The Problem And Its Impact On 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

Teen pregnancy is surprisingly decreasing over the years. According to Farber, “the most recent studies have shown that there has been a decrease in the rate of pregnancies among all teenagers and among sexually active teenagers (16). Although this issue seems is decreasing this is still a problem faced by many teenage girls today. Each year, 7.5 percent of all 15-19 year old women become pregnant (Maynard 1). Not only does this issue affects the pregnant teen but it also affects the economy. Teen pregnancy affects graduation rates. Many teen mothers cite pregnancy as the key reason of them not finishing school. Only 40 percent of teen mothers finish high school (Teen Pregnancy Affects Graduation Rates). The 60 percent of teen mothers

Teenage mothers who did performed poor in academic, at an economic disadvantage, have a history of sexual abused in childhood and were raised by teenage parents were more likely to have a baby at a young age. Different racial and ethnic cultures/perspectives can also affect teen pregnancy. The risk factors do not play equally in every teen pregnancy case.

When we look at influences, it is hard to say what precisely is the main pressure of teen pregnancies in the United States is. Each year, almost 750,000 teenage women, in the United States of America, ages 15 to 19 become pregnant (U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics, 2006). Worldwide, rates of

Teenage birth rates, defined as live births per one thousand 15-19-year-old US females, declined by 10% from 2012 to 2013 from 29.4 to 26.5. In fact, the birth rate has been on a steady decline over the past 20 years, from 61.8 in 1991 to 26.5 in 2013. Teenage pregnancy represents both a health and social inequality in our society. Specifically, teenage childbearing is a public health issue because teenage mothers are more likely to experience negative social outcomes such as dropping out of school. This is a self-reinforcing cycle, as children of teenage mothers face higher chances of poor academic achievement as well as getting pregnant or getting someone else pregnant in their teenage years (CDC). Although the overall rates of teenage pregnancy have dropped, ultimately, the variations in the rates reflect the intersecting disparities regarding race and ethnicity, income inequality, geography, and environmental factors, which in turn affect access to medical care, education, and resources.

Pregnancy is a similar story. Nearly 615,000 teenage women become pregnant on a yearly basis (purple). That is 6% of the teenage population- a record low in 2010. This number was down 51% from 1990’s statistics (purple). This drastic decrease has been a result of more teenagers using contraceptives (purple). Still, this rate is double that of Canada’s and Sweden’s teen pregnancy rates (purple). The states with highest teen pregnancy rates were New Mexico, followed by Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The states with the lowest teen pregnancy rates were New Hampshire, Vermont, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Maine (purple). Most of these pregnancies were that of unwed mothers. Women living in poverty are nearly four times more likely to become pregnant than those in better socioeconomic situations (red). Teen fathers were two times as likely to be black than white.

Throughout the United States, rates of teen pregnancy are significantly high. In 2013, there were 26.5 births for every 1,000 adolescent females ages 15-19, or 273,105 babies born to females in this age group.1 Young, minority women between the ages of 15 and 24 appear to be at greater risk for becoming pregnant. Minority populations are also linked with low socioeconomic status, whether in terms of education or income, or both. Having low income and lower levels of education (the most commonly used measures of SES) were also associated with increased risk for unintended pregnancies, with 62% of pregnancies being unintended among those earning 200% of the FPL.2 In addition, with minority populations growing rapidly, many of these young women and their families live in smaller, more rural areas. According to one study, in rural and small town areas the Hispanic population increased by 1.9 million or 46 percent between 2000 and 2010.3 In rural areas there is often limited access to nearby health care facilities.

How many pregnant teens have there been? Over the years more girls are becoming teen moms. In Oklahoma teen pregnancy has become a problem. Recently Oklahoma has had a pregnancy rate of 47.5% (Tulsa World). Not only is it an issue in Oklahoma but an issue in the United States as a whole. The lack of awareness and how to prevent pregnancy is a reason to blame for the increasing numbers. The more we don’t make people aware of the increasing teen pregnancy rate and how to prevent then the numbers will continue to rise into an astonishing amount. Helping teens know of the different ways to prevent pregnancy can make an enormous difference in teen pregnancy. The issues that have an effect on teen pregnancy rates have been to the use of

Over the past two decades, the rates of teen pregnancy have grown dramatically. According to the Prevention of Teen Pregnancy, approximately every thirty-one seconds ateenager becomes pregnant in the United States. This is unbelievable, however that is the truth that no one can deny. Many people think that teen pregnancy don't effect them unless they get pregnant or one of the family members in teenage get pregnant. However teen pregnancy really affects our communities and country. Approximately, over eighty-five percent of teenage girls who become pregnant every year do not plan their pregnancies and only fifteen percent of pregnancies are prepared. The causes of teen pregnancy is unsafe sex or poor sex education in

