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Importance of preventing teenage pregnancies
Limitations of sex education
Limitations of sex education
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Recommended: Importance of preventing teenage pregnancies
Effects of Teenage Pregnancy in the United States
Have you experienced teenage pregnancy, or know someone who has? Approximately one million teens aged 15–19 years become pregnant each year in the United States. This translates to 40% of females becoming pregnant before they reach the age of 20 (Newsweek. May 11, 1998: 40). The issue came into effect to society during the 1950s and early 1960s, the rates of early maternity among teens reached historical peaks. When faced with a dilemma in society, teenage girl often prepare for early maternity.
There are many reasons teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant. Some cases; they want to have a baby, society surroundings, in-home relations, emotions, inconsistent use of birth control, if any at all, and absents of father figure are just a few scenarios. Teens that are sexually active tend to become pregnant unintentionally due to lack of education on sexually activity. Some girls feel that society and peer pressure are results of sex. However, there many government programs who fund and commit to helping teens get education on sexual activity and how to protect yourself if sexuality active. Most governments only focus on abstinence, so not all schools can teach sex education , meaning that teens are not getting proper information on birth control and are more than likely to engage in activity that in the end results in early pregnancy.
Teens will use birth control to help prevent teen pregnancy, but most of them do not use contraceptives consistently. Teens who wish not use birth control are higher risk for teen pregnancy. A sexually active teen that does not use any birth control has a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year (Teen Help, 2014). Reason that birth control is not used consecutively may include the non-education of birth control, uncomfortable or embarrassed about using birth control, or even not being able to access a reliable source for birth control. Due to cultural differences Hispanics and Blacks have the highest rates of teen pregnancy.
The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion in the world. Nearly one million teen girls get pregnant each year. Nearly four out of 10 young women get pregnant at least once before they turn 20. Each year the federal government alone spends about $40 billion to help families that began with a teenage birth (Flinn, Hauser; 1998).
The District of Columbia is the 23rd most population city in the United States with a population of 658,893 (Census). According to UNICEF, teen pregnancy is defined as “A teenage girl, usually within the ages of 13-19, becoming pregnant” ((Link 1). Nationally in the United States, there has been a steady decline of teen pregnancy within the past decade. However, it is not occurring in the District of Columbia, specifically Southeast DC (Ward 7 and 8) which includes areas such as: Lincoln Heights, Twining, Anacostia and Woodland. As of 2011, DC was ranked number nine in the nation for the highest rate of teen pregnancy. For the total amount of births, only 908 were from young women who were below the age of 20 in Washington DC. About 879 were from young women that were around high school ages 15-19. Specifically, Southeast DC is a low-income area, with approximately ¼ of teen mothers going on welfare within three years after their child’s birth (Link 2). As of 2012, out of the 790 births from teenage mothers, more than half, or 457 of the births mainly occurred in the Southeast DC area (Link4). This area has been plagued through various social determinants of health. This includes having repeated cycles of poverty, lack of comprehensive sexual education, especially in regards to contraception and a lot of violence occurring as a result of crimes. Ward 7 has approximately 95% of its citizens being Black and 2.3% of their citizens are Hispanic(Link 5). While in Ward 8 have about 94% of their citizens that are Black and 1.8% are Hispanic. Between both wards, about 63% of households including both Blacks and Hispanics are living below the federal poverty line and about 37% of births from the 2010 census were from teenage mothers. Abo...
According to the March of Dimes, "nearly thirteen percent of all births in the United States were teens ages fifteen to nineteen. Almost one million teenagers become pregnant each year and about 485,000 give birth (Teenage 1).
To begin with, there are many common reasons why teenage pregnancy takes place. In fact, 60% of teenage mothers come from economically disadvantaged households and perform poorly in school. Alex McKay, research coordinator for the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada, explains, "Young women who feel optimistic about their future tend not to get pregnant. Young women who are starting to feel discouraged about their employment are more likely to get pregnant." Moreover, 79% of teen pregnancies happen to unmarried teen couples. The male is usually older than the female in the relationship, and pressures the girl into having unprotected sex. Girls born to teenage mothers also have a 22% higher chance of becoming teen moms themselves, for they often live in a poor environment, like their mothers once did. Significantly, those affected by teenage pregnancy have many similarities.
The Feminist Women’s Health Center explain that teenagers who are sexually active who does not use any contraception has a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant within the first 12 months of being sexually active. Teens also become pregnant when contraceptive methods, such as birth control pills and condoms fail. In those groups of teens who become pregnant, more than one-third obtain an abortion, a forceful termination of the pregnancy through the removal of the embryo or fetus from the uterus. (Welton)
Americans take great pride in their leadership among nations. Such a distinction becomes embarrassing however when the title is claimed for the highest teenage pregnancy rate of any developed nation with nearly one million pregnancies each year. There has been extensive research on the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy which has yielded important information about pregnancy rates and risk factors. Researchers concur that pregnancy is a time of dramatic transition. A first time pregnancy propels the mother from the status of woman to mother. While these changes are noteworthy for the adult woman confronting pregnancy, their effect is frequently magnified when the expecting mother is an adolescent. Adolescent childbearing has become a prominent social issue because of the broad social and economic consequences (Harvy, 1995).
