Teenage Pregnancy Issues - Research Paper Example

Teenage pregnancy Vital Signs: Births to Teens Aged 15–17 Years — United s, 1991 Cox et al compiled a report for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) detailing the impact of early teen pregnancies on the teenage mothers. The researchers used data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NFSG) to assess the teens’ sexual experience, use of contraceptive, and access to information pertaining to prevention of pregnancies. In addition, they used data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) to enlighten their understanding the prevalence of early teen pregnancies in the US. However, unlike other researches on teen pregnancies, the unit of analysis in the Cox et al 2014 study was teenagers aged between 15-17 years. The team hypothesized that teenagers, aged 15-17 years are at a higher risk of facing adverse outcomes (psychological, social, and physiological) of teenage pregnancy. Analysis of records from NVSS revealed that teenagers aged 15-17 years account for approximately 25 % of teenage pregnancies. However, teenage pregnancies continues to decline, whereby between 1991 and 2012, birth rate per 1,000 teens decreased from 17.9 to 5.4 (teens aged 15years), 15 to 12.9 (teens aged 16years), and 60.6 to 23.7 (teens aged 17 years) (Cox et al, 2014). A racial pattern emerged from the data revealing that early teen pregnancy was higher among the Hispanic population (25.5), followed by African Americans (21.9), then Native Americans (17.0), then Caucasians (8.4), and finally Asians/Pacific islanders (4.1) in 2012. In addition, data from NFGS revealed that 91% of female early teens received formal education encompassing birth control methods and on abstinence; however, 24% refrained from discussing either topics with their parents. Even worse, 83% of sexually active female teens aged 15-17 years received no formal sex education prior to their first sexual encounter. Usage of contraceptive indicated 58% used clinical birth control methods in the last one year, 92% remembered to use contraceptives during their last sexual encounter before the survey, and 1% used reversible contraceptive methods. Despite the decrease in early teen pregnancies, there is a pressing need to increase exposure to information pertaining to abstinence and the proper use of contraceptives for sexually active teens aged 15-17 years. For example, evidence-based programs prove useful in advocating for abstinence among female early teens and providing resourceful materials for parents with regard to sex education (Cox et al, 2014). Parenting Stress, Social Support, and Depression for Ethnic Minority Adolescent Mothers: Impact on Child Development In their study, Huang et al (2013) uncovered that prevalence of teenage pregnancies was higher among Blacks and Hispanics compared to the Whites, which predisposed them to higher adversities such as depression, economic hardships, and inability to complete school. The unit of analysis in the study included 180 adolescent mothers of African American or Hispanic descent from an urban area situated in Northeast US. The researchers assessed the role of perceived social support on infant development (1 year after birth), and its impact on maternal depression at baseline (0.5 years after delivery). Analysis of records from the study indicated that depression at baseline was higher among adolescent mothers exposed to heightened parenting stress and less perceived social support. In addition, higher depression at baseline affected infant development whereby, researchers noted delays in development among infants born to depressed female adolescents (Huang et al, 2013). As a result, Huang et al (2013) advocated for examination of parenting factors likely to result in unfavorable outcomes for minority adolescent mothers. These included social support, parenting stress and maternal depression. According to the researchers, implementing strategies targeting minority adolescent mothers might result in positive maternal outcomes and their infants’ healthy development. Teenage Pregnancy in Adolescents with an Incarcerated Household Member Whalen and Loper (2014) examined the correlation between teenage pregnancy and the incarceration of a household member. They hypothesized that the incarceration of a household member predisposed teenagers to high risk factors and served as a predictor of teenage pregnancy. The unit of analysis was 1,229 teenage girls aged 14-19 years; a number arrived at after the elimination of unresponsive individuals and male teenagers. In addition, researchers used data from twelve longitudinal surveys done by the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Analysis of the results revealed that incarceration of a household member was prevalent among Hispanic households whereby, 32.3 % of the Hispanic female adolescents witnessed the incarceration of a household member compared to the 12.9% who had not. The percentage was also high among African Americans whereby, 36.2% of Black female adolescents witnessed incarceration of a household member compared to the 26.5% who did not (Whalen & Loper, 2014). In addition, incarceration was higher in households, which qualified for federal financial assistance. These families were highly dysfunctional characterized by frequent family conflicts and limited interactions between adolescents and their parents. Whalen and Loper (2014) propose the institution of programs aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancies. However, they insist that parental attention and the home situation in general play a crucial role in the effectiveness of such programs. Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Statistics and Programs Solomon-Fears (2013) outlined statistics pertaining to teenage pregnancy in the US and highlighted possible programs that might curb teenage pregnancy in his report to the US Congress Service. According to him, the government plays a pivotal role in curbing the rise of teenage pregnancy through its institution of various teen pregnancy prevention programs. Over the years, different Acts legislated by the US Congress provided funding to different federal programs targeting teenagers’ health education. These included: 1981: Public Health Service Act created the Adolescent Family Life (AFL) program aimed at providing support to pregnant teens, teenage mothers and fathers, and their parents. The program offered health, social and education services whereby, abstinence education featured across all the services offered by AFL. 1996: Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act provided funding for abstinence-only education targeting teenagers. 