Teen Pregnancy Issue of Teenage

¶ … Teen Pregnancy

Issue of Teenage Pregnancy

Teen pregnancy is a problem that is indirectly affecting everyone in the society. It is not only a problem for the teenage girl and her family but also for the rest of the society. United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancies in the world due to which U.S. taxpayers spent around $7 billion every year on teen pregnancy (the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 2004).

The rate of teen pregnancy in United States is twice as compared to Great Britain, four times more than France & Germany and ten times more than that of Japan. Several studies performed by the experts to find out the causes and outcomes of teenage pregnancy. This paper will compare and contrast some of these approaches in which the writers have raised the issues and problems of teenage pregnancy.

Darroch, Landry, & Singh (2000, p.204-212) performed a study in which it was found out that according to eight one (81) percent of Americans, the high rate of teen pregnancies in United States is due to lack of sex education.

The Alan Guttmacher Institute (2003) identified three reasons of teenage pregnancies that are; less usage of contraceptives, short-term relations and many sexual partners. Therefore it was recommended in the study that information about contraceptives and problems of having many sexual partners should also be added to the sex education programs, which can help lessen the factors that play a role in increasing the rate of teen pregnancy.

An earlier study (Annie 1999) of Casey Foundation highlighted the four conditions that are associated with the teenage pregnancy, that include; a history of abuse and behavioral problems, dysfunctional family, low socioeconomic status and low education. Kirby (2002, p.27) also pointed out that teenagers that drop out schools have more changes of doing unprotected sex, get pregnant and have the child. Therefore staying in schools can greatly reduce the sexual risk taking behavior in youth.

According to another study performed by Kirby, Coyle & Gould (2001, p.63), low income is one the greatest reason of teenage pregnancy. This is because low income and poverty reduces the school education and positive communication with the adults. The lack of education and frustration encourage teenagers to engage in sexual activities giving rise to teenage pregnancies.

Similar reasons were also given by the National School Boards Association (1999, p.39), in a conference at Washington D.C that teens living with low incomes, in unstable housings and having low school achievement are at the most risk of becoming pregnant. The conference also concluded that providing school, sexual education and enhancing communication and social skills in teenagers could play a critical role in decreasing the teenage pregnancy.

O'Sullivan, Meyer & Watkins performed a study (2001, p.269-292) with an objective of finding out the communication between mother and daughter about the sexual issues. The study showed that mothers and daughters usually avoid discussing sex and its consequences. Therefore, an older woman other than mother can play a role in alerting girls about sex, in order to reduce the chances of girls to engage in teenage pregnancy.

All the different studies and articles researched for this paper gave the idea that getting pregnant in teenage is not a simple but a complex problem which needs proper multifaceted attention and involvement. It is not an issue of just a pregnant teenager but it involves up to three generations and largely affects the society and community, who pays the costs of supporting teenage mothers and bearing their children.