Although teachers are meant to teach this, a lot of teenagers will not understand or may just dismiss the matter and will learn from television or other teenagers and may be misled in to believing certain things about the matter e.g. The hit television soap ? Coronation Street? had a story line involving a teenage girl who got pregnant and her life turned out fine with no disadvantages. Although some girls may believe this can happen, it is very unlikely. I also feel that parents should not have to bear this burden as it may be embarrassing or uncomfortable explaining this to a
Teen pregnancy, it’s one of the growing problems in today’s society. Teens today have more problems than ever, and in many cases the parents mistake signs of the problems for mere puberty phase. Beginning problem, which often trigger the others, seem to be families. Deeply religious families are most often heavily strict, and that prevents the teenagers to be informed about real life and what are they getting into. When that kind of person gets in a situation where his or her peers are more experienced then them, the outcome is a pressure. During the puberty the teenagers, especially males, are having problems with controlling their needs. It is easy to get pregnant for today’s teenagers, because they face many unbearable problems.
Several causes for teen pregnancy are: the need for affection, acceptance, and unprotected sex. One may have a poor home life and look for affection from a peer. The simple desire to feel loved by another person may be a cause for an unexpected pregnancy. A teen may have a low self-esteem and simply be looking for acceptance in the bedroom. However, many teens that have a wonderful, affectionate family and are very confidante are merely looking for the few minutes of pleasure and avoid using protection. As several teens use the excuse that sex feels better with out a condom, an unwanted pregnancy is likely to occur.
Though the teen birth rate has declined to its lowest levels since data collection began, the United States still has the highest teen birth rate in the industrialized world. Roughly, one in four girls will become pregnant at least once by their 20th birthday. In addition, young people ages 15 to 24 represent 25 percent of the sexually active population, but acquire half of all new STIs.
In conclusion teen pregnancy has hard an effect on society, in many ways. Most teen pregnancies were not planned. CFOS says that about 65% of teen pregnancy's were not even discussed with their sexual partners. All of the other percentage of teen pregnancy's were not planned either, but it had been discussed with the teen's sexual partner at some point in time. Most teens began having sex without knowing the consequences. Teenagers need to take responsibility and remember to keep safe, because there are various ways to prevent teen pregnancy, for example abstinence, sex education, and various types of birth control; because these methods are available children should not be brought into this world mistakenly.
“In 2012, there were 29.4 births for every 1,000 adolescent females ages 15-19, or 305,420 babies born to females in this age group” (Hamilton). Teenage pregnancies were once regarded as normal. Women were once expected to be married and have a family at a young age to ensure lifelong stability. In modern times, teenage pregnancy is considered a taboo subject. MTV began a reality television show in 2009 that popularized pregnancy amongst adolescent females. There are many factors that add to the risk of becoming pregnant during adolescent years, but glamorizing the subject has shown to be the top reason.
As time goes on, teen pregnancy is becoming more and more common throughout the world. So many people frown upon this whole idea. Such people act as if the teenage parents’ world is going to come to an end. Although these kids’ life is going to be making a big turn, there are many of them who are mature enough to take on the responsibilities of a baby.
B. Credibility: (history of your issue)”3 in 10 teen American girls will get pregnant at least once before the age of 20. That’s nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies every year. From 1990 to 2008, the teen pregnancy rate decreased 42 percent. A sexually active teen who doesn’t use contraceptives has a 90 percent chance of becoming pregnant within a year.”(11 facts)
Top countries with highest teenage pregnancies include USA. United States has highest teenage pregnancy rate according to 2013 statistics of 52.1 per 1000 of female’s population age group of around 15-19. Almost that makes 89% of pregnancies outside of the marriage. This is unsupportive act and the OAH’s Pregnancy Assistant Fund is avoiding repeat teenage pregnancies in States and also tribes.
In my opinion, some of the main causes of teenage pregnancy are due to peer pressure from friends and fellow classmates who suggest that having sex during high school is normal casual behavior. There is pressure that suggest if you are not engaging in both oral and sexual intercourse, the belief is that something is wrong with you and the stigma of being a virgin is embarrassing and somehow wrong. Another cause is, but not limited to, unprotected sex (not wearing a condom or not being on birth control). This type of behavior is reckless and considered youthful lust or in some cases sexual deviance. According to Naomi Farber, author of Adolescent Pregnancy, some risk factors of teenage pregnancy are: