Teenage

Pregnancy

REFLECTION:

Our group learned a lot about teen pregnancy. We learned that teen pregnancy is pregnancy in
females who are under the age of twenty. It is a large problem because it causes overpopulation,
medical risks to the teenage mother as well as the their children, prenatal care, and a decrease in
education for females. We also learned what we can do to prevent teen pregnancy and how we can do
it. We can start television programs, raise money to support pregnant teenagers and buy supplies that
can stop teenagers from being pregnant, start a club that encourages people to stop teen pregnancy,
teach sexual education to teenagers, and have therapists for teenagers who are already pregnant.

NINA'S REFLECTION

Overall, in this project I learn that being a teen mom is a tiring thing. We should not have sex in a early
age, even though babies are cute but like I said before you know if you have his kid he will not care at
all. Then, you will be the only raising this child and how can a kid have a baby? Learning to protect
yourself is really important, you should learn about things before something started to happen and then
everything will be too late to turn back. More than half of all mothers on welfare had their first child as a
teenager. In fact, two-thirds of families begun by a young, unmarried mother are poor. Children who live
apart from their fathers are 5 times more likely to be poor than children with both parents at home. The
daughters of young teen mothers are 3 times more likely to become teen mothers themselves. The sons
of teen mothers are twice as likely to end up in prison. I’m sure no one wants their next generation be
the same as you. Its time to make the world a better place.

We should start producing some films about teen pregnancy. Who wants those entertaining films
anyways and waste a bunch of money on them? If there is films about preventing teen pregnancy then
people will learn how to properly use condoms and be able to know about it. Putting the films on all
those famous TV programs that youth watch will have a better result. Then, there will be a chance of
reducing teen pregnancy each year. Its a fact that the United States has the most birth rate each year
which is a sad thing to say. I’m sure the president would like to solve this embarrassing problem.

Preventing teen pregnancy is a really important thing. We don’t want to have a baby at a young age. A
baby can’t have a baby. If you do, your education will be totally ruined and you life will be too. We
should delay sex if you are at a young age, education is important. You should ask adult about it. There is
no need to be embarrassed about it. Parents need to talk to their children about sex before they reach
puberty. We need to have some type of sex education courses in our school system. Parents need to
give their children positive examples. If you are a pregnant teen, make sure that your boyfriend stays
with you. If you are the father of a baby, don't run away from your responsibility. It is the worse thing
you can do to a mother and a child. Last but not least, if you are an expectant parent, take some
parenting classes.

Teenage pregnancy is a huge problem in the United States. Almost half the federal funds collected for
welfare goes to single, unwed mothers. I think the problem starts at home. If you don't talk to your
children about sex and all of the responsibilities that go with it before children hit puberty, then there's
no way that they are going to know about sexually transmitted diseases or that you can get pregnant the
first time that you have sex. Parents have to set examples for their children to follow. If your mother and
father, for example, were both alcoholics, then you would have to have a lot of will-power to fight falling
into the same web.

EVE'S REFLECTION

As our group was toward finishing, we’ve realized how much we had learned of this. We learned why
teen pregnancy is a situation throughout the United States, as well as how it affects the teens and their
children. We learned how teens could get pressured to doing the things they did which may have led to
many situations in the giving future.This had shown us how badly teen pregnancy could actually be.

We learned a lot more about teen pregnancy than most people know, but it would be important for
them to actually know. These facts could be very important for a teen who had gone through teen
pregnancy or had thought about it. We learned how someone could deal with teen pregnancy and how
it could affect someone's life. For example, how the teen and their child could end up having disabilities
and such. Such as blood loss, headaches, underweight, and having a high chance on getting anemia.

This could help us to not give in to peer pressure and to say no and to live you’re life because being
pregnant at a young age could possibly ruin your life.

We also learned different ways to solve a situation as big as this one. We learned how we could create
clubs,merchandise and short films to convince others to do what is right. There are so many ways on
how we could change others lives. If we do the action plan, we might be able to change lives of many.

