Teen Pregnancy
Introduction
Among the industrialized nations, United States has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy, with numerous teenage females becoming pregnant at any given instance. Teen pregnancy is a crisis that concerns the baby, parents, other members of the family, as well as resources of the community. Every year, approximately 750,000 women aged 15 to 19 become pregnant every year (Guttmacher Institute, 2006). Further, child births from teen mothers represent eleven percent of all births in the United States (Guttmacher Institute, 2006). Yet in recent years the amount of sexual content being shown on television and other sources of media has increased. Yet consequentially, there is little representation on practices of safe sex in TV portrayals.
Causes
A recent study claimed that teenage pregnancies are linked with television programs with sexual content (Yahoo News, 2008). Teenagers obtain a significant amount of information regarding sex through TV and such programs do not generally emphasize the responsibilities and risks of sex. The study established that television program with sexual content generate teenagers’ perception that there is little risk of sex with no contraception. Consequently, it may be regarded that the low contraceptive use in modern times among United States teenagers is the result of unconstructive sexual contents in television programs. A teenager who is sexually active but does not use contraceptives within a year has a 90 percent possibility of becoming pregnant (Guttmacher Institute, 2006).
Nevertheless, despite the numerous elements that can influence teen pregnancy, for many teenagers, the lack of safe sex education from schools, parents, or otherwise is the root cause of teenage pregnancy. Generally, teenagers are not taught regarding the means of birth control and how to respond with friends who compel them into having sexual intercourse before they are prepared.
Consequences
Among the industrialized nations, United States has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy, with numerous teenage females becoming pregnant at any given instance. Teen pregnancy is a crisis that concerns the baby, parents, other members of the family, as well as resources of the community. Every year, approximately 750,000 women aged 15 to 19 become pregnant every year (Guttmacher Institute, 2006). Further, child births from teen mothers represent eleven percent of all births in the United States (Guttmacher Institute, 2006). Yet in recent years the amount of sexual content being shown on television and other sources of media has increased. Yet consequentially, there is little representation on practices of safe sex in TV portrayals.
Causes
A recent study claimed that teenage pregnancies are linked with television programs with sexual content (Yahoo News, 2008). Teenagers obtain a significant amount of information regarding sex through TV and such programs do not generally emphasize the responsibilities and risks of sex. The study established that television program with sexual content generate teenagers’ perception that there is little risk of sex with no contraception. Consequently, it may be regarded that the low contraceptive use in modern times among United States teenagers is the result of unconstructive sexual contents in television programs. A teenager who is sexually active but does not use contraceptives within a year has a 90 percent possibility of becoming pregnant (Guttmacher Institute, 2006).
Nevertheless, despite the numerous elements that can influence teen pregnancy, for many teenagers, the lack of safe sex education from schools, parents, or otherwise is the root cause of teenage pregnancy. Generally, teenagers are not taught regarding the means of birth control and how to respond with friends who compel them into having sexual intercourse before they are prepared.
Consequences