Teenage pregnancy and the effects of early parenthood
Teenage pregnancy is common in developing countries than the already developed countries and within marriage. Among the developed countries teenage pregnancy is common in the United Kingdom and the United States while South Korea and Japan have the lowest cases.This paper will explore the topic teenage pregnancy, its cause and effect of early parenthood. Then recommend what to be done to limit teenage pregnancy.
Teenage pregnancy occurs when an underage girl (aged between 13 and 19) becomes pregnant. This means that the girl has not reached the legal adulthood age which varies from one society to another across the world. Being a young parent especially to the girls in today’s industrialized world has various effects than was seen in the past. Education is an element that characterizes an industrialized country like the United States. Teen mothers drop out of school which commonly occurs in high school (National Campan). Young motherhood also affects employment and social class. Such mothers turn to government for child support because they lack funds of raising their new born. Almost 750,000 women aged 15 to19 become pregnant each year in the US. overall statistics shows that 71.5 pregnancies in every one thousand women in aged between 15-19 happened in 2006. The rate has however declined to 69.5 in 2005. This decline has been attributed more consistent contraceptive use and a higher proposition of teenagers have chosen to delay sexual engagement.
Findings have shown that nearly half of all 15-19 year olds in the United States have had sex at least once. This percentage is 46% of the teens. By the age of 15 , 13% of the teens had already had sex and by the time they are 19, seven in every ten teenage had already engaged in sexual activity(Abma JC et al., 2004, p 23). The teenagers have also been found to start engaging in sexual activity by the time they are seven but get married in middle 20s or late twenties out of their choice. Most of them prefer to be single until then. This shows that there is a high rate of these teenagers getting sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies (Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2002) . Sexual involvement is rate among very young teens but as teens grow older sex become more common. Findings have shown that sexually active teenagers do not use contraceptives which accounts to 89% chances of a teenagers having unwanted pregnancy (Harlap S, Kost K and Forrest JD,1991). Recently 83% of teen females and 91% of teen males have used contraceptives which present a marked improvement of unwanted pregnancy and early parenthood among teenagers since 1995 (Abma JC et al.,p 24).
The District of Columbia and twenty one other states allow minors to gain access to contraceptive services without the consent of their parents. Other state like Utah and Texas require parent permission before a teenage gets contraceptive services in a state funded family program(Guttmacher Institute, 2010). Most of the family planning around the country concessl teenagers below the age of 18 on abstinence issues and the important of communicating sex issues with their parents (Lindberg LD et al., 2006, p 136-147). One in every five teen has no access to obtaining contraceptive services rely on withdrawal method since the law requires them to have the consent of their parents when visiting health clinic(Jones RK et al, 2005p 340-348). Teenage females aged between 15-19 accounts for 750,000 pregnant women year. In 2006 there was a noted decline of this rate to 41% compared to 71.5% in 1990. The decline has been due to teenagers choosing to delay sexual activity and consistent use of contraceptive (Santelli JS et al., 2007, p150-156). 82 % of teenage pregnancies are always unplanned which account for one fifth of the unwanted pregnancies reported annually (Finer LB et al., 2006.p 90-96). A small percentage which is twenty seven percent of unwanted pregnancy end up in abortion (Guttmacher Institute, 2000)
Causes of teenage pregnancy
Traditional gender roles in some societies have played an important factor in contributing to the increased rate of teenage pregnancy. Early pregnancies in these societies have been appreciated as an early sign of a woman’s fertility. This concept is common in the Sub Saharan Africa. (Locoh, 2000) and in Indian continent. The Indian traditional rural communities, teenage pregnancies and early marriages are more common than in the urban setting. Commonly, such societies do not value education or have no access to education. Many teenagers are unaware of how to deal and cope with pressure of having sex before even not knowing the facts concerning sex or sexuality. Similarly, they are unaware of birth control methods and how to say no to pressures from boys and men. Lack of contraception is another factor that has contributed to unwanted pregnancy. Peer pressure is another factor that presses one to have sex than consequentially unwanted pregnancy. Finding from Gutttmacher Institute has shown that by the age of twenty many teenagers had already had sex across the world and communities with low level of adolescent pregnancy.