WINNIE'S REFLECTION

Our group has learned a lot about teen pregnancy during this project. First, we learned about how
and why it is a problem. Second, we learned about the things that are currently being done to prevent
teen pregnancy. Third, we learned about what we can do ourselves to prevent teenage pregnancy and
how we can put our plan into action. Finally, we learned about the causes of teen pregnancy.

Teenage pregnancy is a very large problem because it leads to many other problems. It can lead to
overpopulation, medical risks to the teenage mother, and a decrease in education for females. Medical
risks for the pregnant teen include having a higher risk of getting high blood pressure than pregnant
women in their twenties or thirties. They also have a higher risk of preeclampsia, a dangerous medical
condition that combines high blood pressure with excess protein in the urine, swelling of a mother's
hands and face, and organ damage. There would be a decrease in education for females because many
pregnant females drop out of school to take care of their child or children.

There are policies today that are helping to prevent teenage pregnancy. Parents should be having
“the talk” with their children, especially if they are females, once they become a teenager. Having “the
talk” with their children would help them understand the difficulties of being a teenager. It would also
get them prepared for their changes. Even teachers are starting to teach their students about their body
and physical and emotional changes.

We came up with many ideas to help prevent teenage pregnancy ourselves. One way is that we
could start making films and television programs. Another way is by raising money to support pregnant
teenagers and buy supplies that could keep teenagers from being pregnant. We could also start a club
that persuades people to go against teenage pregnancy. We can also teach sexual education to
teenagers. Finally, we can get therapists for teenagers who are already pregnant. There are many ways
we can put these plans into action.

There are many causes of teen pregnancy. Some teenagers are seeking attention. Getting pregnant
is their way of getting attention, even if it may ruin their lives. Others are careless and don’t wear
protection during the process of getting pregnant. These are the sorts of reasons that are causing teen
pregnancy to increase.

I learned a lot about teen pregnancy during this project. There are many facts that I have read
about and never even knew. Most importantly, I learned about the hardships of being a teenage
mother. There are so many risks, such as medical risks and a lack of education. Doing this project made
me realize more about life.

FION'S REFLECTION

From this experience, I learned that teenage pregnancy is a humongous issue throughout the
world. Many teenagers go through a hard life. I also learned that it is risky for the baby, as well as the
mother. Many babies may be born partly developed, or have health issues. Some mothers are pressured
to become pregnant at a young age. For example, out of a relationship, some boys just want sex. Girls
may think that having a baby will make them more popular in school. They do not understand that they
will be popular for the wrong reason.

Furthermore, I also learned that girls should prepare themselves for what is to be expected in the
future. Based on research, 33% of pregnant teens are rushed into having babies and are insecure.
Preparation is highly important and should be one of the few thoughts that should enter a teenager’s
mind.
 In addition to health risks and preparation, I have learned from this project that it is important to
make sure you can be able to take care of the baby. Some teenage mothers are kicked out of their
homes, with little money. They cannot fend for themselves and their baby.

Also, teenage mothers hardly receive prenatal care. Prenatal care is a type of care that enables
doctors to treat and prevent potential health issues throughout the various stages of the pregnancy.
This promotes healthier lifestyles that both the mother and the child will benefit from. Without the
proper treatment, the baby is in danger of suffering.

I also learned that about 35% of pregnant teens actually succeed in giving birth. Some teenagers
are too week, and cannot take the pain. Sadly, they will die when giving birth. On the other hand, some
pregnant teens give birth to healthy, fully developed little babies. I did not know this before; this is
indeed interesting and is something every teenager who is considering pregnancy should know.

DAYANARA'S REFLECTION

During working in this project, I learned a lot of facts about Teen Pregnancy. I learned that Teen
Pregnancy are females that get pregnant at a early age, which is under 20 years old. Also I learned that
Teen Pregnancy effecting their educations because they are pregnant. Teenagers should not have sex at
a young age. If a teenager gets pregnant then she would have to take of the baby and plus it would
effect her education and future. The father usually doesn't want to take care of his child. Some fathers
get mad, depressed, tired, and upset if he takes care of his baby.

Teen moms have to spend her life taking care of her child. If she does that, then she won't go and
make her education, won't go to college, won't graduate, and won't have a career she wants. The
population is decreasing because some teenagers die when they give birth to the baby. In addition, teen
moms would have to have a lot of responsibility for taking care of her baby. Teen moms would have to
have classes to learn how to take care of a baby.

