Abstract
Teenage pregnancy is a major problem affecting teenagers around globe. This is serious problem since it forces young girls and boys to drop out of school. Chances of these teenagers getting back to school after giving birth or later in life are minute. Thus, the dreams of these teen advancing to college and securing white collar jobs with sustainable income are shuttered. As such these girls and boys are forced to become young mothers and fathers at tender age while doing two to three jobs to have enough income to take care of the baby. Additionally, this problem does not only affect the young mother and the child, but also the extend family and the country at large will be affected with the burden of giving care to the child. The statistics from CDC indicate the prevalence of early pregnancy among teenagers is alarming. Causes of this high prevalence is lack of sexual knowledge, peer pressure, media and experimental. Therefore, there is need to set up a program in Egg Harbor, New Jersey, that will ensure teenagers have adequate sex educate and knowledge on how to manage sexual relationships. In addition, the aim this intervention apart from reducing prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Egg Harbor, New Jersey, is to create awareness of adverse effects of teenage pregnancy and measures which can be taken to address this problem. Thus, this paper will highlight the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, it adverse effects, theory to guide the intervention process, program implementation, evaluation and make conclusion in regards to teenage pregnancy.
Even though a majority of teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19 years complete their high school education, many of them fail to achieve this feat. The main culprit behind this development is attributed to teenage pregnancy. In this instance, those who fall, a victim of teenage pregnancy, indicate they did not intend to be pregnant, or to cause a pregnancy. For this reason, this highlights a serious issue among the American youth and the need to develop appropriate intervention measures to reduce the resulting figures. In this case, this paper will provide relevant details about teenage pregnancy, the implications, and effects of adolescent parenthood, and as such, introduce a relevant project that is focused on reducing the prevalence of this issue as well as the overall adverse effects created by its occurrence. In addition, the proposed project will aim to address various objectives that guide its implementation as well as the overall evaluation of the results.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), approximately 24.2 births occurred in a population of 1000 females between the ages of 15-19 years in the year 2014. This represented 249,078 births of children born in this age group. These figures illustrate a decline of 9% than compared to trends in 2013 in which case the birth rate stood at 26.5 births per 1000 adolescent females. However, the good news is that this trend has been reducing in the recent past. This is proven by the 1991 data on the same, the birth rate in the U.S was reported as 61.8 births per 1,000 adolescent females. Despite the drastic decline, the figures in the U.S still remain to be one of the highest when compared to other developed countries such as the U.K and Canada. The situation is made critical when the teenage pregnancy becomes more than a first-time birth. In order to illustrate the seriousness of teenage pregnancy, it is imperative to first discuss the effects of adolescent pregnancy as explained further below:
Teenage Pregnancy
Despite the tremendous progress with regards to health care has been achieved in the U.S as illustrated in increased accessibility to health care and an overall improvement of the health of the American population, a cause for concern still lingers with regards to the teenage population, in which case the progress that pertains to their health status remains wanting. This aspect has been associated with teenage pregnancy. The majority of pregnancies that occur during teenage years are often unplanned. The underlying reason attributed to this trend may be associated with the following reasons:
Peer pressure
The majority of the youth are often under intense pressure to conform to their peers. Therefore, by virtue of seeking acceptance in the social order, a large number of adolescents fall prey to this trend. In the event one of the more socially accepted friends engage in sex, others may want to follow suit in order to develop the aspect of relativity and increase their acceptance in their target social circles. As a result, if necessary pregnancy prevention measures are not followed, such individuals become victims of teenage pregnancy
Media Influences
The aspect of pop lifestyles as displayed in the media play an influential role in the lives of adolescents. During their developmental stage, teenagers aim to develop an identity that is more inclined towards gaining social acceptance in the society. As a result, they often tend to look to celebrities as role models and as such emulate their behavior. Some of their behavior may be wayward hence influencing the affected adolescent to engage in sexual activity in order to gain acceptable social status just like their celebrity ‘mentors.’
Experiments
The adolescent period is one that is encompassed with various developmental changes in terms of the physiological and emotional makeup. As a result, the rate of curiosity is high among teenagers as they try to understand how such changes affect their lives. Therefore, they are more prone to experiment new behaviors, sexual engagements being one of these.
