Teen Pregnancy

What is teenage pregnancy?   It is defined as a teen-aged or under-aged girl (usually within the ages of 13-19) becoming pregnant.   It is one of the most difficult experiences a young person might ever face when it interrupts the school, other present or future plans.   It creates emotional crisis in the result of shame and fear.   Sometimes it even seems impossible to break the news to the parents or seek for help.

There is tremendous pressure exerted upon youth in America.   Pressure from peers, pressure from media, pressure from the society.

The rate of teenage pregnancy is a serious concern in the United States.   About one million teenagers become pregnant in America every year. More than 75 percent of their pregnancies are unintended.   About 30 percent of adolescent pregnancies result in abortion, 14 percent end in miscarriage, and the remaining 56 percent result in live births.   The birthrate among teenagers is 49 births for every 1000 teenage girls. More than 75 percent of the adolescent mothers are unmarried.

And the question occurred to us.   Who are the ones that suffer the consequences and what are the negative effects?

Since many teenage pregnancies end in abortion.   Teen mothers suffer the most.   Abortions can have complications which leads to additional health conditions such as breast cancer, cervical, ovarian, and liver cancer.   Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school or a higher education and more likely to end up on public assistance.  

And teen fathers do not go as far in school and make less money.  

The children of teenage mothers have lower birth weights, are most likely to perform poorly in school, and are at great risk of abuse and neglect.   The sons of teen mother are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison while teen daughters are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers themselves.

In conclusion, social mores over the course of the last 40 years have changed significantly.   Media advertising and...