The issue on teenage pregnancy is one of the most common issues involving the youth at the present time. In recent years, there is a high increase in teenage pregnancy cases around the globe, despite the efforts done by the government to stop its continuous onset. Adults – especially parents- are becoming weary over the increasing rate of teenagers becoming pregnant as it also results to the increase in abortion rates, school drop outs and even economic turmoil. Many studies have been conducted in the past to determine as to what triggers teenage pregnancy and it has varied immensely every year. However, research stresses that teenage pregnancy is still triggered by issues like family relations, socio-economic conditions and one’s personal choice.
In the recent data brief released by Curtin, Abma and Ventura, et al. (2013) for the National Center for Health Statistics, pregnancy rates in the country have dropped since 2009. Approximately 102.1 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years old have been recorded for the year in comparison to the 115.8 per 1,000 women record in 1990. In terms of teenage pregnancy rates, it has also dropped to an all-time low of 36 per 1,000 women in the same year especially in the three origin groups in the country: Hispanic, non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white . Experts, such as Boonstra (2014) stated that the clear decline of teenage pregnancy rates is due to the increasing awareness of sexually active teenagers in using contraceptives. In the 1995-2002 period, researchers indicated that there is a growing increase of improved contraceptives and the use of some for multiple methods. This trend is also the same for the 2003-2010 period as some teens are now becoming open in delaying sex or the use of contraceptives. The introduction of hormonal contraceptives have become popular in the same period, alongside the use of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (IUDs and implants). Advocates to sex-education programs believe that the increase in awareness is attributed to the sex education programs that has been launched to the country. However, some researchers are not optimistic with the capacity of sex education and directed the reason to the possible implications of early sex with their current economic and social standing. There is also the question of the threat posed by AIDS and HIV and the growing movements fighting for the cause. Finally, it is attributed that childbearing norms are now changing, especially now that partners tend to wait before they get married and have children after they are secure .
However, while there is a decline in teenage pregnancy rates around the country, it is still visible that the issue still persists. Several studies reflected that teenage pregnancy is still triggered by several factors: from family life, social or economic standing to one’s personal choice. In terms of family, Sickel, Dillard and Trickett et al. (2014) indicated that there is a trend that children of teenage mothers are at risk of being young parents as well once they experience puberty. Several studies indicated that as young as 14 years old, some children become at risk to teenage pregnancy. In some cases, children from broken families are at risk to this instance because the child cannot speak with their families or get the support necessary to prevent teenage pregnancy. Child sexual abuse also increases the possibility of teenage pregnancy as children or teenagers are first exposed to unwanted sexual behaviors and eventually, would become open into accepting sexual behaviors as a means to interact with others .
Farber (2014) also cited that teenage pregnancy cases is also due to the impacts of being in foster families. It is most often that these teenagers have experienced trauma and mental or behavioral problems that made them at risk to teenage pregnancy in the first place. While this occurrence is not common, it can be notable that these foster children wish to have stable relations with adults. As they cannot get the love they wish to have, these children tend to become pregnant to fill the void due to the lack of support. However, this can be quite dangerous as their children would become wards of the state. There is also the possibility it would affect their long-term development and recover from their stress, triggering the susceptibility to future early parenthood for their children .
Another reason why teenage pregnancy persists is because of their socio-economic standing. Farber (2014) indicated that many teenagers tend to become sexually active because of their desire to fit in the sexually aware society despite knowing its risk. It is observed that these teenagers tend to practice unprotected intercourse because they do not wish to take conscious responsibility. Some of these children also gain sexual awareness because of the situations they encounter that changes their norms and beliefs . Copping, Campbell and Muncer (2013) added that economic situation triggers high instances of teenage pregnancy as the lack of education attainment due to their economic situation causes them to become unware of the risks of teenage pregnancy .