To solve this problem teen moms can go to health class. In health teen moms can learn how to take
care of a baby, and tell the teacher how they feel being pregnant at a young age. Some teenagers felt
amused and happy when they got help from the health classes. The teachers would ask the teen moms
how they reacted, what were their thoughts, feelings, and how they acted. Getting help from classes
that can prevent teen pregnancy is a great advice and idea. Without the classes and help, the teen
moms would horrible and they won't know how to take care of their babies, and plus they won't know
how they felt when they got pregnant at a young age.
Factors that Lead to Teen Pregnancy - Factors that Lead to Teen Pregnancy Although the overall rate of
teen pregnancy has been declining, the rates have remained high for teens that are most vulnerable.
The great majority of Americans believe that teen pregnancies are a serious national problem, indeed a
problem that is the major component of what is thought to be national moral decline. However, what
causes these teens to become pregnant at such a young age. A large body of research has i

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Answers

crazygal

crazygal Helping Hand

Teen pregnancy is something that affects over one million young teens in the United States. For some,
these pregnancies are planned but 85% of these teens the pregnancy is unplanned. This can cause a lot
of endless problems in the life of the teen and the newborn child. There are a lot of things that can
cause an unplanned teen pregnancy, such as teens experimenting with sexual encounters at a young
age. Another major cause is the lack of guidance due to guardians that are blind or do not want to
believe in such activities. These causes can have devastating effects on the teen and the newborn in the
household. Some effects of early pregnancy will include an unexpected rise of responsibility for the teen
and can cause many health concerns for both teen and newborn child.

Teens experimenting are the leading cause in the unplanned pregnancies. As a teenager in high school
ages there are a lot of peer pressures. Such as experimenting with alcohol and unprotected sexual
intercourse. Drinking and the use of narcotics also largely have an impact on the judgment of the teen
before the pre-pregnancy comes about. Experimenting can cause many effects on the teen and the
relationships at hand, including the relationships with the baby’s mom or dad and also the parents of
the teens. Another way of experimenting is the pregnancy caused in the sequel of either a long-time
dating of the boyfriend or the other case of those random one night stands or hook-ups. Experimenting
can be well avoided which can cause less of a chance of the unplanned pregnancy.

Another very important concern for preventing teen pregnancy is having a good guidance throughout
the teenager’s teen years. The guardians of the teens play a crucial role in guiding the teen to making
the right choices in his/her life. The teenager then is faced with obstacles that would normally happen to
a 20-30 year old woman. Not having the proper guidance will cause the teen to find the alternatives. For
example, finding someone to be with to be cared for by in replace of a strong guidance, by the guardians
in the teenager’s life. For not having the proper guidance the teenager has a higher chance of dropping
out or failing out of a school, such as being a high school dropout to have time to give birth and time to
raise the young child. So by becoming pregnant at a young age and not finishing your education. It
definitely doesn’t sound like too much fun, now does it? The guidance in life is the most important thing
throughout so this can be less of an issue.

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ChrisSmith

ChrisSmith Genius

Answer:-

Teen pregnancy isn't an easy thing to handle, it could lead to depression or anxiety for teenagers. If a
female is under the age of 20 and pregnant then is known as teen pregnancy. Teen pregnancy affects
the life of baby, mother, father and their families. This can result in bad health or stress. Teens are
mostly un-matured and they have their whole life set and do something for a living. So, a baby might
change their whole plans in a negative way. And this might affect the baby too. Teen pregnancy is also a
risk to the life of a baby.

In most of teen pregnancy, it became too late. The teen should have to tell their parent's firsts and then
have to visit the doctor as soon as possible or under in 1 or 2 weeks. But most importantly, they have to
build a strong trust with their parents.
Society doesn't take teen pregnancy in an affirmative way. According to them, pregnant teens are the
one who drops out from high school early. Though teen could face some issues too. Mostly in that bad
time, nobody wanna talk to them and they all treat them badly. Maybe they only got their family as
supporters.

