Literature Review
Teenage pregnancy is one among the oldest issues of the world. Lina Medina of Peru is in records of Guinness Book, who gave birth at the age of 5 years and 7 months in 1939. Similarly, Mary, mother of Jesus gave birth at the age of 3 years old. Henry VII of England mother was 13 years old when Henry was born in 1457. There are various other examples of the girls who gave birth to a baby in their teenage, i.e. of age between 10 to 17 years. All around the world, there are about 15 million women who give birth under the age of 20 that represents one-fifth of all births. About 529,000 women die in a year due to complications in childbirth and pregnancy .
David Schoem defined teenage pregnancy as the girls conceiving at the age of 13 to 19. It was identified that the legal environment and social cultural identity factors play an important role in defining the teenage pregnancy. In the United Kingdom, if the woman conceives before her eighteenth birthday, she is considered as the pregnant teenager. However, this term is usually used for those girls all around the world who have not reached the age of legal adulthood.
Currently, the US has the highest rate of babies who are born to single mothers. Each year, about 1,000,000 teenage pregnancies are recorded in US (Williams, 2010). The global rate of teenage pregnancies was found to be 52 in 2011 that represents nine pregnancies of 1,000 female teenagers (Inter-press Service, 2011). The major reason for this high rate is the advancement in medical technology. The development in nutrition and vitamins has changed the average age of girls at which they can become pregnant. About 100 years ago, the average age was 18 years old. Today, the average age of a girl becoming pregnant has become 12 to 13 years old .
In England, nearly 90,000 teenage conceptions recorded each year . The Health Department of United Kingdom that in England and Wales, most women experience unwanted pregnancies in their early twenties that end in abortion. During 1998 and 2006, United Kingdom had the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Western Europe .
Researchers have found various causes of the teenage pregnancy. Most studies found peer influence, poor parental guidance, and media impact as the major reasons of teenage pregnancy. Lack of finances is found to be another cause of teenage pregnancy. Since, the social economic background of paternities is believed to have major impact on the ability of teenagers, to meet basic needs. It was found that societal values and poverty had the highest rates in early sexual activities and teenage pregnancy. There are young boys and girls who get involved in sexual activities due to peer influence. As according to the Melissa Fox, teenagers who grow in immoral societies have a high tendency to date at far earlier age than those who grow in a conventional environment. They want to be accepted by friends and other fellows and so they take on their influence. In the prior case, teenagers try to have a boyfriend or girlfriend and eventually indulge in sexual activities. This kind of impulsive behaviour usually leads towards unintended pregnancies.
Poor parental guidance and control is found to be the major causes of teenage pregnancy. The communication gap between a daughter and a mother leads to a greater tendency in sexual activity and thus teenage pregnancy. Sonnenschein & Baker (1992), believe that the communication between parents and adolescent is very important for a teenager to make sensible decisions regarding sex.
Some of the researchers found that poor sex education is also another reason of teenage pregnancy. In most of the developing countries, either sex education starts in late or higher classes or it is not at all added. In some cases, the teenager has already gotten involved in sexual activities before the formal education is provided at schools. However, most researchers also argue that only sex education in schools is not enough to prevent cases of teenage pregnancy .
When a teenage girl leaves her school at an early age, she is unable to establish her independence and excel in her career. Most of the studies have found that the teenage girls who get pregnant have dropped out of school. The pregnancy disrupts the education and thus the future of girls. First, she has to be away from the school for a certain period, until the birth of the baby. This period highly disturbs her academic journey. Second, after the birth of the infant, it is disturbing for the teenage girl to accept her new role of being a mother. Thus, the chance of academic progression decreases due to increase in the level of responsibilities .
Teenage pregnancy makes a girl feel ostracized by her friends, classmates, and even teachers. Such behaviour usually makes her more frustrated and confused, if her boyfriend and family also behave the same way. This, in turn develops a negative behaviour in a teenager towards school. Even at some schools, teenagers are expelled from school due to involvement in sexual activities and pregnancy, considering them as a symbol of immortality and as a negative example for other students. During the period of pregnancy, girls expect to be treated with delicacy and special care, but, unfortunately, the case is opposite. Such kind of reception of behaviour from school limits her chances of success .
