Adolescent
Pregnancy
Our
sexuality is a wonderful thing. It is a characteristic of the human
species that we can celebrate and be thankful for! Sexuality is
also something that must be handled responsibly, with care and a
serious appreciation for its meaning. If we take chances with sex,
it can be a source of problems. Such is the case when an adolescent
becomes pregnant. Unfortunately, this situation occurs all too often,
especially within the United States. In fact, approximately one
million American teenagers become pregnant every year. Teenage mothers
are responsible for 13% of all annual births in the US! This is
an unfortunate figure, one that calls for help from parents and
educators. If you are a teen who is struggling with the responsibilities
of sex, continue reading. The following are some helpful tips and
information about teenage pregnancy.
Effects
of Having a Child During the Adolescent Years
Tips for Educators on Preventing Teen Pregnancy
Common Myths About the Use of Contraception
Some Helpful Websites for More Information
Effects of
Having a Child During the Adolescent Years
-- A pregnant teenager is more likely than someone in her twenties
to have physical complications during pregnancy. These include:
toxemia (high blood pressure), hemorrhage (sudden loss of blood),
miscarriage, and even death.
-- Infant mortality rates for adolescent pregnancies are markedly
higher than those among women in their twenties.
-- The younger a teen when she gets pregnant, the lower her chances
are for attaining a quality education. Stay in school! Education
is essential for success in modern society.
-- An inadequate education and the burden of childcare make it
very hard to find and hold down a good job.
-- Teens often do not have high quality parenting skills, which
can limit their child's chances for a successful future. Teen
mothers often find it difficult to obtain good financial and emotional
resources, such as a full-time career and a supportive family, yet
these are necessary for the child's success. Furthermore, children
born to teens are at greater risk of having physical and emotional
problems, along with cognitive deficiencies, which in turn can affect school performance.
-- Bottom line:
Take control of your own path in life!
Believe that you can do anything you set your mind to!
Increase your knowledge about sex and contraception as soon as possible!
Avoid teenage pregnancy. Stay in school. Realize that an education can
open doors to amazing opportunities.
Tips for Educators on Preventing Teen Pregnancy
-- Don't be afraid to represent sexuality as a positive experience
that can be beneficial and enjoyable when handled maturely and responsibly.
-- Teenage pregnancy has been in a slight decline since the early
1990s. This is not because of the increase in abstinence education.
Rather, there has been a heightened use of contraceptives, especially
condoms, by US teens. Avoid claims that abstinence is the only option,
and instead teach responsible sex and help to expand your students'
knowledge about the correct ways to use contraceptives.
-- Sexual education should include a discussion of the emotional
aspects of relationships and sexuality. Role play can be a useful
tool for strengthening adolescent females' assertiveness skills
about contraceptive use. Engage your students; allow them to truly
understand the impact of contraception on their sexual lives.
-- Dispel any myths about pregnancy and contraceptive use that you
perceive to be a part of your students' beliefs. Pay attention
to what students are saying to their peers, and constructively aid
them in differentiating what qualifies as good advice or fallacy.
This will help them to not only gain increasing knowledge about
sexuality, but will also show them how to be more cautious when
listening to information about sex in the future. You can read a
list of common myths at this link.
-- Address self-efficacy and let them know that they can have control
over their own lives. When an adolescent has the idea that "I
can!," she is much more inclined to work towards a fulfilling,
goal-oriented lifestyle.
-- Stress the importance of communication in any type of sexual
relationship. When both partners are aware of the other's feelings
about sex, each is more likely to appreciate and respect those feeling
Common Myths About the Use of
Contraception
-- Myth: A woman can not get pregnant the first time she engages
in coitus.
Fact: A female can become impregnated during any form of sexual
contact where sperm is able to reach the egg – even on the
first time.
-- Myth: Infrequent sexual intercourse will eliminate the chances
of pregnancy.
Fact: All it takes is once!
-- Myth: Having a child will bring happiness to a teen with an unfulfilling
life.
Fact: Becoming a mother may seem like the easiest approach to a
difficult teen situation, but think about the long term consequences,
not simply about the immediate enjoyment attainable from a baby.
Becoming a parent is a life-long commitment, and one you can do
much better in your twenties or thirties.
-- Myth: If a teen becomes pregnant, her relationship with her partner
will grow stronger.
Fact: Often, the case is reversed. Adolescent relationships often
suffer when burdened by all the responsibilities of parenthood.
Learning to use birth control and communicating with your partner
about your sexual relationship will most likely lead to a stronger
connection.
Some Helpful Websites for More
Information
For teens:
www.bu.edu/cohis/teenpreg/teenpreg.html
- This website is useful for any teen who is thinking about the
"why"s or "why not"s of pregnancy. It gives
you information on the pros and cons of adolescent pregnancy, birth
control, prenatal care options, alternatives to pregnancy, and much
more.
www.teenpregnancy.org
- This site concentrates on the prevention of teenage pregnancy,
giving advice to parents, educators, government officials, and schools
on how to deal with this important issue.
www.plannedparenthood.com
- Planned Parenthood is an excellent place to acquire any information
about adolescent pregnancy. It provides facts about emergency contraception,
family planning, abortion, and how to deal with pregnancy as a teen.