But there's an appropriate time for everything. So basically, teens should avoid teen pregnancy and
sexual abuse. If one facing some problems regarding this, then they should have to talk someone
trustworthy, so they can help them.
What Are the Effects of Teenage Pregnancy?

Medically reviewed by Katie Mena, MD on April 29, 2016 — Written by Rachel Nall, RN, MSN, CRNA

Research

Types

Risk factors

Other factors

Outlook

Tips

Next steps

Intro

There were nearly 250,000 babies born in 2014 to teen moms, according to the U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services. About 77 percent of these pregnancies were unplanned. A teenage pregnancy
can change the course of a young mom’s life. It puts her in a place where she’s responsible not only for
herself, but also for another human being.

Carrying a baby and becoming a mom not only creates physical changes. Women also go through mental
changes. Young moms face added stress from:

sleepless nights

arranging child care

making doctor’s appointments

attempting to finish high school

While not all teenage mothers are affected greatly by mental and physical changes, many are. If you
experience mental health changes after childbirth, it’s important to reach out to others and seek
professional help.

Research on teen pregnancy

A research study published in the journal Pediatrics studied more than 6,000 Canadian women, ranging
in age from adolescents to adults. The researchers found that girls ranging from 15 to 19 experienced
postpartum depression at a rate that was twice as high as women aged 25 and older.

Another study reported that teen mothers face significant levels of stress that can then lead to
increased mental health concerns. In addition to higher rates of postpartum depression, teenage
mothers have higher rates of depression.

They also have higher rates of suicidal ideation than their peers who aren’t mothers. Teen mothers are
more likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other teenage women, as well. This
could be because teen moms are more likely to have gone through mental and/or physical abuse.

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 won’t.

Additional symptoms of postpartum depression include:

difficulty bonding with your baby

overwhelming fatigue

feeling worthless

anxiety
panic attacks

thinking of harming yourself or your baby

difficulty enjoying activities you once did

If you experience these effects after giving birth, help is available. It’s important to know that you aren’t
alone. Remember, many women experience postpartum depression.
TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Adolescent pregnancies are a global problem but occur most often in poorer and marginalised
communities. Many girls face considerable pressure to marry early and become mothers while they are
still a child.

Teenage pregnancy increases when girls are denied the right to make decisions about their sexual and
reproductive health and well-being.

Girls must be able to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures and have access to
appropriate healthcare services and education.

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WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY?

Lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights

Inadequate access to services tailored to young people

Family, community and social pressure to marry

Sexual violence

Child, early and forced marriage, which can be both a cause and a consequence

Lack of education or dropping out of school

OTHER FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY

Approximately 90% of births to girls aged 15-19 in developing countries occur within early marriage
where there is often an imbalance of power, no access to contraception and pressure on girls to prove
their fertility.

Factors such as parental income and the extent of a girl’s education also contribute. Girls who have
received minimal education are 5 times more likely to become a mother than those with higher levels of
education. Pregnant girls often drop out of school, limiting opportunities for future employment and
perpetuating the cycle of poverty. In many cases, girls perceive pregnancy to be a better option than
continuing their education.

In addition, the unique risks faced by girls during emergencies increase the chances of them becoming
pregnant. Factors include the desire to compensate for the loss of a child, reduced access to information
and contraception and increased sexual violence.

ADVICE APP HELPS TEENS TACKLE PREGNANCY

A new smartphone app is helping combat teenage pregnancy in Timor Leste by providing teenagers with
sexual and reproductive health information.

LEARN MORE

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY?

What are the effects of teenage pregnancy?

HOW DOES TEENAGE PREGNANCY AFFECT GIRLS?

Adolescent pregnancy remains a major contributor to maternal and child mortality. Complications
relating to pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 globally.
Pregnant girls and adolescents also face other health risks and complications due to their immature
bodies. Babies born to younger mothers are also at greater risk.

For many adolescents, pregnancy and childbirth are neither planned, nor wanted. In countries where
abortion is prohibited or highly restricted, adolescents typically resort to unsafe abortion, putting their
health and lives at risk. Some 3.9 million unsafe abortions occur each year to girls aged 15-19 in
developing regions.