Boonstra (2002) cited that many are oblivious to the matter of safe sex and relationships due to the presence of social media and television programs that distorts its meaning. These programs often show that teenagers cannot protect themselves from pregnancy or other complications even while using protection. The current system also complicates the situation as the US government aims to promote abstinence to prevent pregnancy. In some instances, it seemed that the government does not believe on other methods to prevent contraception . Collins, Alagiri and Summers (2002) supported Boonstra’s premise and stated that supporting only one method to prevent teenage pregnancy, it would just increase the possibility of people ignoring the proposal. What is needed, they argue, is a comprehensive system that would introduce the problem to teenagers in a format they can understand and the government should not restrict themselves to such one-track system and propose alternatives if it does not work .
Sexual abuse is also considered one of the major reasons as to why teenage pregnancy also persists. According to Domenico and Jones (2007), sexual abuse tends to cause children to accept early sexual awareness and behaviors and trigger early sex and have many partners in the process. Some of these sexual abuses tend to occur at home and victims are often reflecting unresolved feelings due to the experience. Although there are instances wherein females actually accept their first sexual contact, 40% of victims ages 13 or 14 stated they did not wish to experience such instance especially with an older partner. Studies have cited that teenagers who have been sexually abused is three-times more likely to get pregnant in their teens. If the perpetrator has been their family members, the victim would often get a feeling of lacking self-confidence and gain psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression .
Aside from the typical causes of teenage pregnancy, there are research nowadays showcasing that teenagers actually consented to become pregnant. In the study of Dixon (2014), there is quite a percentage within the United States that highlights that they wish to get pregnant even if they are around 15 to 19 years old. When asked about their reasoning as to why they wish to be pregnant, these young people would not easily disclose their reasons unless they were family and friends. However, in some instances, some teenagers – especially boys- stated they wish to become parents early so that they can become good parents. Others comment that some teenagers wished to have someone whom they can love and something they can say is for themselves, not even considering the implications of their condition. This issue presents problems for the current action against teenage pregnancy as there is a lack of legislation pertaining to the “wanted” cases of teenage pregnancy because most concentrate on “unwanted pregnancies” . Domenico and Jones (20070 also included that some teenagers believe that being pregnant is better even if they are at risk to low-income futures. Some of them are resigned to their fate, especially if they are experiencing difficulties in school and wish to become free from oppression and abuse at home. Some teenagers even argue that it would be better to become pregnant as it is the best alternative to give them hope that something would change in their lives and improve their futures .
In terms of impacts of teenage pregnancy, recent studies highlight medical, social and economic implications or consequences for both the teenager in question and their children. In a medical or physical aspect, Stang (2012) stated that while growth still recorded in teenage pregnancy, however, it would have impacts to both the mother and child if dietary and weight allowances are not made. If the pregnant female is biologically immature (or those who just entered the menarche stage in less than 2 years or younger than 16 years old), they can still experience significant growth but it is not usually visible due to pregnancy. Some pregnant teens would increase in body fat and there is a high possibility these pregnant teens would give birth to their children in lesser weight as the nutrients entering the body are divide between the child and the teenager .
According to Domenico and Jones (2007), career opportunities are also reduced for pregnant adolescents due to their low educational backgrounds and the availability careers fit for their age. As a result, they often are unemployed due to the impacts of pregnancy in their bodies and development. Teenagers who got pregnant early also would experience economic and social disadvantages, topped with the medical implications of early pregnancy. Some of them would gain learning disabilities and some would not be able to take care of their children. Most of these families would even depend their situation with public assistance and welfare programs, while a few would ask their parents to give them support. However, the United States does not have a clear position as to what support young parents can get from the government. While there is a possibility for these teenagers to return back to school, some of them have to drop out in order to take care of their children. Poverty is also a consequence of teenage pregnancy, which also fosters additional risks for people around them .
Considering the trends and impacts of teenage pregnancy around the country, several strategies have been done to prevent teenage pregnancy. Secura, Madden, and McNicholas et al. (2014) cited that the US now launched the President’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative in 2010 to address the case by using innovative strategies such as long-acting and reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods. Some LARC programs include intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. In the study done within St. Louis, it is shown that women who have undergone the study prefer LARC methods than shorter-acting methods and continue using the system due to the high prevention rates to stop teenage pregnancy .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013) also proposed five major components within the program to ensure that teenage pregnancy is sustained: Community Mobilization and Sustainability, Evidence-Based Programs, Increasing Youth Access to Contraceptive and Reproductive Health Care Services, Stakeholder Education and Working with Diverse Communities. Each core components ensures that all sectors of society would help in ensuring teens would be supported in order to raise awareness and treatment if necessary. It is the hope of the government that it can reduce teen birth rates by 10%, especially in targeted communities. They also hope to increase the awareness in teenagers to practice safe sex and the use of contraception .
