Teenage Pregnancy

Teen Pregnancy: In the 21st Century
Shefali Patel, Matthew R Kauhn, Tammara Cheeks, Aleisha S Shields, and Kalenes Thompson
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Statistics
Thirteen percent of teens have had sex by the age of fifteen. In 2006, through 2012 ninety-six percent or teens used a condom, at least fifty-seven percent used withdrawal and fifty-six used the pill. One in five female is at risk of unintended pregnancy and nineteen percent were not using any contraceptive during intercourse. In 2008 New Mexico had the highest rate of teenage pregnancy along with Mississippi, Texas and Nevada. The lowest rates were 33 percent per one-thousand pregnancies in New Hampshire along with Vermont, Minnesota, North Dakota and Massachusetts. Fifty-eight percent of teen girls who become pregnant report to be upset who become pregnant, twenty-nine percent a little upset and the rest are pleased.
Furthermore, ten percent of all U.S. births are girls who are nineteen and younger. Teens that have children are looked upon as not having a good education. Teen mothers are less likely to graduate from high school and will take time to go back and receive their high school diploma or obtain a GED by the age of twenty-two. Six percent of teen mother’s age fifteen to nineteen received late or no prenatal care at all. Nevertheless, forty-six percent of teen males reported that they would be upset if they were to have a child, thirty-four percent would be a little upset and twenty percent would be pleased or little pleased.
In 2006 African American males ages fifteen to nineteen who became fathers thirty-four per one-thousand male was more than twice the rate twice the rate among white males who were thirty- eighty percent. Furthermore, young people who are the ages of thirteen to twenty-four are made up of seventeen percent of people who are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. in 2008. Fifteen to twenty-four year olds represent one quarter of the sexually active population and they account for half of the 18.9 percent new cases of STI’S. In 2009 forty-four percent of females who were the ages of thirteen through nineteen received one or more doses of the vaccine against HPV. Sex has become such a large issue among the teenage population. Either teens are becoming pregnant at a young age or they are infected with an STI or even worse AIDS.
Teenage pregnancy has risen within the past recent years. The United States has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy. 820,000 ten girls will become pregnant each year which means that thirty- four percent of teen girls have at least one pregnancy before they turn the age of twenty. Furthermore, seventy- nine percent of teenage mothers are not married and have to be single moms. Eighty percent of teen girls who become pregnant are unintended pregnancies and four in ten teenage girls become pregnant during their first sexual intercourse. According to, (Teenage Pregnancy Statistics) the main rise in teenage pregnancy rate is the age of fifteen and close to twenty-five percent have a second child within two-years of the first birth. Furthermore, because teenage moms do not have financial stability the United States pays seven billion dollars to the cost of teenage pregnancy. While it is hard while raising a child in high school one-third of teenage mothers graduate from high school and at the age of thirty only 1.5 percent of women who had a child as a teenager receive a college degree. Eighty percent of teen moms who do not have financial support have to receive welfare and food stamps. Daughters of teen moms are more likely to also teen moms and they make up twenty- two percent. The Centers for Disease Control Prevention National Health Statistics states that birth rates for Latina teens have dropped. The birth rate for Latina teens has dropped to twelve- percent between 2009 and 2010. However, Latina teen mom pregnancy rates are one and half time higher than the national average. Forty-four percent of Latina teen females will become pregnant at least once before the age of twenty compared to three in ten girls overall.
Furthermore, African American teen mom pregnancies ages ten to seventeen are declining. Even though African American teen birth rates may be declining the abortion rate has gone up and is twice the national average. The rate is forty-one percent per one-hundred women among the ages of fifteen through nineteen. The national average abortion rate is eighteen per one-hundred women ages fifteen to nineteen. The African American abortion rate is four times higher than the teen abortion rate among non- Hispanic whites which is at ten per one-thousand women.
