Pregnancy is the most undesirable event in a teenager’s life and is one of the toughest realities to deal with. Alarming statistics regarding teenage pregnancies are revealed each year with US showing the highest rate. Rising adolescent pregnancies have been creating a social malice, and the time has come to take up the matter seriously. Here are the top 5 teenage pregnancy facts:
1. Alarming Statistics of Teenage Pregnancy
Every year about a million of teenagers become pregnant, most of them below 17-19 years of age. About 82% teenage pregnancies are unplanned, and the teenagers have just finished the high school level studies. Teenager pregnancies constitute about 11% of the total annual birth rate in US. The rate is comparatively higher among the black teens. About 50% of teenage pregnancies result in birth while the rest end up in miscarriages and abortions. One third of the pregnant teenagers go for abortion. Most of the teenager mothers quite likely draw an end to their academic careers.
2. Risks of Teenage Pregnancy
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is of the view that teenage pregnancy is accompanied with many risk factors seriously affecting the health of mother and the child. A handsome percentage of teenage pregnancies that end up either in miscarriages or abortions can cause enough damage to the reproductive health of the teenager. Those who prefer to complete the full term of pregnancy invite a number of pregnancy related complications. Many teenagers suffer from under weight and do not undertake proper pre natal care. This can prove to be extremely dangerous, endangering the teenager’s life. Underdeveloped uterus fails to carry the fetus for full 36 weeks either leading to miscarriage or delivering premature babies.
3. Teenage Pregnancy And Its Effects
Teenage pregnancy has turned into a major social problem that arises from a number of causes. Major factors leading to teenage pregnancies are lack of proper grooming, poverty, sexual abuse, negligence, poor academic performance and depression. The effects are naturally disastrous, seriously affecting the social position and health of the teenage mothers. Infant mortality rate increases due to pre term labor. Most of the babies from teenage mothers are groomed in different welfare centers, raising the number of illegitimates in the society.
4. Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy Through Sex Education
Teenage pregnancy in US has been on the rise past few years necessitating the spread of sex education among teenage boys and girls. Several campaigns to prevent teenage pregnancy have been launched to spread awareness about the proper use of contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Moreover, these campaigns have laid stress in preventing the teenagers indulging in sexual activities and reducing the number of sex partners. These campaigns have been successful to some extent still a lot is left to be done to prevent demoralization of the society.
5. Role of the Parents
Parents of both teenager girls and boys should take the initiative in preventing this social disaster. In fact, sex education should start from home rather from the government and non- government organizations. Parents should remain well connected with their teenager kids regarding their activities and whereabouts and strongly disapprove early age sex. Parents should communicate with their kids freely and inculcate sex education in their minds. This helps in the development of social values and responsibility in the teenagers compelling them to think before daring off to any sexual activity.