Pregnancy Among Teens Teenage pregnancy has been a prevalent issue in our society for many decades. There are many factors that can result in adolescents becoming pregnant, including peer pressure, socio-economic status, and cultural influences (Hall & Hall, p. 2). However, according to many researchers, the main cause of the high birth rate among adolescents is the sex education, or lack thereof, being taught in high schools. Looking into the effectiveness of these “preventive programs” is one of the most essential aspects in understanding teen pregnancy. Examining why this is such a prevalent issue as well as how to address and prevent it is also crucial. Negative stereotypes typically surround teenage mothers and while some teen
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While this is just not the case in most situations. A huge stereotype that is often associated with the issue of adolescent pregnant and motherhood. It is believed by some that all adolescents mothers are not responsible and therefore, not equipped to parent a child. However, there are many teens that rise above the negative stereotypes associated with teen pregnancy and thrive as mothers and even families as a whole (Elders, 2012, p. 2203). The rate of teenage pregnancy is higher in the United States than in any other country (Corcoran, Franklin & Bell, 1997, p. 365). Unfortunately, though the teen birth rate has seen an incredible decline over the last 10 years or so, the US still remains at the top of the list. According to M. Joycelyn Elders, 15th US Surgeon General, female teens in the United States are four times more likely to give birth than a teen in Canada and, shockingly, nearly ten times as likely than a teen in Switzerland (2012, p. 2205). This a shocking and unfortunate distinction.
Figure 1. Birth Rates (Live Births) per 1,000 Females Aged 15–19 Years, by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity, Select Years …show more content…
The first question asked if there was anything that could have prevented them from getting pregnant. The most popular responses was more information on birth control and how to use it. Another popular response was family support. One teen stated that if she felt comfortable enough to speak with her mother about these issues that she may have never found herself in that situation. Also, few respondents admitted that if they had considered possible consequences for sexual risk behaviors, they might have been able to prevent adolescent pregnancy(Corcoran, Franklin & Bell, p. 373). Another question asked, and perhaps one of the most important, was how did they think having a child would affect their life, beforehand. The response to this questions were nearly split, between vastly different and just a little different. In relation to the last question, researchers also asked if, looking back now, is having a baby what they expected it would be like. The majority response to this question from teen mothers was that they simply did not consider what taking care of a baby would actually be like. Some also expressed that their youth was taken away from them as they took on the responsibility of caring for a child (Corcoran, Franklin & Bell, p. 374). Finally, teen mothers were asked what might could be done to help resist the pressures of
While this is just not the case in most situations. A huge stereotype that is often associated with the issue of adolescent pregnant and motherhood. It is believed by some that all adolescents mothers are not responsible and therefore, not equipped to parent a child. However, there are many teens that rise above the negative stereotypes associated with teen pregnancy and thrive as mothers and even families as a whole (Elders, 2012, p. 2203). The rate of teenage pregnancy is higher in the United States than in any other country (Corcoran, Franklin & Bell, 1997, p. 365). Unfortunately, though the teen birth rate has seen an incredible decline over the last 10 years or so, the US still remains at the top of the list. According to M. Joycelyn Elders, 15th US Surgeon General, female teens in the United States are four times more likely to give birth than a teen in Canada and, shockingly, nearly ten times as likely than a teen in Switzerland (2012, p. 2205). This a shocking and unfortunate distinction.
Figure 1. Birth Rates (Live Births) per 1,000 Females Aged 15–19 Years, by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity, Select Years …show more content…
The first question asked if there was anything that could have prevented them from getting pregnant. The most popular responses was more information on birth control and how to use it. Another popular response was family support. One teen stated that if she felt comfortable enough to speak with her mother about these issues that she may have never found herself in that situation. Also, few respondents admitted that if they had considered possible consequences for sexual risk behaviors, they might have been able to prevent adolescent pregnancy(Corcoran, Franklin & Bell, p. 373). Another question asked, and perhaps one of the most important, was how did they think having a child would affect their life, beforehand. The response to this questions were nearly split, between vastly different and just a little different. In relation to the last question, researchers also asked if, looking back now, is having a baby what they expected it would be like. The majority response to this question from teen mothers was that they simply did not consider what taking care of a baby would actually be like. Some also expressed that their youth was taken away from them as they took on the responsibility of caring for a child (Corcoran, Franklin & Bell, p. 374). Finally, teen mothers were asked what might could be done to help resist the pressures of