Teen Pregnancy and Media
Teenage pregnancy has sky-rocketed in the last decade. It is not uncommon to enter in a local high school and see a pregnant student. Matter of fact, if you asked a teenager if they know a fellow student or a friend that is expecting or has had a baby their answer would most likely be a yes. Media has a great impact on the rates of teen pregnancy. From the way media expresses the glamorous lifestyle and sexual behavior, in our society today attitude towards teen pregnancy has started to become much more relaxed and desirable. The effect of media includes everything from television, movies, music, magazines, etc. Some of the shows that are heavily watched amongst teens are MTVs hit shows like, Teen Mom and 16 & pregnant. Movies such Juno, The Pregnancy Pact, and Knocked up. Magazines play a part by glamorizing celebrity kids wearing designer clothes along with pictures of them smiling living a lavish fun life.
I am sure no individual is new to the MTV shows Teen Mom and 16 & pregnant. The focus behind these shows is giving the audience a look into the life of a teenager who is faced with the reality of becoming pregnant. The choices that she is forced to make not only as a teenager but also as an expecting mother. But do you really believe that shows such as these may be helping teen moms make better choices about pregnancy? Many people argue that shows actually inform the teens by showing them how hard it is to raise a child at such a young age, the affect it has on their social life, as well as hindering their future in education. While this may be true many people including myself, believe that such shows have negative effects on their behaviors. In an interview given by a former cast member of the show Teen Mom, Melia Patria explains that ever since she appeared on the MTVs show her imagine is glamorized in the media. She goes on to explain, “It’s one thing to get pregnant; it’s another thing to become a celebrity for doing that”. Many psychologists state that many teens follow this trend due to their low self-esteem. Teens believe, by getting pregnant they can get their partner to stay, to have someone love them unconditionally, and create a purpose in their life. Many movies today portray the lavish outcome of unexpected pregnancy. Such as in the movies, “Juno” and “Knocked Up”. Knocked up is about a girl and a guy that had a one night stand resulting into an unexpected pregnancy. At the end of the movie that outcome is that the guy and the girl ultimately stay together because of their child, but like any other fiction story it is not realistic to the outcome in real life. Juno is focused on a high school girl that gets pregnant that considers adoption as a choice for her child.
United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the world. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, one in six U.S. girls will become a teen mother. With the teen’s pregnancy rate reaching an all-time high, it comes along with a high price tag. Latest statistics show that it costs public an estimated of 9.1 billion dollars per year for teen childbearing. “There is no fear and shame in teen pregnancy anymore,” states Michelle Hankins. Along with the price tag, teen pregnancy also brings up many health risks to teen mothers. Due to the lack of full development of the teen mother herself, teenage mothers are less likely to gain adequate weight during their pregnancy term, causing low birth weight baby, they are at higher risks of postpartum depression after the delivery of the baby as well. In addition to health problems, children that are born to teenage mothers are at a high chance of experiencing emotional and social development including: * The lack of proper nutrition, health care, social and cognitive stimulation, which can cause a risk for lower academic achievement as the child gets older. * They are also at a higher risk for neglect as well as physical and emotional abuse. * Boys born to teenage mothers are 13% more likely to be incarcerated later in life. * Girls born to teenage mothers are 22% more likely to become teenage mothers themselves. * Teen pregnancy can have severe health problems to both the mother and the child, but there are many measures that we can take as parents and care providers to lower the rates of teen pregnancy by providing education and proper precautions to teens.
Education of Parents on the Subject of Teen Pregnancy
Educating parents in approaching their children on the subject of teen pregnancy is a delicate area that delves into personal belief and sensibility. Many parents will want to take the lead in educating their own children to follow their own beliefs. As indicated in the Social Work Code of Ethics, parents’ wishes and beliefs must be respected. It is also necessary to take into account cross-cultural differences in groups. Many parents are also open to allowing outside help in addressing issues that they are not comfortable in addressing directly with children due to personal upbringing or inability to communicate effectively with their child. In any case social workers must be careful not to inject personal beliefs or interfere with lawful parental authority.
