Introduction
There have been numerous researches investigating the health risk factors facing adolescent mothers, as well as their babies. This indicates that child bearing for teen mothers presents a daunting task and a challenging experience due to lack of preparedness and experience. Infants born of teenage mothers have a higher preference of developing varying health risks and even neonatal death. Teenage mothers have been associated with poor eating habits and caring less about prenatal care, which is essential in monitoring the health of the mother as well as the growth of the fetus. In addition, there has been a higher preference for teen mothers engaging in substance and drug abuse, which increases the health risks facing the mother and child.
Brief Outline
This paper aims at exploring the preference of incidences of teen mothers and their babies developing health complications and risks. For example, there is a high possibility that such children will receive improper nutrition, health care, cognition and social stimulation. As a result, these children always suffer from risk of poor academic performances when they attend school. In addition, children born of teenage mothers have a higher risk of abuse and neglect, which affects their social, emotional and cognitive development.
Therefore, teen mothers have a higher health risk during pregnancy and after child delivery from the effects on her body and the mental state of the mother after child delivery. The health risks facing teen mothers include premature birth, low weight birth and neonatal death among other health risks (Roth, et al, 1998). There is a high possibility that a teen mother will suffer from postpartum depression after the first few months of delivery.
The Risk of Teen Mother Having Low Birth Weight Babies
In this article, Roth, et al (1998) explored the relationship between teenage mothers and delivery of low birth babies. According to their study, the probability of bearing a low birth baby from teenage mothers was doubles that of older women. This increases the risk of mortality for such children, as well as high incidences of neurological impairments. In addition, such children have a high probability of fine motor dysfunction and delays in development of the child.
In this study, Roth, et al, (1998) also observed that the incidence of premature birth among teenage mothers was higher as compared to older mothers. They also explored the factors behind low birth weight among teen mother, which were classified into biological and sociological factors. In this article, they also explored remedial actions such as promotion of health lifestyle choices and reduction of unwanted pregnancies as essential in improving health of teen mothers and their babies.
Babies of Teenage Mothers Have Higher Risk of Neonatal Death
In this article, Boseley, (2009) explores the incidence of neonatal death among children born of teen mothers. In the article, the general observation is that the incidence of neonatal death among teenage mothers is high based on previous researches. The article attributes the high neonatal death among teenage mothers to social deprivation of teenage mothers. However, it also recognizes the aspect of lifestyle as an important factor in determining the probability of neonatal death. For example, it identifies that smoking pregnant mothers have a higher probability of bearing low weight babies. In addition, the article observes that prenatal care is essential, but the majority of teen mothers care less about such care.
Effects of a Prenatal Care Intervention for Adolescent Mothers on Birth Weight, Repeat Pregnancy, and Educational Outcomes at One Year Postpartum
In this article, Ford, et al, (2002) evaluates the effects of prenatal care for teenage mothers on birth weight repeat pregnancy and their educational outcomes. In their research, they established that approximately a third of teenage mothers receive inadequate prenatal care. This increases the probability of the children born of these mothers having low birth weight. In their inquiry, they also evaluated the years of schooling at one year establishing school attendance at one year postpartum. The studies established that teenage mothers who participated in the prenatal care were more likely to continue with their studies. The article concludes that teenage mothers who participate in the prenatal care are more likely to have more positive outcomes as compared to ones who did not attend the prenatal care.
References
Arai, L. (2009). Teenage Pregnancy: The Making and Unmaking of a Problem. London: The
Policy Press.
Boseley, S. (2009, June 24). Babies of teenage mothers have higher risk of neonatal death. Retrieved August 4, 24, from Theguardian: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/jun/24/teenage-mothers-more-baby-deaths
Kathleen, F., Linda, W., Kershaw, T., Schram, C., Hoyer, P. J., & Jacobson, M. L. (2002 ).
Effects of a Prenatal Care Intervention for Adolescent Mothers on Birth Weight, Repeat Pregnancy, and Educational Outcomes at One Year Postpartum. Journal of Perinatal Education , 35–38.
Roth, J., Hendrickson , J., Schilling, M., & Stowell, D. (1998). The Risk of Teen Mother Having Low Birth Weight Babies. Journal of School Health, 271-275.
