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). Reducing the number of pregnancies in teens 15-17 is a core indicator identified by Healthy People 2020 to assess the status of adolescent health. Children born to teens are at risk for health concerns from being of low birth weight and having poor prenatal care such as delayed development. (Magness, 2012). Repeat pregnancy, dependence on welfare, and poverty are some of the results of adolescent pregnancy. Teen mothers tend to have health problems such as hypertension, and anemia and are at high risk for early delivery. Magness looks at the issue from the teen’s viewpoint and discusses the idea that some teens become pregnant to provide stability in an otherwise chaotic life and can gain maturity from the experience. Emphasis on continuing their education after delivery can prevent repeat pregnancies. Lack of productive or positive social activities or guidance can leave room for a teen to indulge in risky behavior to occupy their time. Peer pressure and influence from present day norms can cause teenagers to give in to early onset of sexual activity (Kirven, 2014). Finding after school or extracurricular activities can promote a healthier self

Teenage pregnancy and parenthood are often seen as strictly negative and problematic, with the moral panic surrounding them only growing as media and government play a role in perpetuating these ideas of negativity surrounding them. Though it is a contentious issue, what are often ignored are the underlying causes of the social phenomena that are teenage pregnancy and parenthood. The experiences of poverty and social exclusion by many pregnant teens and teen parents have not been proven to be more severe than what these young people were experiencing before, so it brings into question the validity of the moral panic as well as the aims of programs meant to decrease teen pregnancy and parenthood. Looking at teen pregnancy and parenthood, first

Out of the 3,988,076 child births recorded in the United states in 2014 alone, approximately one-sixteenth or 249,078 of those babies belong to females between the ages of 15 to 19 (National Vital Statistics Reports). Although the amount of teenage pregnancies have declined in recent years, concerns involving a young woman’s capability to care for a child at a fragile age remains bold especially with the consistent controversial topics that coincide with teenage pregnancies such as abortion. Teenagers impregnated by accidental or forceful means often turn to the procedure as a safety route out of their current situations. Now that the topic of abortion has made its arguable reappearance into almost all aspects of human development, including

Research has outlined that “teen mothers have lower levels of socioeconomic attainment than their childless peers: they are less likely to complete high school, attend college, or earn a bachelor’s degree, and they tend to earn less and are more likely to experience poverty” (INFORMATION). Another social work perspective focuses on the stress associated with a rapid role transition. “Specifically, an accelerated transition to motherhood may result in adverse psychological effects for the teen”(INFORMATION) Research suggests that some young teens view the role of motherhood as a positive turning point in their lives. That is can be motivating and help to avoid delinquency, return to school, and search for employment. Further Research also has found that some young teen mothers expierence a heightened sense of responsibility and stability. It is suggested these positive expiernece occur most commonly to those teens expiernece issues with schooling, and in a home setting. Research has conistantly explained that maltreatment is a significant risk factor for teen pregnancy among low income youth even after controlling for neighborhood disadvantage, other caregiver risks and indicators of individual emotional and behavioral problems. The most well known health risks that are consistent but not always associated with teen pregnancy and childbearing are low birth weight, preterm birth. However, pregnant teens generally face other challenges that are also known to affect maternal and infant outcomes. These include maternal income, educational attainment, employment prospects, and mental and physical health. Going forward, children of teen mothers may have deficits in cognitive, academic, mental health, and psychosocial domains when compared to children of older mothers. Teens that give birth are likely to face exacerbation of preexisting cumulative psychosocial adversity after the

Teen pregnancy has decreased a total of 8 percent. “ in 2015 a total of 229,715 babies were born to women 15-19”(Reproductive Health:Teen Pregnancy). According to Reproductive Health:Teen Pregnancy the birth of babies dropped from 41 babies to 21 babies, births dropped per 1,000 females aged 15-19 years. Hispanic teens have more than twice the percent of teen pregnancy than white teens, black teens have a twice the percent than all the other races besides hispanic teens

Motherhood is cross-culturally regarded as vitally important. Historically, the concept of motherhood was defined as a woman 's primary “mission, profession, and an inseparable part of her nature,” (Leskosek 2011). In contemporary society, however, negative social and biological consequences are associated with young maternity in developed areas (Kramer et al. 2010). Teenage pregnancy is defined as encompassing all pregnancies between the ages of 10 and 19, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) (Males 1992). According to a 2010 study, teen motherhood is “discouraged, debated as a public health issue and considered a societal problem in developed populations,” (Kramer et al). Despite this, about 750,000 of the 20 million adolescent girls in the United States become pregnant every year (Macionis 2013). Rates of juvenile pregnancy and birth rates are significantly higher in the U.S. than in other Western countries (Basch 2011). Additionally, Dr. Naomi Farber, author of Adolescent Pregnancy: Policy and Prevention Services, asserts that, “Over one-third of all births in the U.S. are outside of marriage, and about 88% of all childbearing teens are unmarried,” (2014). Teen mothers are often subject to extended periods of loneliness, loss of educational and employment opportunities, and lower income than older mothers (Simigiu 2012). Clearly, adolescent pregnancy is a widespread problem in today’s society. Studies have shown that the transition into parental roles and