Most of the teenagers have sexual relationships with the opposite sex which makes them easily engage in sexual activities(National campaign for prevention of teen pregnancy, 2002) Drugs and alcohol has become another contributing factor in engaging in unprotected sex leading to unwanted pregnancy. Drug has been known to influence teenagers in engaging in high risk behavior. Drugs such as cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy and alcohol have become the strongest evidence that links to teen pregnancy. Other drugs, however, have been known to lower or reduce libido have not been linked to teenage pregnancy. Such drugs include heroin, oxycodone, opioids and morphine. Amphetamines drugs which have been prescribed in some countries to treat ADHD in teenagers, have experienced the higher rate of teenage pregnancy (Besharov, Douglas & Gardiner, 1997, 341-54)Lack of knowledge to access contraceptive and to use it is another cause of teenage pregnancy.
Most teenage are to frightened and embarrassed to inquire information on how to access and use conventional methods of pregnancy prevention. Clinicians on the other hand face a huge challenge of how to prescribe and inform teenagers on contraceptives. The teenagers are also highly influenced by second hand stories on methods of preventing pregnancy by the media and their friends. For those who have used pills they may not be able to get repeated prescription leading to method failure Adams, & Desouza, 2009, p 36-39). Age discrepancy in relationships is another factor that has contributed to teenage pregnancy. Teenage girls who get into relationships with adult men or older boys than them are more likely to become pregnant than those girls who are in relationships with boys of their own age. Those with older boyfriend and men friend are less likely to have an abortion. According California review of 1990, vital statistics showed that men over the age of 25 had fathered twice as many children of teenage mothers than boys under age 18. Age discrepancy has also showed another light of how unwanted pregnancy occurs. There is a high chance of an adolescent female being molested and raped by men far older than them. That is 27 years and above, in 1992 Washington State conducted a study which showed that out of the teenage 535 mothers, 62% of them had a bad history of rape and molestation by men over the age of 27.
The study further showed that the teenage mothers had sex with old partners and engaged in more risky promiscuous sex.Sex abuse has accounted for 11 to 20% of teenage pregnancies as a result of rape and unwanted sexual experience. Guttmacher Institute has found that female teenagers who had had sex before the age of 15 were coerced men six year older than them. One out of five of them were forced/ raped to have sex with them (. Guttmacher Institute, 2010). Another form of sexual abuse starts at childhood which subsequently leads to teenage pregnancy. In industrialized countries statistics has shown that 5 in 7 of teenage mothers had been molested while they were still young. Date rape has become a common form of sexuality assault to teenage girls and even in early adult females in universities. Date rape normally happen when a girl is with a boyfriend, colleague or and familiar person to the teenager. It is an action of actual or threatened sexual, emotional, technological and physical abuse perpetuated by a former or a current partner. Dating violence normally happens when one of the partners take control over the other and maintains power through violence or abuse. Sexual assault may lead to teenage pregnancy.
Socioeconomic factors have also attributed to teenage pregnancy which is considered as social problems. Poverty increases the rate of teenage pregnancy (Besharov. & Gardiner,1997, p 341-67). According to UNEP, economically poor countries such as Bangladesh and Niger have recorded a higher rate of teenage mothers than rich countries such Japan and Switzerland. There is no evidence to show why teenage mothers decide to become pregnant for housing and welfare benefits. Finally, Childhood environment can be considered as a contributing factor to teenage pregnancy. Women exposed to domestic violence, family strife and abuse at childhood are likely to get pregnant at teenage. Research has shown that one third of teenage pregnancy can be eliminated through exposure to traumatizing childhood experiences.