Adequate Knowledge
In as much as the education system is comprised of a sexual education curriculum, most teenagers do not associate with the lessons taught. In this case, such lessons may be taught by unqualified individuals, for instance, a gym instructor taking up a sex education class, and as such fail to relate with the experience. Since such teenagers do not understand the consequences of their actions, they may be tempted to engage in sex, thereby leading to teenage pregnancy.
In addition to the reasons explained above, it is important to also understand the effects of teenage pregnancy in order to relate the importance of an intervention program meant to solve this issue.
Adverse Effects of Teenage Pregnancy
The aspect of teenage pregnancy does not only affect the young would-be mothers and fathers but also affects their parents and the society in general as discussed further below:
Emotional Stress
Upon the realization of one being pregnant at a fairly young age, the teenager in question often experiences emotional stress. This aspect is caused by his/her uncertainty regarding the future and how they are going to raise the child without any stable foundation, financially and emotionally speaking.
Education
A large majority of teenagers fail to complete their high school education. According to Akella and Jordan (2011), approximately 50% of teenage mother receive their high school diploma. In addition, only 30% earn a General Education Development (GED) certificate. These figures are compared with the 90% of female teenagers who did not get pregnant receive a high school diploma.
Negative Effects on the Child
Children who are born of teenage parents often experience a higher risk of low birth weight as well as infant mortality than compared to those born of fairly older parents. As a result in the former instance, such children are likely to develop health associated illnesses. In addition, the children are more likely to face cognitive and social acceptance issues as they are at a higher risk of experiencing low self-esteem.
Tax Burden
As a result of social relief programs that are dedicated to the issue of teenage pregnancy, a lot of tax money is spent for their maintenance. According to Akella and Jordan (2011), financial implications associated with teenage pregnancy account for approximately $11 billion annually catered by tax payer’s money. This figure takes into consideration, the associated costs in foster care, health care, incarceration costs, and the estimated loss in tax revenue. As a result, this accounts for the higher costs of living for the entire society as a result of this issue.
As a result of the explanation of the underlying causes and the adverse effects associated with teenage pregnancy, an appropriate intervention measure can be implemented as discussed further below:
Teenage Pregnancy Program
The proposed program is geared towards two main facets, that is, on prevention of teenage pregnancy, and on proper intervention measures to teenage parents to prevent the repeat of another teen pregnancy. The program encompasses the aspect of proper sex education away from classroom walls. In this case, the proposed project involves the formation of a support group initiative where those already facing teenage pregnancy can obtain emotional and directional support from mentors, who were previously teenage parents. This aspect introduces a relativity aspect as the would-be teenage parents will relate to their experience.
With proper emotional support structures, they can have the confidence they need to navigate through the potential challenges and hurdles they are most likely to face. In the instance of preventing teenage pregnancy, the program involves the consideration of the design of a boot camp where teenagers would receive advice from those who have already faced a similar situation. In addition, the discussions will involve topics such as abstinence and measures that can be considered to prevent the occurrence of pregnancy such as the use of condoms and birth control. This is in relation to Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Despite the state performing well with regards to this issue following the steady decline in the number of childbirths over the years (32 per 1000 births in the year 2000, and 23 per 1000 births in the year 2005), the overall national increase in the number of teenage births presents a worrying trend. In essence, the following are the objectives guiding the program:
1. To reduce the prevalence of teenage pregnancy rate in Egg Harbor, New Jersey
2. To conduct appropriate sex education programs
3. To increase awareness of the adverse effects associated with teenage pregnancies
4. To enhance accessibility of the youth to reproductive material and information
Outcome Criteria
In order to assess the progress of the proposed program, various aspects will be taken into consideration. In this case, the enrollment of teenagers into the program will provide a guiding aspect as to the acceptability and participation in the program.
In addition, another measure to assess the outcome of the program will be determined by the prevalence rates of teenage pregnancy. The program will be evaluated on the basis of the comparison of the rate of teenage pregnancies in Egg Harbor.