Teen pregnancy has been a serious social issue for quite a while. Often, a teen pregnancy is detrimental for both the teen and the child involved. Both a teen mother and her child are more susceptible to complications during the pregnancy and birth than and adult mother and her child. Unfortunately, a teen mother and her infant are also less likely to pursue and receive healthcare to alleviate these health risks (Teen Pregnancy). Moreover, “teen pregnancy is often cited as a factor that perpetuates the cycle of poverty, since teen mothers are likely to be poor in the first place, and their children are likely to grow up to be poor” (Teen Pregnancy). While there is no argument that teens should be educated to prevent teen pregnancy, there is a debate on how it should be done. Currently, there are two forms of education focused on reducing teen pregnancies: abstinence-only education and comprehensive sex education with birth control. However, sex education and birth control are clearly the superior option, due to its effectiveness and the futility of abstinence-only education.

Pregnancy and parenthood is a significantly life- altering event that anyone could experience. These two life events inquire not only physical but mental obstacles. What happens when these events occur when your body is not physically developed and your mental maturity is not fully ripened? This happens too often amongst the teen age population. In the United States, teen pregnancies are the highest when compared to other developed countries. Teen births account for 10% of all births in the United States. (NCHS) While the only way to solve this issue is to educate teens on prevention, Hispanics continue to have the highest teen pregnancy rates because lack of financial resources, lack of formal sexual education, and cultural beliefs.

The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually. Family First Aid has stated that “thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20 — about 820,000 a year. Eight in ten of these teen pregnancies are unintended and 79 percent are to unmarried teens.”

Unintentional or unplanned pregnancies are a major health concern associated with increased risks of detrimental behaviors, abortions and negative social and birth outcomes (Feldman, 2012). While the rates of pregnancy and childbirth among adolescents under the age of 20 in the United States have been falling since 1990 it is not expected to disappear entirely and remains a national problem (Moeller, 2007). Pregnancy in adolescence have been associated with a variety of poor maternal and infant outcomes. Health risks to teens and their infants include low birth weight, risk of prematurity, developmental delays, and poor prenatal weight gain. The antenatal and postpartum social risks include depression, substance abuse, homelessness, child maltreatment, reliance on public assistance, lack of education, and domestic abuse (Bensussen-Walls & Saewyc, 2001).

Teenage pregnancy falls under a vulnerable population because it differs from the majority of the population that is generally worked with in the medical-surgery unit. Pregnant teens are cared for in the obstetrics unit but even in that unit they are still considered the vulnerable population because there are many health issues that occur more often in mothers of young age. People who get pregnant at a young age are at risk for health conditions such as placenta previa, pregnancy-induced hypertension, premature delivery, anemia, and toxemia (Adolescent pregnancy, n.d.). Babies born to teenage mothers are at risk for intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity, and intrauterine growth restriction. This population was chosen to gather knowledge about the situations that exist surrounding this vulnerable population. May is national teen pregnancy prevention month.

While many people are inclined to express indifference regarding this concept, teen pregnancy is one of the most controversial topics in the contemporary society. This experience can be devastating for some individuals, as the fact that they are raw makes it difficult for them to effectively deal with the problem. Society becomes more stressing and most teens who become pregnant come to express feelings related to shame and fear. The fact that these individuals are hesitant about letting their parents know that they are pregnant contributes to their problems and finding help sometimes becomes an impossible mission. Lack of life experience materializes into a more severe type of stress, endangering both the mother and the child.

Shadowed by doubt, insecurities, and negative media teenage mothers struggle to find the positive sides to motherhood. Teenage pregnancy can be dificult and life changing, but unlike the renowned negative beliefs all over the world, there are positive sides to teenage pregnancy. Most research that is done on teen pregnancy is based on the hardships and struggles on teen mothers, making it easy to forget the good that can come from teen pregnancy. A teenage mother can create a good life for herself and her children. Teenage mothers are generally healthier, motivated, have lasting bonds with their children, and can accomplish their goals with the support of their community and families.

In 2015, there was a huge problem that broke out all over the united states that over 200,000 girls gave birth between the age of 15-19(CDC). First, there are many problems with this statistic because there are so many girls having their young teen years skipped and jumping right towards parenthood. The big issue seen around the united states is that with these unplanned babies some mothers will drop out of high school. Sadly, this will end of resulting in a huge life change and lead them down a very long road ahead without graduating high school and getting their diploma. Even though, some of the mothers go back to school their lives will never be the same. Also, many understand that the teen moms are the ones being directly affected. However, the indirectly affected are the families of their teenager who was pregnant. This is a very stressful time for the parents and this adds to them getting very angry with their children which may result in them kicking them out or for some help their child raise a baby. It is a very stressful thing and the families start to become overwhelmed with their teenage daughter whose pregnant and few become depressed because they feel that their life raising was a fail.

There is a big problem that is going on in the United States and it is teen pregnancy. The United States have the highest teen birth rates than any other western industrialized nations. Teen pregnancy doesn’t only affect the teen and the baby, it affects everyone around them including their family and the society around them. There are solutions to teen pregnancy that doesn't only include the teen and their family, it includes the community. Teens need to know the risks and consequences of teen pregnancy.