Introduction
Teen's pregnancy is one of the major challenges facing most families in US. Teen's pregnancy results from unprotected sex amongst the teenagers (13 to 19 years). These early pregnancies are not desired because they are detrimental to the young mother and her child. The young mothers are cannot fully take care of the child because they are mostly in school and under care of the parents for financial supports. Therefore, teen pregnancies make most of these young mothers to jeopardise their education and overburden their parents. The major cause of these teen pregnancies includes; rape, peer pressure, negligence from parents, media influence, socioeconomic factors and drugs and alcohol amongst others. Teen pregnancies results to health risks to both the mother and siblings. Research has shown that teen pregnancies are major problem to not only the mother and her child but also the family and nation at large. Therefore, this essay will focus on teen pregnancy and its effects to the mother, sibling, and family and to the nation.
Effects of teen pregnancy
As it had been aforementioned, the mother, the child, the family and the nation experience the effects of teen pregnancy that include medical, education, health, psychological and socioeconomic effects. Teenage pregnancy is detrimental to the education of the girl. These young girls (teens) are mostly in high school when they get pregnant. The pregnancy results to majority of girls dropping out of school. However, some from rich families stays out of school temporarily during the birth and lactation period, and then they go back to school after about one year. This makes them to lose time, which is difficult to recover. Their performance also declines because of the extra responsibility of child bearing. On the other hand, their colleagues are able to advance in their career and get jobs and hence professional growth. Contrary to this, those who drop out of school because of teen pregnancy always get difficult in life afterwards because they are not able to attain high qualifications and skills that a competitive job market requires. They are thus employed for jobs that require little or no technical skills and qualifications. These jobs pay less resulting to financial constraints. It is also worth no note that some do not get jobs completely. In fact, most studies have shown that teenage mothers are associated with low annual income and thus poverty.
Secondly, circumstances also force some of the teen mothers to marry at a tender age. Research has shown that pregnant teen mother always prefer the father of the unborn baby to marry her especially when the girl comes from a poor family or in case she wants to evade the resulting stigma. If the father of the child is poor, then there are challenges in bringing up the baby. In addition, the father of the child could be a married man and thus the young teen is forced to be the second third or fourth wife. This will complicate her life and make it difficult for her to achieve her future dreams.
Thirdly, teen pregnancy has been associated with increased likelihood of complications, for instance, premature birth. This results to early birth that can also result to the death of the infant. Teenage pregnancy can also result to health complications that can lead to the death of the mother. It has also been noted that, teenage females who are not prepared to bear a child get frustrated when they become pregnant. These frustrations makes majority of them to turn to alcohol, drug and substance abuse. These cause more problems to their lives. In addition, to drug and substance abuse, expectant teenager may be forced to abort the child. Abortion is dangerous as it predisposes the mother to death.
Research has also shown that teenage mothers experience many health problems as compared to their counterpart who are older (aged above twenty years). These health problems include; premature birth, anaemia, low birth weight, difficulties in childbirth due to underdeveloped pelvis, maternal death, infant death, and eclampsia. These health problems are more pronounced in teenagers under the age of fifteen than above fifteen years.
Teen pregnancy also affects the born child. Most teenage mothers give birth to low weight babies. These can results to health complications, which can exist throughout the life of the child. Children born to teenage mother's faces high chances of health risks that retard their cognitive (brain) development. For instance, research has shown that children born to teen mothers experiences language delay that affects the intelligence of the baby. That is, teen pregnancy affects the development of the child including psychological and emotional development. For instance, children from single mothers are mocked are mocked and intimidated by others in school. This affects his/her performance in school. Children born to teenage mothers are likely to become teenage mothers, fathers, and thus propagating teenage pregnancy.
Teenage pregnancy can be prevented through various ways. These include parental guide; sexual education; and use of contraceptives. Combining the three factors together is more effective in preventing teenage pregnancy.
Conclusion
References
Flinn, S., & Hauser, D. (1998). Teenage Pregnancy: The Case for Prevention. An Analysis of Recent Trends and Federal Expenditures Associated with Teenage pregnancy. Washington: DC: Advocates for Youth.
Henshaw, S. (2009). U.S. Teenage pregnancy statistics with comparative statistics for women aged 20- 24. New York: Alan Guttmacher Institute.
Swierzewski, S. J. (2000, October 31). Teen Pregnancy, Consequences of Teenage Pregnancy. Retrieved January 7, 2014, from http:www.healthcommunities.com/teen- pregnancy.
Terry, E., & Manlove, J. (2012). Trends in Sexual Activity and Contraceptive Use Among Teens. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