Learning Theory
According to Parke (2014), the application of learning theories in related contexts provides conceptual frameworks that focus on the absorption, processing and retention of information obtained during learning processes. The interaction with different environmental contexts influences how one understands, in accordance with their worldview, behavior, and how it can be changed in light of new information.
In order to ensure the participants of the program are able to engage in the lessons proposed to be provided at the educational centers, the most appropriate learning theory to adopt is that of social learning theory by Bandura.
The social learning theory is premised on the aspect that individuals learn new behaviors through interaction with others in a social setting. In this case, there is a reciprocal interaction that occurs between cognitive, environmental, and behavioral determinants of behavior by human beings (868). This theory is deemed appropriate for addressing prevention-based programs. For instance, it can be applied in the theory is based on four aspects as explained below:
Differential Association
According to Parke (2014), this element takes into consideration either direct or indirect interaction with others and which in turn exposes appropriate or inappropriate behavior as well as a range of behavioral models. In this instance, an individual’s inner circle becomes a source of behavioral model therefore a reference point in terms of behavior imitation. An individual’s inner circle hence a source of imitation includes family and friends.
Definitions
In this case, an individual is able to identify acceptable behavior and codes of conduct as well as attitudes and values by him/herself. Definitions are often developed from the differential association. In the event that some definitions conform to socially accepted values, this preempts the reduction in certain behaviors.
Differential Reinforcement
In accordance with this aspect, Individuals experience the resulting consequences of their actions. If in some instance the consequences are unpleasant, they may discourage a repeat of an action by the concerned individual. In the same way, if the consequences are pleasant, they may be rewarded hence encouraging the repeat of the respective action.
Imitation
A person is able to emulate behavior from another individual who has experienced the same. In this case, one can observe behavior, assess its consequences and adopt the behavior if acceptable and in line with an individual’s attitudes and values. This aspect often takes place when a close association is involved.
The application of social learning theory is appropriate with regards to the issue of teenage pregnancy. In this case, since there is a lack of proper models or mentors to whom teenagers can emulate their behavior, the theory will provide a basis for this establishment, thereby relating the various elements it encompasses in the context of the program.
Implementation of Proposed Program
The social learning theory is relevant in the context of teenage pregnancy as it will allow implementation in the following ways:
In terms of the boot camp, the teenagers will be able to interact with each other in a friendly environment where issues concerning sex will be addressed. For instance, they can practice and exercise various intervention measures such as practicing to say no to pressurized sex. In this case, they can role play in an attempt to relate with the potential situations.
Since sexual behavior is often influenced by aspects surrounding skills, attitudes, values, and personal behavior, these aspects are related in the context provided by social learning theory.
The involvement of individuals who were previously teenage parents to participate in the program will be vital in providing an element of proper role models. In this case, their experience can be related to by other teenagers in their position and as such can be able to navigate through potential challenges. Their experience will also discourage participation in early sex without proper pregnancy prevention measures.
Evaluation Plan
The two facets of the program will be evaluated in the following ways:
Boot camp
This aspect of the program will ensure that relevant reproductive material and information is available to the participating teenagers. In this case, the learners will be provided with interesting educational content that is developed based on the changing trends in order to create relativity with the information presented. Therefore, this aspect will be evaluated on the basis of the material provided to the teenagers and whether it relates to the current needs of the society as well as a general decline in prevalence rates in teenage pregnancy in Egg Harbor.
Support Group Initiative
In this case, the participation of mentors will provide relevant guidance to teenagers who are already in this position. As a result, they can navigate through the potential hurdles with ease. This aspect will be evaluated on the basis of reduced repetition of teenage pregnancy to the participating teenagers.
Conclusion
The issue of teenage pregnancy, though it has reduced its prevalence with time, remains a contentious issue. Therefore, the implementation of relevant projects and programs is geared to reduce its occurrence.
References
Akella, D., & Jordan, M. (2011). Impact of social and cultural factors on teen pregnancy. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice. Vol. 8, No. 1. Retrieved from http://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1332&context=jhdrp
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Teenage pregnancy in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm
Parke, R. D. (2014). Recent trends in social learning theory. New York: Academic Press.