The most effective interventions begin at the source. In this case that is with the parents or family. Outside intervention education that focuses on the individual may be too late in addressing important education that the caregiver can address first. Nevertheless according to a report through the Urban Institute “levels of communication between parents and their teenage sons remain low. Only half of young men today report ever having spoken to their parents about AIDS, STDs, birth control or what would happen if their partner became pregnant.” This shows evidence that many parents are too dependent on others to educate their children to issues that they may face. More focus on educating parents in their role of educating their own children on teen pregnancy and related issues is needed.
The Adolescent Family Life Program (AFL) is a federal program that appears to have a blatant inclusion of the family of the at-risk teenager. Other programs, though effective, only give a notification to the family of the teenager that they will receive education from a specific program. As far as actually educating parents on how to talk to their teenager about pregnancy and prevention The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, which was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, has links on its website specifically geared to help parents to know how to talk comfortably with their children. It contains several how-to videos along with literature that can be downloaded or ordered online. “Talking Back” is a specifically helpful pamphlet that helps parents to become more educated in how to educate their children on teen pregnancy. The site also provides several detailed topics that parents may not think about in educating themselves on what teens are thinking and how to address unusual situations. Currently The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy appears to have the most helpful and comprehensive parental education materials to help parents of at-risk teens assist their children in making the best decisions for their lives.
Parents Role: Teenagers and Sex There is no good reason for parents not to talk to kids about sex. Their parents help them make decisions about sex and other issues. Parents are still the biggest influence in kids’ lives when it comes to moral issues like sex. Every parent has a different reason for not talking to kids about sex. Kids learn about sex in school, so what reason is there for parents to teach them? School sex education classes teach kids about the physical aspects of sex. Parents are there to talk to their kids about the moral and social aspects of sex. The physical part of sex is a very small part of sex talk. The important part is how decisions concerning sex will affect kid 's lives.
Kids don 't want parents butting in to their sex life. Parents can look for opportunities to bring sex up in normal conversation and in reference to the behavior of others. Keep it factual and state your opinions on the subject. Isn 't talking to kids about sex like giving them permission to have it? This is a concern of a lot of good parents but it 's unfounded in truth. Actually, the more parents talk about sex, the more informed kids become. Kids also have a natural urge to rebel. They are less likely to rebel using sex, when parents are open in discussing it. Some parents feel that talking about sex with kids may bring up my own experiences. What if I don 't feel comfortable sharing my sex life with my kids? Also some parents say their kids aren 't asking me about sex, so I don 't need to talk to them, right? Oh so wrong! It is your job as parents to see that kids are prepared for the adult world. This includes straight talk about sex. Include sex talk as part of the regular family banter. My kid’s friends have brainwashed them and they won 't listen to me anyway. Talk to kids about sex in places like the car where they are a captive audience. They may not absorb it all but they can 't stomp off either. The survey conducted through a partnership between Planned Parenthood, the NYU Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health, and Family Circle magazine polled parents and teens living in the same households and found significant discrepancies in what each group believed was being conveyed about sex. The report finds that while 42 percent of parents say they’ve talked to their teens “many times” about how to say no to sex, only 27 percent of teens agree. In fact, 34 percent of teens say they’ve “never” or “only once” talked with their mom or dad about how to delay sex. Only small percentages of teens said they plan to discuss these and other sexuality-related topics with their parents in the future. The results also indicate that parents need to do a better job tackling more-challenging topics, including those involving how teens can act to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
“This survey shows that parents and teens have very different perceptions about how often they’re talking about sex and what’s being said during those talks,” said Leslie Kantor, vice president of Education for Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Parents think they’re giving nuanced advice, but their teens are just hearing directives. We’re offering tips that can help parents talk with their teens in a way that resonates and helps them make smart choices about relationships and sex.
One of the most troubling findings in the survey is the fact that parents are much less likely to address contraception than other issues, like maintaining healthy relationships and navigating consensual sexual experiences. Only about 30 percent of surveyed parents said they have discussed birth control methods many times with their teens, while less than a quarter of teens said they have discussed the topic many times with their parents. On the other hand, a full 93 percent of parents responded that they believe birth control should be covered in high school sex-ed programs, while 78 percent believe that information about birth control should also be provided in middle school.
Although opponents of comprehensive sexuality programs in public schools often claim that conversations about sexuality need to happen at home, these conversations are falling short. While parents agree on the importance of conveying accurate information about sexuality as well as preventative measures like birth control and condoms they are struggling to break through to their teens in a way that guarantees the information is being received. Integrating medically comprehensive discussions about sexual health in the classroom is one way to help ensure that, no matter what gaps emerge in the conversations between teens and their parents, teenagers are fully equipped with the information they need to make healthy choices. • Most teenagers received formal sex education before they were 18 (96% of female and 97% of male teenagers). • Female teenagers were more likely than male teenagers to report first receiving instruction on birth control methods in high school (47% compared with 38%).
• Younger female teenagers were more likely than younger male teenagers to have talked to their parents about sex and birth control. • Nearly two out of three female teenagers talked to their parents about “how to say no to sex” compared with about two out of five male teenagers.
"It 's sad to hear that so many parents [are] so far behind the curve," Schwartz said after hearing about the study. "Sex education is a lifelong thing and parents need to be able to pass on good information," even if they can 't always be the messengers themselves.
About one in four daughters in the study said their parents had not talked with them about how to resist pressure for sex. Two in five said that they had not discussed birth control or what to do if a partner refuses to use a condom "until after their sexual debut if ever, "the authors wrote.
Though the study was small 141 parents and the researchers caution it may not be representative of all families nationwide, Schuster said these findings point to an important gap in communication for American parents.
Choices
As we all know teenage pregnancy is hugely frowned upon, but yet it still happens. This matter is very delicate to each and everyone it involves especially the young parents to be. Teenage pregnancy is closely linked to a host of critical issues such as education, poverty and income, and risky behavior. A pregnancy can be one of the most difficult experiences a teenage girl ever faces. Teenage pregnancy is often a crisis for a young girl and her family, as well as for the young boy and his family.
Common reactions include anger, guilt, and denial the options for a teenager with child are very simple either keep the baby and raise it, give it up for adoption, or end the pregnancy. Like everything else there are many health risks, but in teenage pregnancy the risks are higher for mother and baby. The most common complication is low level iron in the blood (anemia) and preterm labor. Babies born to teen mothers are more likely to be born prematurely and have low birth weight. Teenage pregnancy often has a negative impact on a teen’s future. A teen mother is less likely to graduate from high school and to attend college, they are more likely to live in poverty and be at risk for domestic violence.
Teen fathers are also less likely to finish high school and go on to find productive jobs. Children born to teen parents are more likely to have health and cognitive conditions and are more likely to be neglected or abused. If a teen decides to keep and raise the baby she/he faces a great deal of physical and emotional demands. She/he must think about the goals that were set for one must be altered or put on hold. The teens will not be able to participate in many social activities or other things.
Although staying in school is very important it becomes very difficult while raising a child. There are programs available for young teen mothers to receive aid from such as; The Medicaid program which assist in them receiving proper prenatal care during pregnancy and for the baby after birth. Using the WIC program assist them in feeding the baby healthy and nutritious foods. The SNAP program allows young mothers to be able to feed the child by providing tax free food allowances. The TANF helps those mothers that have a small income with rent and utilities and last but not least there is the Childcare Assistance program that helps with childcare needs.
If adoption is considered they can choose to have an open adoption- where they will exchange information with adoptive family and still have a chance at being in the baby’s life. If closed adoption is the choice then the only information shared is important medical and/or sexual history and nothing else. The last option is abortion although it’s not the most favorable, but a very personal and private choice. Just make sure it’s done with careful thought and in a timely manner.