Families that are dysfunctional have unfavorable and enduring health consequences to women during the age of adolescence and even beyond. To boys, research has shown than when they are been brought up, in families where their mother was being battered, they are most likely to impregnate a girl (Anda RF, Felitti VJ, Chapman DP, et al., 2001, p 19). And for girls, the effect on them happen when fathers left their lives and are more likely to engage in sexual activity and get pregnant at teenage. Low educational expectations have also contributed to the higher risk of teenage pregnancy. A teenage girl is most likely to become pregnant when their elder sister or mother gave birth at teenage. Foster care youth is at a higher risk of becoming pregnant at teen years than one brought up by natural parents.
The effects of early parenthood.
Early parenthood has been a societal problem since the 1980, s as reflected in song s like, “True Love Waits and Lets wait a while”, by Janet Jackson. Such songs seriously talk of the effects of early parenthood which were reflected in those times. Teenagers indulged themselves in sex at an early age of 11 or12. Today, like in the 80s, bears the potential of teenage pregnancy if left uncontrolled leading to fragile family structure in the society. Parents are the most affected people when they see their beloved daughter become a mother unprepared. Some of these teenage girls may be forced to marry the father of their child without full knowledge of what is expected of her in marriage. These possess a serious problem not only to the family but to the whole society. Research has shown that early parenthood has been the major cause of extramarital affairs and separation in today’s marriages.
To rest of the family, early parenthood can influence the younger siblings. The younger sisters of the teenage mother are less likely to pay importance of employment and education and are more likely to embrace early marriage, parenting and human sexual behavior. For the brothers they may be more intolerant to early birth and non marital births but at the same time more prone to high risk behaviors. Prenatal and maternal health is a major concern to teenagers who are parenting and become pregnant. Incidences of low birth weight and premature birth have been reported among teenage adolescent world wide. This is because pregnant teen are less likely to receive prenatal care during pregnancy. Most them hide until the third trimester. According to Guttmacher Institute only on-third of pregnant teenagers receive insufficient prenatal care.
The new born to these mothers are at a risk of suffering from health problems in childhood and may be frequently be hospitalized than those of older women (Guttmacher Institute, 1999). Complications in pregnancy may results to death. These complications are caused by inadequate nutrition during pregnancy. A total of 70000 teen girls have died from complicated births in developing countries. Young babies and their mothers are at a higher risk of contacting HIV according to world health Organization. Complications during child birth among teenagers cause a higher risk of obstetric fistula, infant mortality, or maternal death. Early parenthood has psychological and socioeconomic outcomes. Social support, age and poverty are the determining factors on the outcomes for teenage mothers and their children. Teenage parents who use community and family supports, child care supports and social services are at a better position of continuing with their education and subsequently get employed as they continue to higher levels of studies.
To the mother, the impact of early child bearing in an industrialized country would be a great challenge. She might be forced to discontinue with her education especially when she lacks support or may take time to care for the baby before she resumes her studies. This happens when the girl received support from the people close to her. Young motherhood in this industrialized country affects one social class and employment. Less than one third of teenage mother receive child support. This shows a vastly growing scale of many of them turning for government for assistance. The early parents especially the mother is most likely to live in poverty due to dropping out from school, and lacking employment. Women who became mothers at their teen ages and get support in childbearing pursue their education and get employed the poorer women on the other hand who rear their children and waited to become moms would end up paying more taxes than the donations they receive from the welfare.
Therefore they in a sense become poorer young women. Teenage mothers and those who are pregnant have psychologically disturbed mind condition which may lead to depression and subsequently committing suicide.Early parenthood has an impact on the child. Early motherhood also affects the psychological development of an infant consequently affecting the behavioral and development abilities of the child. Studies has shown that teen mothers are less likely to stimulate their infants through smiling, touch or verbal communication which are affectionate behaviors that are helpful to an infant in being sensitive and accepting his/her needs. As opposed to this, another study has shown that those teenage mother with social support showed less anger to their infants leading to better development of the children. Teenage motherhood has been known to lead to poor academic performance of their children. Many of them are less likely to graduate or score lower standardized test. Their daughters are also more likely to become teen mothers themselves. While a son born of a young woman is most likely to be imprisoned (Maynard, 1996).Teenage fatherhood affects the professional and personal live of an individual in the future, for example, in political aspiration, past sexual behavior can be used to sabotage ones candidature.