2010: Consolidated Appropriations Act provided funding for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program. Private entities received funding to design programs targeting pregnancy prevention among teenage girls. 2012: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act refined PREP programs by providing funding for sex education. Unlike the former PREP programs, the new ones also provided teenagers with information on contraceptives. Discussion As evidenced by the research, socio-economic status, sex education, family dynamics and ethnicity influence the prevalence of teenage pregnancies. Cox et al (2014) and Huang et al (2013) concur that the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the US is declining steadily. However, they note that US holds the record for the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancies compared to other developed countries. In addition, all the studies reveal that there is an impending need to implement measures customized to address the problems faced by expectant teenagers and teenage mothers. Researchers agree that various factors are responsible for contributing to the high prevalence of teenage pregnancies. Some are of the opinion that inadequate sexual education pertaining to the use of contraceptives and abstinence is to blame for teenage pregnancies. According to these researchers, female adolescents receive minimal formal sex education prior to their first sexual encounter (Cox et al, 2014). As a result, they are clueless about how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Peer pressure, the media and idolization of celebrities are some of the factors that function to undermine educators’ call for teenage girls to abstain from sex. Developmental psychologists agree that adolescents are highly impressionable beings. They are keen on emulating actions displayed by their role models, and indiscriminately following directives given by their peers, as they fear rejection. Conversely, other researchers view female adolescents from minority ethnic groups and lower socio-economic status as high-risk groups likely to become pregnant. Ethnicity and socio-economic status are correlated whereby; African Americans and Hispanics (Latin Americans) represent the highest percentage of people belonging to the lower socio-economic status. Such families have strained finances relying on federal and state funding, which compels them to join gangs, prostitute or sell drugs to earn extra money. Exposure to such deplorable conditions increases the probability of teenage pregnancies. Whalen & Lober (2014) posit that a correlation exists between teenage pregnancies and incarceration of a family member whereby, prevalence of incarcerated family members is high among Hispanics and African Americans respectively. Finally, poor parenting styles also contribute to the high prevalence of teenage pregnancies. Absentee, uninvolved and permissive parents refrain from cautioning their children about the consequences of indiscriminate, unprotected sex. Teenage pregnancy results in unfavorable conditions for both the teenage mother and the infant. Research shows that teenagers lack emotional, financial, physiological and psychological capacity to care for infants, which impedes the infant’s growth. Majority of adolescent mothers especially from low-income households return to complete their high school education, as they receive limited support from their financially strained parents (Huang et al, 2013). In addition, research shows that the physiological build of an early female teen undergoes physical strain throughout the pregnancy and during delivery. Diseases such as fistula are common among early teenage mothers (Cox et al, 2012). Psychologically, teenagers are at a high risk for developing depression triggered by the challenges of raising a newborn especially when they feel neglected by their social support system such as parents. Mitigating the problem of teenage pregnancy requires the implementation of strategies aimed at sensitizing teenagers and their parents. Making sex education compulsory in all high schools creates awareness by ridding teenagers of their ignorance regarding sex. Sex educators must emphasize on abstinence; however, they should also provide adequate information pertaining to contraceptives. The latter will help reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases when used in the right manner. Conversely, creation of evidence-based programs provided for the parents will equip them with knowledge and skills needed to have conversations about sexuality with their children. In addition, such programs reiterate the importance of parents paying attention to the behaviors of their teenagers, which helps foresee problems before they occur (Whalen & Loper, 2014). According to Solomon-Fears (2013), the government plays a pivotal role in helping curb teen pregnancy through the provision of funding for programs customized to sensitize teenagers about abstinence and contraceptives. In conclusion, teenage pregnancy is an issue affecting both the US government and its citizens. Therefore, mitigating the problem requires cooperation between all parties. Sex education pertaining to abstinence and the use of contraceptives should begin at home whereby; parents should not simply relegate the duty to teachers in schools. In addition, establishing functional relationships within the family is central to the prevention of teenage pregnancies because parents play a pivotal role in molding their children’s perspectives on sexuality. The use of evidence-based programs offered on a community level provides a way for the entire community to rally behind the prevention of teenage pregnancies. In uniting to reduce teenage pregnancies, depression, financial hardships, disrupted learning and the inability to complete one’s education (problems common to adolescent mothers) will become a prehistoric problem. References Cox, S., Pazol, K., Warne, L., Romero, L., Spitz, A., Gavin, L., & Barfield, W. (2014). Vital Signs: Births to Teens Aged 15–17 Years — United States, 1991–2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(14), 312-318. Huang, C. Y., Costeines, J., Kaufman, J. S., & Ayala, C. (2013). Parenting Stress, Social Support, and Depression for Ethnic Minority Adolescent Mothers: Impact on Child Development. New York: Springer Science+ Business Media. Solomon-Fears, C. (2013). Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Statistics and Programs. Washington: Congressional Research Service. Whalen, M. L., & Loper, A. B. (2014). Teenage Pregnancy in Adolescents with an Incarcerated Household Member. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 36(3), 346-361. Read More