Domenico and Jones (2007) also added that each state has their own adolescent pregnancy programs for their constituents. Programs are mostly directed towards preventing pregnancy and providing assistance, especially for the couple themselves. It is advisable that these programs are comprehensive in order to cover all aspects of teenage pregnancy such as education, counselling and the causes of pregnancy such as violence. Youth development is also considered as one of the most important programs applied by states to aid in preventing teenage pregnancy. One of these critical programs is reflected in the Abstinence Education program by the Health and Human Services division, which aims to give federal grants to states to ensure that they continue their efforts for teenage pregnancy awareness, mentoring and counselling. The Adolescent Family Life Program is also active to ensure that teenage fathers are guided accordingly by the government as to how they can be good parents for their children. Medical assistance is also available for teenage mothers through Medicaid under Title XIX of the Social Security Act .
Like children, teenagers must be given a chance to grow without the burdens of early pregnancy and its additional responsibilities. While studies indeed show that teenage pregnancy has decreased through the years, it does not mean that the situation should no longer be seen as a concern. The onset of familial troubles, the consequences of socio-economic situation, prominence of crimes such as sexual abuse and rape, and even the desire of some to have a child at a young age are critical points to consider. Government officials, educators and parents should reassess the current policies directed towards teenage pregnancy and determine which areas remain vulnerable to such instances. A comprehensive plan must start from the home to the community and help teenagers understand the dangers of teenage pregnancy and safe sex as the responsibilities it entails cannot easily be handled by teenagers who have yet to establish themselves in society.
Works Cited
Boonstra, Heather. "Teen Pregnancy: Trends and Lessons Learned." The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy 5.1 (2002): 7-10. Print.
—. "What is behind the declines in teen pregnancy rates?" 2014. Guttmacher Policy Review. Web. 1 December 2014. <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/gpr/17/3/gpr170315.html>.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Teen Pregnancy Prevention 2010-2015." 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 1 December 2014. <http://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/PreventTeenPreg.htm>.
Collins, Chris, Priya Alagiri and Todd Summers. Abstinence Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education: What are the arguments? What is the evidence? San Francisco: AIDS Research Institute University of California, 2002.
Copping, Lee, Anne Campbell and Steven Muncer. "Violence, Teenage Pregnancy and Life History: Ecological Factors and their Impact on Strategy-Driven Behavior." Human Nature 24 (2013): 137-157. Print.
Curtin, Sally, et al. Pregnancy Rates for U.S. Women Continue to Drop. NCHS Data Brief No. 136. Hyattsville: National Center for Health Statistics, 2013. Print.
Dixon, Vicky. "Teenage pregnancy: identifying young people aspiring or ambivalent to parenthood." British Journal of School Nursing 9.1 (2014): 38-44. Print.
Domenico, Desirae and Karen Jones. "Adolescent Pregnancy in America: Causes and Responses." Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education 30.1 (2007): 4-12. Print.
Farber, Naomi. "The Not-So-Good News about Teenage Pregnancy." Society 51 (2014): 282-287. Print.
Secura, Gina, et al. "Provision of No-Cost, Long-Acting COntraception and Teenage Pregnancy." The New England Journal of Medicine 371 (2014): 1316-1323. Print.
Sickel, Amy, et al. "Post Trauma Moderators in the Childhood Sexual Abuse- Teenage Pregnancy/Teenage Childbirth Relationships." International Journal of Childbirth Education 29.1 (2014): 10-20. Print.
Stang, Jamie. "Adolescent Physical Growth and Development: Implications for Pregnancy." Story, Mary and Jamie Stang. Nutrition and the Pregnant Adolescent: A Practical Reference Guide. Minneapolis: Regents of the University of Minnesota, 2012. 32-36. Print.