Fergusson & Lianne (2000), conducted research on 520 young women and were studied since from birth. The study found a relationship between the teenage pregnancy and educational underachievement. It was found that the teenage women who became pregnant under the age of 18 years were at higher risk of poor achievement in exams, failing to complete sixth form year and leaving school without completing qualifications. Subsequent analysis showed that the behaviour, early academic ability, and family circumstances of the girl became the major reason of teenage pregnancy.
Pregnancy is a major factor that limits the educational attainment of a teenage mother. Zachry (2005), found in the study that the reason of teenage mothers leaving school is more to do with an environment of the school. Their past experience at school and the policies are more disturbing than being pregnant. Review was collected from teenage mothers. They expressed negative views about education and school environment.
In other research, it was studied that parents between the age of 13 and 19 or teenage students who have children have often dropped out of school because of high pressure on them. They experience stigmatization due to early parenting, lack of support from family, friends, social service agencies, schools, and other organizations, and isolation from peers .
Teenage parents due to lack of support are unable to continue their studies and excel in their future. Brosh, Weigel, & Evans (2007), conducted research and found that in the year 2002, only 10% of teenage mothers (15 to 17 years) graduated on time from high school. It was also estimated that 67% of a teenage mother were never able to graduate. According to National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS), on average, students take 13.9 years of education. However, teenage parents take a total of 11.9 years of education, but this can be improved if students have access of resources .
Kirby (2001), crafted certain programs that could help in reducing teen pregnancy. It has been found that the rate of teenage pregnancy has been reduced since year 1991, and it is still declining with every passing year. It was observed that HIV and sex education programs have helped in influencing positive effects on behaviour of teenagers. There is a program introduced for 3 years for educating teenagers, i.e. Children’s Aid Society – Carrera Program. This program combined both areas that are sex education and youth development. It is most probable to reduce teenage pregnancies for as long as 3 years. Further, programs have also been introduced regarding the prevention of teenage pregnancies.
References
Brosh, J., Weigel, D., & Evans, W. (2007). Pregnant and parenting adolescents’ perception of sources and supports in relation to educational goals. Child Adolescent Social Work Journal, 565-578.
Crosby, R., DiClemente, R. J., Wingood, G. M., Harrington, K., & Davies, S. (2002). Low Parental Monitoring Predicts Subsequent Pregnancy Among African-American Adolescent Females. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 43-46.
DuRant, R. H., & Pendergrast, R. (1990). Sexual behavior among Hispanic female adolescents in the United States. Pediatrics.
Fergusson, D. M., & Lianne, J. (2000). Teenage Pregnancy and Female Educational Underachievement: A Prospective Study of a New Zealand Birth Cohort. Journal of Marriage and Family, 147-161.
Helen, C. (2013). The challenges experienced by teenage mothers in secondary schools : the case of Hlanganani South Circuit. University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus).
Holgate, H., Evans, R., & Francis, Y. (2006). Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood: Global Perspectives, Issues and Interventions. Routledge.
Kirby, D. (2001). Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy. American Journal of Health Education, 348-355.
Kost, K., Henshaw, S., & Carlin, L. (2010). U.S. teenage pregnancies, births, and abortions: National and state trends and trends by race and ethnicity. Retrieved from http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/USTPtrends.pdf
Lemos, G. (2009). Reducing Teenage Pregnancies and their Negative Effects in the UK. Freedom's Consequences.
Melhado, L. (2007). Teenage parents’ educational attainment is affected more by available resources than by parenthood. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 184-185.
Raj, D., Rabi, B., & Amudha, P. (2010). Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy in South Asia: a systematic review. Health Science Journal, 612-645.
Sonnenschein, S., & Baker, L. (1992). Mother's Views on Teaching their Preschoolers in Everyday Situation. Early Education and Development.
Zachry, E. M. (2005). Getting my Education: Teen mothers’ experiences in school before and after motherhood. Teachers College Record.
Zukerman, D. (2012). Teen Mothers as Targets for Violence. National Center of Health Research.