Adolescent pregnancy can also have negative social and economic effects on girls, their families and
communities. Unmarried pregnant adolescents may face stigma or rejection by parents and peers as
well as threats of violence. Girls who become pregnant before age 18 are also more likely to experience
violence within a marriage or partnership.
TACKLING TEEN PREGNANCY IN NICARAGUA

Nicaragua has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Latin America. With the support of our Girl
Power Project, young people are now educating their peers on the risks of becoming teen parents.

READ MORE

HOW DOES PLAN INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT GIRLS

We are committed to tackling adolescent pregnancy, especially among younger adolescents (aged 10-
14) who are most at risk and yet often overlooked. We also support girls who have already become
mothers.

By raising girls’ awareness of their sexual and reproductive health and rights, protecting them from
abuse and connecting them with education and health services, we support the key decisions they make
about their futures and bodies.

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.
Causes and Effects of Teen Pregnancy

Contents

1 Teenage Pregnancy

2 Definition

3 Causes

3.1 Drugs and Alcohol

3.2 Low Socio-economic Status

3.3 Peer Pressure and Sexual Abuse

3.4 Media Influence

4 Effects of Teenage Pregnancy

4.1 Mothers

4.2 Child

5 Assisting Adolescent Parents and Prevention

5.1 Family and Peer Support

5.2 Education/Knowledge

6 References

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 [1]. 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 [1]. 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 [2]. Many times, these teens are regarded
as selfish, apathetic and immoral by the general population regardless of the teens intention of getting
pregnant.

Causes

In some cultures, customs and traditions lead to early marriage which would therefore lead to early
pregnancy. In these cases, pregnancy is acceptable and is most often intentional, however they are
occurring in developing countries such as India and Sub-Saharan Africa[2]. In developed countries
however, teenage pregnancy is most often unintentional and due to a variety of different reasons.

Drugs and Alcohol

During adolescence, teenagers may drink and experiment with drugs frequently with their friends at
social gatherings and parties. Teens, however, do not realize the impacts alcohol and drugs have on the
functioning of their brain, especially the effects of binge drinking which is consuming large amounts of
alcohol during one sitting. Drinking excessively as well as experimenting drugs may lead to unwanted
and unintentional pregnancy. These substances greatly affect a teens ability to logically think and carry
out general thinking processes, thus increases the chances they will engage in unprotected and unsafe
sexual activity [3].

Low Socio-economic Status

Teens who become pregnant often come from families of low socio-economic status. Growing up, these
children often come from families who are suffering from poverty and do not have all the necessary
resources to raise their child. These children grow up to have low educational goals and successes
because of the lack of involvement from their own parents. These young kids then predisposed to a
negative environment end up with less ambition to succeed in school and begin making friendships with
other teens who are going through similar situations as them. It is these groups of teens who begin to
experiment with drugs and alcohol and do not do very well in school[2].

Low socio-economic status is further linked to low levels of family connectedness. This means that
children/youth growing up in these homes do not have strong role models or individuals to look up to or
learn from. Within these low socio-economic status families, abuse is often prevalent and predisposes
youth to unsafe and troubling conditions. Whether the child is being abused or witnessing domestic
abuse, adolescents are being separated and disconnected from their families which might lead to poor
decision making. This lack of family connectedness pushes youth away from confiding in the adults
within their homes but towards other troubled youth suffering in the same ways [1].

With their lack of education and knowledge about reproduction, these teens engage in unprotected and
unsafe sexual activity. These teens do not know about the available contraceptives nor do they explore
their options. Even if the adolescents have some form of contraception they are using them incorrectly
which makes them useless during sexual activity. These teens simply engage in intercourse at very
young ages, and may have multiple partners which further leads to increased chances of pregnancy [1].

Peer Pressure and Sexual Abuse

Peer pressure is another major cause of sexual abuse, often females may be pressured or forced by an
older male partner to engage in sexual activity. These young females out of fear may feel forced to
engage in unprotected sex without a choice[2].

Peer pressure may also be prevalent in a different form while in relationships adolescents may be
pressured by their partner to have unsafe and unprotected sex in order to express their "love" and "true
feelings" for their partner. The partner may manipulate the other to have unprotected sex which leads
to unintended pregnancy [3].