Limiting teenage pregnancy
Health educators have campaigned for the introduction of comprehensive sex education to school Syllabus. This is a way that can be used to effectively reduce the number of teenage pregnancies. opponents especially from parents committee and the public have argued against this move because to them it will mean that teen will be encourages to experiment with sex activities at an early age or even more.There should be a department that will increase social inclusions of teen mothers and their families. This can be done through joints action of government branches, education sector and the health sector in working effectively together. The issue of contraceptive use and information dealing with advising young people can help in preventing teenage pregnancy especially to the high risk groups.There should be better support for already teenage mothers in terms of support, employment, advice and education to prevent tem from getting another pregnancy when she is still not ready. The support should extend to housing and better child care. Sex education and prevention of teenage pregnancy has had mixed success in the United States. This is because the topic on sex education in schools has only fostered on abstinence only and virginity pledges. These programs have been successful in helping teenagers delay their involvement in sexual activities until later ages. In public schools, the programs have incorporated in both abstinence and contraceptive use.
Teenage pregnancy is a social, issue that is supported from data lower educational levels, higher rates of poverty, and poorer life outcomes of teenage mothers. Teenage pregnancy normally occurs outside marriage which carries with it social stigma in many cultures a communities. Many campaigns hove come up in an attempt to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and to uncover the causes of teenage pregnancy. In the developing countries teenage pregnancy normally occurs within marriage and it does not carry the element of social stigmatization. The major causes of teenage pregnancy have been attributed to lack of access to contraception, sexual abuse, adolescent sexual behaviors and peer pressure, and dating violence. Media has also contributed to the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the US. Teenage pregnancies have psychological, emotional, socioeconomic outcomes to the teenage mother, teenage father, the child and the general family. Various strategies such as implementing comprehensive sex education should be adopted in schools to reduce and eliminate the chances of teenage pregnancies
The Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), (2002) In Their Own Right: Addressing the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of American Men, New York: AGI. Retrieved from
On May 27, 2010
Abma JC et al. (2004), Teenagers in the United States: sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, Vital and Health Statistics, Series 23, p 24
Harlap S, Kost K and Forrest JD (1991), Preventing Pregnancy, Protecting Health: A New Look at Birth Control Choices in the United States, New York: AGI,
Lindberg LD et al.(2003), Provision of contraceptive and related services by publicly funded family planning clinics, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 38, p139–147.
Jones RK et al.(2005)Adolescents’ reports of parental knowledge of adolescents’ use of sexual health services and their reactions to mandated parental notification for prescription contraception, Journal of the American Medical Association, , p 340–348.
Finer LB et al., (1994) Disparities in rates of unintended pregnancy in the United States, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, p: 90–96
Santelli JS et al. (2007) Explaining recent declines in adolescent pregnancy in the United States: the contribution of abstinence and improved contraceptive use, American Journal of Public Health, p 50–156.
Locoh, T (2000). Early Marriage and Motherhood in Sub-Saharan AfricaWIN NewsRetrieved from
On May 27, 2010
Besharov, Douglas J. & Gardiner, Karen N. (1997). Trends in Teen Sexual Behavior. Children and Youth Services Review, 19 (5/6), 341–67. Retrieved from
May 27, 2010.
Anda R, Felitti J, Chapman P, et al. (2001). Abused boys, battered mothers, and male involvement in teen pregnancy". Pediatrics p19.
On May 27, 2010
Maynard, Rebecca A. (Ed.). (1996) Kids having Kids. Retrieved from
On May 27, 2010
The blame game does not help anymore. Parents blame peer pressures, prevailing socio-cultural pressures and media influences. We may point to those cable shows as causes or those best friends or barkadas. Instead of blaming somebody for this, let’s look for solutions. Let’s face the problem head-on and provide solutions.How do we insulate our kids from the harmful effects of early parenthood?Two things we need to recognize: first, where do our kids spend most of their time and second, how do we, as parents, teach them why it is wrong to indulge in love outside of marriage?Schools play a very important role in combatting this rising societal problem, because our kids spend most of their waking hours in that place. Teachers have the responsibility to educate their students and develop them as responsible individuals. In choosing a school for your kids, you need to choose a school that has a rock-solid program that equips kids with the right tools to survive life’s challenges.