For educators:
www.etr.org/recapp
- This site houses the Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy
Prevention. It details the theories and techniques behind sex education
in the classroom. It provides objective definitions and success
rates of abstinence education and teaching about condom use.
Options for Pregnant Teens
There are three main ways for a woman to deal with a pregnancy: having an abortion, becoming a parent, or giving the baby up for adoption. A woman could have an abortion or she could have the baby. If she has the baby, she then has to decide whether she wants to keep the baby and become a parent, or if she wants to give the baby up for adoption.
Unfortunately, there are pregnant teenagers who do not know about all of their options. These young women may wait until it is too late to safely have an abortion, and thus force themselves into giving birth, for it is known that "the later in the pregnancy the abortion is performed, the greater the possibility and severity of negative effects" (Byers, 2000: 32). There are women that may or may not feel that they are ready for the responsibilities of having a child, but because of certain circumstances may see parenting as their only option. Those that do have other choices may decide to parent the child for a number of reasons. They may feel that they cannot give up their child or they may not want someone else raising the child. Parenthood has rewards that some adolescents look forward to experiencing. These teenagers may see parenting as an opportunity to "prove" their strength, determination, or persistence. They may want to have the opportunity to shape their child's future. There are also teenagers who feel that the responsibility of raising children matures and "grounds" them. However, raising a child is not a good option for everyone.
Parenting requires a lot of emotional and physical stamina that many teens do not have. Some teenagers are not willing to make all of the necessary life changes for the benefit of the baby. For example, a teen may want to go to a distant college, instead of attending a local college and living at home. Many adolescents are not ready to give up the freedom of their lives as teenagers to become adults. Young mothers have to deal with the frustrations of parenting. Also, their boyfriends may not know how to deal with a child. Teenagers may not be ready to accept that their child's well-being and safety are now their primary concern, and that their own needs are now secondary. Parenting needs to be completely selfless, and some teenagers may not be mature enough to handle this concept.
For teens who do not want to, or cannot, end their pregnancies with an abortion but at the same time aren't ready for the responsibilities of parenting, adoption may be the best solution. Adoption is a way to go through with the pregnancy, yet in the end not be responsible for the life of the child. Adoption allows for a young woman to grow and mature before starting her own family. With the constant high demand for newborn babies, there is a very good likelihood that the teen's baby will be provided with a good home and stable family, which may possibly give the baby a better future than the teen would have been able to provide. Also the baby won't have to be involved with any current problems that rule the mother's life, which might include family problems, school issues, drug abuse, or violence. Yet for some teenagers, adoption is not an option. Some young people find that they cannot emotionally let go of their babies and place them with an adoptive family. Adoption is becoming less and less common among teens. "At present, only four percent of teens opt for adoption compared to twenty-one percent a generation ago" (Kivisto, 2001: 1045). However, adoption is a good option for those who know they cannot purposely end their pregnancies, yet are not ready to take on the responsibilities of raising a child.
There are some teenagers who feel that they cannot go through with the pregnancy. "About forty percent of teen pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion" (Weiss, 2006: 1). Before Roe vs. Wade, the court ruling that made abortion legal in the Unites States, many women would harm themselves and/or their babies in the hopes that they might be able to terminate the pregnancy. "Before Roe vs. Wade, seventy-five percent of pregnant teenagers gave birth; the other twenty-five percent either had miscarriages or illegal abortions. After the court ruling fifty percent gave birth" (Byers, 2000: 31). Abortion is a safe and reasonable option for women who feel that they are too young to handle the responsibilities of having a baby, expect little support from family members, and know they will not be able to go through with an adoption plan. Some pregnant teenagers may choose to have an abortion so that their parents will never have to know about their pregnancy. Teenagers who don't want the baby, don't feel that they can provide it with a good life, and don't feel capable of placing the baby with another family, may choose abortion also. There are many teens who are opposed to abortion as an option for themselves: many of these adolescents may have strong personal or religious beliefs against abortion. At the same time these individuals may feel obligated to have one, feeling pressure from friends and family. Ending a pregnancy deliberately is a big decision, but many teenagers feel is best for their situation.
References
1. Bissell, Mary. "Socioeconomic Outcomes of Teen Pregnancy and
Parenthood: A Review
of the Literature." Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. v9
Fall 2000: 191.
2. Byers, Ann. (2000). Teens and Pregnancy: A Hot Issue. New Jersey: Enslow Publishers.
3. Crooks, Robert and Karla Baur. Our Sexuality. California: Wadsworth Group, 2002.
4. Jewell, D. and J. Tacchi. "Adolescents From Different Socioeconomic Backgrounds Had Different Attitudes About Teen Pregnancy." Evidence-Based Nursing v4 Oct 2001: 125.
5. Kivisto, Peter. (2001). Teenagers, Pregnancy, and Childbearing in a Risk Society: How do High-Risk Teens Differ from their Age Peers? Journal of Family Issues, 22.8, 1044-1065.
6. Weiss, Deborah. (2006). Pregnancy and Childbearing Among U.S. Teens. Planned Parenthood, www.plannedparenthood.org.
7. Young, Tamera, et. al. "Internal Poverty and Teen Pregnancy."
Adolescence v36
Summer 2001: 289.