Sexual abuse is also another reason why teens may become pregnant. Early sexual abuse has been
linked to later teen pregnancies. Some children have unfortunately been sexually abused my predators
or even family even prior to entering puberty. These young kids often are unable to inform a trusted
adult about the situation due to fear of being harmed by their predator. These situations, further effect
the child as they enter adolescence and increases chances of teen pregnancy.

Media Influence

The media has a large effect on teen pregnancy, especially shows such as "Teen Mom" and "16 and
Pregnant". These shows often glamorize pregnancy and hide the true hardships associated with
pregnancy which encourages these teens to become pregnant. Some teenage females become pregnant
just so they are able to drop out of high school or to force their partners into a deeper commitment.
Rebellion is also another reason why some teens will become pregnant. In order to show their
independence and deem themselves as having more control over their lives, a teen may decide to have
a child. These television glorify the idea of having a child through the promotion of these teenagers
having a more adult lifestyle, with more responsibility and decision-making power [3].

Effects of Teenage Pregnancy

Mothers

Due to becoming pregnant during adolescence, teen mothers are very likely to drop out of school
because of their low ambitions and dedication to getting an education. About 38% of female teens who
have a child before the age of 18 complete their highschool education by the age of 22. This means that
a very high percentage of teen mothers will not even go on to graduate from high school let alone
pursue post-secondary education [4]. In light of this, these young girls do not have full qualifications for
proper jobs in the future, which leads to having a job with very low wages or even worse,
unemployment. Further, this leads to poor living conditions and the inability to maintain a safe and
clean environment for their newborn child. These young women often end up living on welfare and do
not have adequate resources for their child[2]. Overall, these young girls are forced to delay and
postpone any plans for their future in order to raise their child [1].

Another issue associated with teen pregnancy is the young mother is often forced to essentially give up
her identity for a new one while switching into a maternal role. These young mothers go through many
physical changes: from adolescent physical adjustment to having to adapt to the ever changing shape of
her body through the pregnancy and her postpartum figure.

Teens are often forced to become reliant on their family for financial resources as well as support to
help get her through raising a child. In some cases, teens are shunned by their parents and do not even
receive any support from their parents who are not accepting of the pregnancy. These young girls are
often forced to lose contact with friends and others in their social groups in order to focus on their
pregnancy[1].

Pregnant teens often do not have the proper healthy habits in order to go through a successful child
rearing process. These mothers thus have heightened health risks, which inhibits healthy child
development. Young women can suffer from things such as anaemia as well as blood pressure which is
only possible during pregnancy [5]. These mothers often smoke and drink because they are not properly
educated on the child rearing process.
Having a child during these essential years truly clashes with the developmental tasks that should be
occurring during adolescents. These young mothers are unable to fully develop a sense of self-identity
because of their new role as an expecting mother. Further, peer and social relationships are strained or
even terminated and teen years are essentially for developing relationships with others and discovering
oneself [5]. Due to all of these factors, teen mothers may end up developing depression after essentially
being alienated from their family and friends[1]. These symptoms of depression increase the chances of
the teen mother committing suicide[2].

Pursuing this further, teen mothers are often strained for resources and social support from the father
of the child. In some cases, the teen father will remain present throughout the process and in others the
father will not. If the father remains present there is often high relationships tension and dissatisfaction
because of the lack of financial resources, support and child care which will be needed. There is an
increase in conflict which may lead to breakups, leaving the mother to be a single parent or even
violence within the relationship [5]. Due to the lack of financial resources, these young women often do
not get prenatal checkups or regular checkups for their developing child and thus they are unaware of
any health concerns for their child.

Many of these teen mothers are not healthy enough, thus they have a higher risk for obstructed labour
and also these young women often undergo unsafe abortions which lead to the death of many young
females and their unborn child[2].