Prevention
It is very important that parents maintain a strong, close relationship with their small children and teens. Setting set clear expectations for them, with open and honest communication often about important matters. Being clear in your own mind about these issues makes it easier to communicate too and with your children about sex, love and relationships. Talking with your kids using age appropriate conversations about such topics should begin very early and continue through adolescence. Refrain from thinking that there should be only one conversation you know “the talk”. Parents should talk with their children all the time about love and sex because the more that’s done the more their awareness increase. Keep a constant visual in their minds of your expectations. Create curfews, rules, and standards of expected behavior as well. Get to know friends and their family members while discussing limitations. Discourage early, constant, and steady dating will also aid in the prevention matter, taking stronger stands against teens dating extremely older or younger than their own age is also a great prevention method. Give more attractive options for the future to look brighter other than having sex and the possibility of early parenthood. Explain that a good education means making more money which also means having more security later in life. Although we as parents think sex education in schools, the use of condoms or just saying don’t do it is enough but it’s not. A strong relationship with a warm tone, being firm with discipline, expectations, and standards and a rich wholesome communication line that emphasizes mutual trust and respect is what it really takes.
References
Don 't Let the 'Sex Talk ' Come Too Little, Too Late For Your Teen - ABC News. (2009, December 7). Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Sex/sex-talk-late-teen/story?id=9250246
Parents Don 't Talk About Birth Control Often Enough With Their Teens | ThinkProgress. (2012, October 2). Retrieved from http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/10/02/943501/parents-talking-sex-health-classes/?mo
Products - Data Briefs - Number 44 - September 2010. (2010, September). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db44.htm
Resources | Why It Matters | The National Campaign. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/why-it-matters
Sex Education: Politicians, Parents, Teachers and Teens. (2001, February). Retrieved from https://guttmacher.org/pubs/tgr/04/1/gr040109.html
Shuger, L. (n.d.). Teen Pregnancy & High School Dropout. Retrieved from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/teen-preg-hs-dropout.pdf
Solomon-Fears, C. (2012, April 12). Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS20301.pdf
Talking Back. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/pubs/talking_back.pdf
Teen Pregnancy & Health Risks to the Baby - Teen Pregnancy - HealthCommunities.com. (2012, March 19). Retrieved from http://www.healthcommunities.com/teen-pregnancy/children/risks-to-baby-in-teen-pregnancy.shtml
Teen Pregnancy: Young Mom Says 'They Treat Me Like I 'm a Celebrity '; Does MTV Show Encourage Teen Pregnancy? - ABC News. (2011, March 3). Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/US/teen-pregnancy-young-mom-treat-celebrity-mtv-show/story?id=13039764#.UVcpKhx3YcA

References: Don 't Let the 'Sex Talk ' Come Too Little, Too Late For Your Teen - ABC News. (2009, December 7). Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Sex/sex-talk-late-teen/story?id=9250246 Parents Don 't Talk About Birth Control Often Enough With Their Teens | ThinkProgress. (2012, October 2). Retrieved from http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/10/02/943501/parents-talking-sex-health-classes/?mo Products - Data Briefs - Number 44 - September 2010. (2010, September). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db44.htm Resources | Why It Matters | The National Campaign. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/why-it-matters Sex Education: Politicians, Parents, Teachers and Teens. (2001, February). Retrieved from https://guttmacher.org/pubs/tgr/04/1/gr040109.html Shuger, L. (n.d.). Teen Pregnancy & High School Dropout. Retrieved from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/teen-preg-hs-dropout.pdf Solomon-Fears, C. (2012, April 12). Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS20301.pdf Talking Back. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/pubs/talking_back.pdf Teen Pregnancy & Health Risks to the Baby - Teen Pregnancy - HealthCommunities.com. (2012, March 19). Retrieved from http://www.healthcommunities.com/teen-pregnancy/children/risks-to-baby-in-teen-pregnancy.shtml Teen Pregnancy: Young Mom Says 'They Treat Me Like I 'm a Celebrity '; Does MTV Show Encourage Teen Pregnancy? - ABC News. (2011, March 3). Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/US/teen-pregnancy-young-mom-treat-celebrity-mtv-show/story?id=13039764#.UVcpKhx3YcA