Teen pregnancy is the leading cause of girls not graduating high school. The number of teenage pregnancies has dropped in the last few years. Still, the U.S teen pregnancy rate is substantially higher than other countries. Since 2007 the number of teen pregnancies have been on a consistent down slide. Bringing awareness to this situation has been a major part of this change.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the 2011 birth rate for teens was 31.3 births per 1000 women aged 15–19, a record low for the United States. However, there are many ways to reduce the amount of teenage pregnancies (Trudeau). The United States has a problem of teenage pregnancy occurring with the most occurring in the capital Washington D.C. where there are a diverse group of teenagers (Dawani). This shows that our nation has a problem of teenage pregnancy, but the most is in a well civilized area in our nation. Studies have shown that The highest rate of teenage pregnancy in a developed country occurs in the United States with the rate of teenagers being twice as likely to give birth compared to teens in Canada and ten times as likely as teens in Switzerland showing that a diverse population has an effect on social behaviors (Dawani). Our nation needs to find ways to decrease the alarming statistic. Studies have shown there has been a decrease in teenage pregnancies.A recent article has shown the teen pregnancy rate is down nearly 40 percent and the teen birth rate has been cut by one-third since the early 1990s, but the problem is still occurring today (Dawani). Teenage pregnancy in the United States is a problem with many causes such as lack of education from parents and the education system, media influences, and the cost of contraception used and many solutions to stop the epidemic.

Corcoran, Franklin and Bennett (2000) confirm, “being part of a single-parent household seems to act as a risk factor for early pregnancy.” Among singe-parent households, “conflict within the family, stress, and less monitoring and control of children” occurs, which the authors say can increase the risk of teen pregnancy. In addition, “teenagers experiencing family problems might be more at risk for influence by a negative peer group” that could potentially lead to motherhood at an early age. They also claim “support is indicated for parental control over teen activities as a protective factor against teenage pregnancy” that a lot of times isn’t found in single-parent homes.

"Teen pregnancy in the United States: In 2015, a total of 229,715 babies were born to women aged 15-19 years old, for a birth rate of 22.3 per 1,000 women in this age group. This is another record for U.S. teens and a drop of 8% from 2014. Although reasons for the declines are not totally clear, evidence suggests these declines are due to more teens abstaining from sexual activity, and more teens who are sexually active using birth control than in previous years. Still, the U.S. teen pregnancy rate is substantially higher than in other western industrialized nations, and racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in teen birth rates persist (cdc.gov)." As teenagers (in the United States), we are peer pressured or tempted to try new things. Some teens tend to try out drugs, and alcohol. However, some are having unprotected sex in which, is leads to having babies. This is called, teenage pregnancy. This has caused the United States to create records based off of the statistics and facts given from, researchers across the United States. In order to help prevent teenage pregnancy in the United States, teenagers must understand why, having a baby now isn’t such a smart move on their part.

Teen pregnancy is a very controversial social issue and the vast majority of Americans consider the outrageous rate of teen pregnancies a severe issue, certainly a problematic occurrence that is believed to be a moral decline in our country. Teenagers are physiologically capable of reproducing but not emotionally or financially prepared to be parents at such a tender age. Through various research studies a plethora of determinants has pin pointed teens unprecedented pregnancies. One cause of this problem is the apparent indication of social separation or disadvantage. Within this issue you would find poverty, single parent households, educational disadvantages on the parents behalf, a lack family/parental support, and unemployment. A child’s educational performance, inappropriate sexual acts, and inferior apprehensions about their futures play a vital role in teen pregnancies as well. Amongst the listed disadvantages the three that take precedent are lacks of family communication, sexual abuse, and poverty. Furthermore, teen mothers do not fit the ideal ideology of the normative scheduling of motherhood, therefore, ultimately resulting in negative consequences for them and society. What needs to be understood is, as to why the numbers of teens are becoming parents at such a vernal age.

The teen pregnancy rate had decreased by the maximum of about 55 percent. Most teen birth rates had also gone down about 64 percent, but yet teen pregnancies and birth rate for teenagers ages 15-19 in the U.S still remains one of the highest comparable countries. Due to parenthood, most of teen moms drop out of school. More than 50% of teen mothers never graduate to get their diploma. Sexually active teens that don’t use any type of protection has a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year, 84 percent of teen pregnancies are unplanned.