Child

The child of a teen mother is very likely to live in poverty because of its mothers lack of financial
resources. Essentially, the birth of this child becomes the beginning of a perpetual cycle in many cases.
The child is likely to endure many of the same issues its mother did in her childhood. For instance, the
child is likely to grow up in poverty and in very poor conditions. They are likely to be missing a father
figure, leaving them with fewer role models and increased chances of confiding in other children in the
same situation. The children's academic success is also further compromised and these children do not
strive to achieve much academically [2]. Furthermore, these kids have social problems and are unable to
make friends very easily which leads to poor relationship development which is a crucial stage in
adolescence. Poor relationship development can be linked to the child being deprived economically as
well as educationally. The children are likely to drop out of high school and also succumb to the use of
drugs and alcohol due to lack of parental involvement and monitoring[5]. The cycle is very likely to
repeat itself over and over[2].
The children are often also likely to suffer health risks in comparison to those born to adults. They are
likely to be cognitively impaired and also susceptible to behavioural issues. The children are likely to be
born underweight and prematurely, which is detrimental to their health and may even result in infant
mortality[5].

Assisting Adolescent Parents and Prevention

There are many negative factors associated with teens who become pregnant, however there are some
factors that increase the likelihood of making these teens more suitable for parenthood.

Family and Peer Support

Teen mothers can increase their resilience through having the support of their parents as well as
maintaining social relations with their peers. Having those connections throughout your pregnancy and
after as well as having all of that support greatly influences the mothers attitude and adaptation to her
new role in life. Furthermore, another protective factor which increases teen mother resiliency is if the
mother goes on to graduate from high school rather than dropping out. The overall most important
factor is the teen mother having the support of her own mother. The mother of the teen can be
extremely helpful in terms of emotional support for her daughter as well as financial aid and helping her
daughter with child rearing responsibilities of the newborn[5].

Education/Knowledge

From a young age, it is important that young children and adolescents have a reliable and trustworthy
adult to confide in. Having an approachable and knowledgeable role model or adult in your life will
greatly decrease the chances of teen pregnancy. Parents often neglect explaining the anatomy of the
body to their children, however providing this information and educating children during their youth is
an extremely important protective factor against teen pregnancy [3].

Children need to grow up having a positive self-image as well as a healthy environment to grow up in.
Children need unconditional love and support from their parents as it is critical in ensuring the child
makes better choices about their future sexual activity. Having love from one's parents ensures that
these adolescents are not left feeling unwanted from parents who are very passive and uninvolved [3].

Open communication and time spent with children is a protective factor against teen pregnancy also.
Children and teens should be able to approach their parents and ask for their time whenever in need.
Developing a strong relationship between child and parent is critical. These children are more likely to
use birth control or other contraceptives and make better decisions in regards to sexual behaviours
What Can We Do to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy?

A few weeks ago, I was at my job helping a customer when a young girl caught my attention. She could
not have been older than 15, and her belly was too large to be hidden. She was noticeably pregnant, and
what struck me as more odd was that she was pushing a stroller with a young infant whose only word
seemed to be "mommy," referring to the young girl. I am often alarmed when I see an extremely
adolescent girl experiencing motherhood at a time when her main concerns should be far less than
those of raising another human being. The reality of the matter is that every year more and more teens
are having children at an alarmingly young age. This issue raises the question of what can be done to
prevent and lower the rates of teenage pregnancy. In order to prevent teenage pregnancy, teenagers
need to have a comprehensive understanding of abstinence, contraceptive techniques, and
consequences.

Although there are many different ways to prevent a teenage girl from becoming pregnant, the only one
that is absolutely effective is sexual abstinence. This method is the only one that guarantees no risk of
getting pregnant and protects the teen from getting any STD's. For many years abstinence has been
viewed as a decision based upon a religious or moral belief. In the article "Promotion of Sexual
Abstinence: Reducing Adolescent Sexual Activity and Pregnancies," Hani R. Khouzam says, "Sexual
abstinence is not associated with public health risks and needs to be presented and promoted as the
most effective primary prevention for unplanned pregnancies" (2). In this article, Dr. Joycelyn Elders
proposes teaching sexual abstinence as prevention for pregnancy, not as a religious or moral belief.
According to Khouzam, in a study involving 7,000 Utah teens, the students were taught one of three
abstinence curriculums stressing abstinence as a pregnancy prevention method. They were surveyed
three times based on their attitudes on the issue. After taking the abstinence curriculum, the studies
found that from these students, a significantly higher percentage of them remained virgins than those
who did not go through the program (2). With results like this, it becomes evident that abstinence
courses in schools are a sure way to get teens to realize the responsibility that comes with becoming
sexually active, and to get them thinking about choosing to remain abstinent. The more information
teenagers are given on the subject, the higher the chances that they will make this decision. For this
reason, it is important that teenagers be taught the health benefits of choosing to remain abstinent.

