Teen Pregnancy in the United States

Factors that Lead to Teen Pregnancy Although the overall rate of teen pregnancy has been declining, the rates have remained high for teens that are most vulnerable. The great majority of Americans believe that teen pregnancies are a serious national problem, indeed a problem that is the major component of what is thought to be national moral decline. However, what causes these teens to become pregnant at such a young age? A large body of research has identified a number of factores that underlie teen sexual and contraceptive behavior, pregnancy, and childbearing. There exists a three part framework of the factors underlying teen pregnancy.

Annual Review Of Sex Research, 18(1), 143-177 Lewis, K., Lesesne, C, Zanhiser, S.C., Wilson, M. W., Desiderio, G., Wandersman, A., Green, D. A. (2012). Developing a prevention synthesis and translation system to promote science-based approaches to teen pregnancy, HIV and STI prevention. American Journal of Community Psychology. 50, 553-571. doi 10 1007/s10464-012-9510-1 Medoff, M. (2010).

There has been a decline in unplanned pregnancies rates, however, the level are still too high. Unmarried pregnancy in teenagers has already had a huge impact on society in the United States. On an individual level and a larger spectrum the effects have been felt on broader level. There are so many unfavorable consequences that are associated with premarital teen childbearing. The teen pregnancy, poverty, and income disparity article states that “two-thirds of families begun by a young unmarried mother are poor” as noted by (Teen pregnancy, poverty, and income disparity, 2010).

Not only are children of teen parents more likely to be unhealthy physically but sometimes emotionally as well. A teen cannot provide the fostering environment that a baby needs to develop. Although teen pregnancy rates declined throughout the 1990s, a 3 percent jump in births to teen mothers between 2005 and 2006 raised alarm that sex education programs and campaigns to reduce teen motherhood were failing (ProQuest). Various methods of contraceptives and the righteous yet difficult choice of abstinence are among possible solutions Preventing teen pregnancy is an issue in the United States of utmost importance and society as a whole must convince teens in a more innovative , extreme way and they must push forward now. As a result of teen pregnancies mothers and fathers are having to work extra hard to have an optimistic future.

Now adolescents need to know the pros and cons when making a decision to have sex. An adolescent’s cultural background may play a role in whether or not the adolescent has been educated about sex. According to Weyman (2008), sex and relationships education is learning about sex, sexuality, emotions, relationships, sexual health and ourselves. Another issue that stems from lack of education is the increase in teen pregnancy at an early age (Carlson & Tanner, 2006). Even though the teenage pregnancy has dropped in this country, the United States still has the highest teenage pregnancy of any developed country (Fantasia, 2008).

The Center of Disease Control and prevention affirmed on June 26 what other agencies, such as the National Center for Health Statistics, have been saying over the course of this year: “The teen pregnancy rate is dropping. The number of teenage girls across the country who became pregnant fell 12 percent between 1991 and 1996. This drops affects girls, of different races and socioeconomic backgrounds, in all states. But the problem remains; The U.S. teen pregnancy rate is the highest of any industrialized countries. Babies born in the U.S. to teenager mothers are at risk for long-term problems in many major areas of life, including school failure, poverty, and physical or mental illness.

In the developed countries, teenage pregnancy occurs outside of marriage, thus leads to the development of social stigma in variety of cultures and communities (Carlson, 2009). Teen pregnancies often carry additional health risks to the baby and the mother. Basically, they lack timely and suitable prenatal care hence posses a higher risk for pregnancy related complications such as the high blood pressure. The mother also risks the life of the baby due to the premature birth. The teen mother experiences a tremendous dilemma after realizing that some physical changes are substantiating her pregnancy.

Stable jobs are typically harder to find with a lack of higher education and cause financial instability for the mother. From its peak in 1990, teen pregnancy rates have declined by 42% by 2008 (Healthyteennetwork.org) yet this is still higher than any first world country. Teen pregnancy is an ongoing battle and should be considered won when it is eradicated.

About 2/3 of all shows, excluding sports and news, and 83 percent of music and movies watched by teens include sexual content (Brown11-4) Poverty and lack of academic success contribute, there is mounting evidence that poor academic success and bad parenting lead to teen pregnancy. Babies from teen mothers usually have poor health, lower grades, and have lower cognitive tests scores (Witte 137-54). The majority of children from an unplanned pregnancy are born to unmarried women. Children raised in single parent families face more challenges; they are more likely to be poor, dropout, lower grade point average, and poor school attendance records (Brown 11-4). Other causes of teen pregnancy can be due to the “teen rebellious stage”, and girls that feel like they aren’t getting enough attention and think getting pregnant is the only way to feel important (Kirby 89-94).

Teen pregnancy ends dreams and lead teens down path of hardships, and emotionally disparity. This example has caused some people to look down on this fundable trend. Effects of teen pregnancy are homelessness, government, health problems, population, and parent’s involvement. Teen pregnancy can be looked down at as discuses, and irresponsible behavior. Most pregnancy’s happen to more underprivileged people and families.