Effects of Teenage Pregnancy in the United States

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).