Another form of teenage pregnancy prevention that is being taught in schools is various contraceptive
techniques. Although abstinence remains the best way to prevent pregnancy among teens, it is a fact
that there are still a large number of them who will be involved in sexual relations. For this reason, it is
important that teens be provided with broad information on how to do so responsibly using various
contraceptive techniques. Most of the sex education in schools consists of one message: "Don't have
sex--but if you do, use a condom" (Khouzam 3). The problem that rises from this is that teenagers are
not being exposed to extensive information on the various forms of birth control, condoms, and other
methods of prevention that are available. According to Helen Lippman, contraceptives are talked about
in sex education classes, but only as being ineffective in preventing pregnancy and diseases (1). Also,
these classes on contraceptives should include information on how to obtain the different methods of
birth control. Jocelyn Elders has also advocated school-based health clinics nationwide with the purpose
of reducing teen pregnancy with the availability of contraceptives (Khouzam 3). This is a way to ensure
contraceptive use for many young teens who, rather than going to their parents for help in obtaining
birth control, choose to have sex without protection simply because that protection is not made
available to them.

For most teenagers, the real consequences of having a child at such a young age are unknown. Teens
need to be aware of the harsh reality of raising a baby and the negative effects that an unplanned
pregnancy can cause in both the mother and the child's lives. In the article "The Decline of Teen
Marriage Is a Serious Problem," Patrick F. Fagan talks about the effects of having a child out of wedlock
at a very young age. He states that the mother's new offspring can experience the following: "Lowered
health for newborns and increased risk of early infant death; Retarded cognitive, especially verbal,
development; Lowered educational achievement; Lowered job attainment: Increased behavior
problems; Lowered impulse control; Warped social development; Increased Welfare dependency" (1).
Teenage mothers must be aware of the tremendous effect their offspring will have on society in the
future, and the high risk of the cycle repeating once this child becomes a teen. Teens must also be aware
of the fact that an unplanned pregnancy will take a toll on other aspects of their lives. For example, as
Fagan points out, less than one-third of teen moms who have a baby before they are eighteen finish
high school (2). When exposed to such information about the results of an unplanned pregnancy, teens
are forced to analyze whether sex is worth the risk of forever changing their lives, and those of their
future children.

On the other hand, for some people sex is viewed only as a method of reproduction, and the idea of
using contraceptives and other methods of birth control is simply unnatural. This belief is preached by
many religious institutions, primarily within the Roman Catholic Church. In the article "The Purpose of
Sex is Reproduction," Paul Murray claims that "Sexual intercourse cannot be separated from its primary
purpose of reproduction" (1). Many followers of the Roman Catholic Church have adopted this principle.
Although the purpose of sex can be though of as only for reproduction by some, it cannot be narrowed
down to just having sex to have children for everyone. For example, a couple that consists of two
mature adults who carry a strong, stable relationship should be able to use sex as a way to express their
love, share intimacy, and expand their emotional bond. Further, the idea that a teen will take this
beliefthe idea that sex is only to produce children into consideration when choosing whether to become
sexually active is an unrealistic and ineffective way of thinking. This belief will not prevent teenage girls
from experimenting and running the risk of becoming pregnant. Of course nothing will work universally,
not even education, or contraception.
So as research shows, it is the job of parents and schools to teach teens about the negative effects of
teenage pregnancy. The parents can strongly influence their children's decisions by taking the time to be
involved when the issue of sex arises. The schools can also do their part by providing the necessary
information on preventing pregnancies and by encouraging teens to make responsible choices when
having sex. Therefore, the responsibility of adults is to provide teens with a thorough understanding of
abstinence, contraceptive techniques, and the consequences of sexual activity.