Reedley International School has that kind of program. Called “life skills”, students undergo 80 minutes per week of lifeskills studies. The program equips students with the proper social skills that they need to develop strong relationships. It also builds their character and makes them responsible individuals and worthy members of society.One of the highlights of the program is a week-long campaign that teaches students on the effects of early parenthood. Called ” Why Am I Tempted?” or WAIT, the program identifies the current teenage concerns and provides solutions. It tackles the problem head on, without going around circles.What’s unique about this is Reedley International School makes parents involved. This is what I love about Reedley. They recognize the value of fostering symbiotic relationships with the parents of their students.So it’s a program that benefits both parents and their kids. It’s a recognition that kids should not only be academically proficient; they also should be molded as responsible citizens.
A survey he Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), In Their Own Right: Addressing the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of American Men, New York: AGI, 2002.
 Mosher WD et al., Sexual behavior and selected health measures: men and women 15–44 years of age, United States, 2002, Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics, 2005, No. 362.
 Harlap S, Kost K and Forrest JD, Preventing Pregnancy, Protecting Health: A New Look at Birth Control Choices in the United States, New York: AGI, 1991.
 Guttmacher Institute, Minors’ access to contraceptive services, State Policies in Brief, updated Jan. 1, 2010, <http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_MACS.pdf>, accessed Jan. 26, 2010.
 Lindberg LD et al., Provision of contraceptive and related services by publicly funded family planning clinics, 2003, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2006, 38(3):139–147.
 Jones RK et al., Adolescents’ reports of parental knowledge of adolescents’ use of sexual health services and their reactions to mandated parental notification for prescription contraception, Journal of the American Medical Association, 2005, 293(3):340–348.
 Weinstock H et al., Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2004, 36(1):6–10.
 Guttmacher Institute, U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity, , accessed Jan. 26, 2010.
 Santelli JS et al., Explaining recent declines in adolescent pregnancy in the United States: the contribution of abstinence and improved contraceptive use, American Journal of Public Health, 2007, 97(1):150–156.
 Finer LB et al., Disparities in rates of unintended pregnancy in the United States, 1994 and 2001, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2006, 38(2):90–96.
 Martin JA et al., Births: final data for 2002, National Vital Statistics Reports, 2003, Vol. 52, No. 10.
 Hofferth SL et al., The effects of early childbearing on schooling over time, Family Planning Perspectives, 2001, 33(6):259–267.
 Dauphinee LA, Guttmacher Institute, New York, personal communication, Mar. 23, 2006.
 Guttmacher Institute, Parental involvement in minors’ abortions, State Policies in Brief, updated Aug. 1, 2006, <http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_PIMA.pdf>, accessed Aug. 8, 2006.
 Henshaw SK and Kost K, Parental involvement in minors’ abortion decisions, Family Planning Perspectives, 1992, 24(5):196–207 & 213.
Locoh, Therese. (2000). "Early Marriage And Motherhood In Sub-Saharan Africa." WIN News.'.' Retrieved July 7, 2006.
Besharov, Douglas J. & Gardiner, Karen N. (1997). Trends in Teen Sexual Behavior. Children and Youth Services Review, 19 (5/6), 341–67. Retrieved from
May 27, 2010.
Adams, A., & D'Souza, R. (2009). Teenage contraception. General Practice Update, 2(6), 36-39. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.
Anda RF, Felitti VJ, Chapman DP, et al. (February 2001). "Abused boys, battered mothers, and male involvement in teen pregnancy". Pediatrics 107 (2): E19.
on May 27, 2010
Maynard, Rebecca A. (Ed.). (1996) Kids having Kids,retrived f rom
on May 27, 2010