Ventura, David John L. Submitted to: Dr.

Wilfredo Quijencio
BSN – 206

Teenage Pregnancy
Description
Teenage pregnancy is described as female adolescents becoming pregnant at
ages between 13 to 19 years old. Teenage pregnancy is considered to be a high-risk
pregnancy because they have an increased risk in developing maternal complications
during pregnancy and delivery as well as risks to the fetus and the neonate. Preterm
delivery, low birth weight and infant mortality are the complications that may be
associated with teenage pregnancy. [ CITATION Mag07 \l 1033 ] . In the Philippines,
according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Commission on Population
stated in the World Population Day forum last July 2019 that around 500 teenage girls
give birth in the country every day whereas there is an increase in premarital sex
engagement. They have estimated that each year, around 196,000 Filipinos ages 15 to
19 years old get pregnant [ CITATION Pau19 \l 1033 ]. This rate is very alarming as the
Commission on Population urges President Rodrigo Duterte to declare teenage
pregnancy as a national emergency [ CITATION Aba19 \l 1033 ].

Risk Factors
Several risk factors that may contribute to teenage pregnancy include individual
risk factors. These individual risk factors may include inadequate knowledge about
sexual health and methods of contraception, negative attitude towards contraception,
drug and alcohol use etc. In addition, social risk factors may also contribute to teenage
pregnancy these may include; peer pressure to engage in sexual activities, early age
dating, sexually active friends, and poor relationship with peers. Family risk factors are
also a major contributor to teenage pregnancy. These may reflect with the child’s
relationship to parents as some pregnant adolescents lack supervision by their parents.
A teen may tend to also rebel if negative family interactions and unresolved significant
conflicts between members of the family persists [ CITATION Mor18 \l 1033 ].

Health Implications
Early pregnancy among teenagers poses health consequences for the mother as
well as the fetus. According to the World Health Organization (2020), these are
considered as pregnancy and childbirth complications and it is one of the leading
causes of mortality among young women aged 15 to 19 years old globally. Furthermore,
different health conditions, or consequences, vary with the age. For young mothers
aged 10-19, there is a higher risk for eclampsia, puerperal endometritis and other
infections. For some who ages 15-19, they underwent unsafe abortions, which
contribute to maternal death, morbidity and severe health problems. Moreover, when
maternal health is affected, fetal health is greatly compromised as well. It is said that
babies, whose mothers are under 20 years of age, have a higher risk for low birth
weight or small for gestational age, preterm delivery and serious and lasting health
conditions.
Aside from the implications affecting the maternal and fetal health, teenage
pregnancy also has its social and economic consequences. These may include stigma,
as people may have negative viewpoint regarding their conditions, rejection, either by
partner or by their parents, and lastly is violence by partners, parents and even friends.
Moreover, teenagers may drop out of school due to their responsibilities, and that would
taint their future education and career opportunities [ CITATION WHO20 \l 1033 ].
Preventing and Reducing Teenage Pregnancy
Necessary actions should be done given the alarming and increasing rate of
teenage pregnancy occurring in different parts of the world. To be able to do such,
people involved should collaborate and contribute an input to help teenagers avoid this
kind of situation. The first person to do an action is the government. As stated above,
this is already a health and societal issue and it needs to be addressed collectively by
the higher authorities. In order for them to address such issue, they can establish
institutions or even small clinics that offers affordable family planning services, create
clinical programs for birth control use and lastly is to emphasize programs in certain
areas where teenage pregnancy rate surges.
The next assigned people for reducing teenage pregnancy are the healthcare
providers; doctors, nurses and the other member of the team. When teenagers visit the
hospital for consultations, it is the main responsibility of the healthcare provider to
educate their patient regarding their condition or even inform them what they are
susceptible with. They should encourage teens to avoid sexual intercourse at such age.
When such act is already being done by teenagers, the healthcare provider should
suggest a safe and effective use of contraceptives. It is better to provide the patients a
choice on what contraceptives they prefer to use, and ensure that they are fully aware
with its purpose, advantages and the disadvantages.
Home education plays a significant role as well, when it comes to expressing
opinions regarding issues of teenage pregnancy. This should be primarily led by the
parents, the authority of the teenagers. It is important to know that such topics of sex,
intercourse and pregnancy are sensitive however, it should not be a taboo and people
can openly speak about it. Parents, or guardians, should encourage their children to not
engage in any sexual activities at a young age. Moreover, they can also openly suggest
using effective birth controls to prevent conception, and on a higher note, to prevent
sexually transmitted diseases.
All these interventions are important and effective when patients are educated
properly. But the patients also need to accommodate such information and imbibe it
with them to hinder any threats to their health. It is essential that they prefer to not have
sex at a young age. Furthermore, it is better when they can confide to their parents
regarding sexual activities and contraceptive use when they are sexually active. To be
more informed, they can consult a healthcare provider who knows better about
preventing pregnancy and reducing its risks [ CITATION CDC15 \l 1033 ].

Being equipped with advancements in terms of technology makes our lives

easier. For such issue of teenage pregnancy, young people should be aware of its
content as there are means to utilize such as their smartphones. They should know its
threats when it comes to their health and be informed on how to prevent it.
References
Abad, M. (2019, December 15). Rappler. Retrieved from Rappler Nation:
https://www.rappler.com/nation/243253-popcom-tells-duterte-declare-teenage-pregnancy-
national-emergency

CDC. (2015). Preventing Teen Pregnancy. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/larc/index.html

Magill, M. K., & Wilcox, R. (2007, 2007). Adolescent Pregnancy and Associated Risks: Not Just a Result of
Maternal Age. Am Fam Physician, 1310-1311. Retrieved from American Family Physician Web
Site.

Morin, A. (2018, October 23). Verywell Family Web Site. Retrieved from Verywell Family Dating and
Sexuality: https://www.verywellfamily.com/teen-pregnancy-risk-factors-2611269

Paunan, J. (2019, September 5). Philippine Information Agency Web Site. Retrieved from Philippine
Information Agency Articles: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1026925

WHO. (2020). Adolescent pregnancy. Retrieved from World Health Organization:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-pregnancy