What are the effects of teenage pregnancy and how can we help educate local teens about the benefits of abstinence?
Intro: Over the past few years, there has been an increase of teenagers either becoming parents or having an abortion. The cause of this maybe because they don't know enough about the consequences of their actions. Today, we will take a look at the effects of teenage pregnancy on the teenage body and mind, knowing the only solution to this problem is addressing it and its effects.
Causes: Teenage pregnancy has two main causes: the media and peer pressure. The media gives a positive spin on teenage pregnancy. The following clip is the trailer from the film Juno. It describes the experience of a pregnant teenager, and has a positive mood about the topic:
In this movie, Juno is a teenager who becomes pregnant with one of her classmates. Although dramatic, the film glorifies the positive aspects of pregnancy. Juno put her baby up for adoption, and it had a goody-goody ending. But that is not what happens in real life.
This is a photograph of Jamie Lynn Spears. She is 17 and played the leading role in the hit teen show Zoey101. Sometime during the taping of the show, Jamie became pregnant. This was a very controversial teenage pregnancy due to the fact that she was displayed as a "role model" to the nation, and then did something inappropriate. Everything seemed to have gone well with her too. She had the baby, and moved to Kentucky in order get away from the paparazzi.
Another big cause of teenage pregnancy, is the peer pressure to have sex. Mostly, this pressure is from the girl's boyfriend, but it can also come from friends and as a form of rebellion against parents.
Effects: Teenage pregnancy has a lot of effects on the one pregnant, but also the people around her. As a young teen, being pregnant proposes a lot of problems. This includes both emotional and physical troubles. Not to mention them worrying about financial issues, the lack of support from their family and/or the father, whether to set it up for adoption or whether or not to keep the baby. The teenager may also have to alter her lifestyle.
Effects on the mind of the to-be-mother:
Once pregnant, a girl starts to think and act differently. Suddenly, regarding the pregnancy at the very least, the girl will experience emotions such as confusion, excitement, fear, resentment or frustration. These emotions can lead to extremes. The future mother must take into account the life of her baby, the decision of the father, the embarrassment or influence that this can bring upon in her life, the position and thoughts of her parents and the thoughts on the future in general, when making the decision either to get pregnant or to keep the baby.
Effects on the mind of the to-be-father:
Usually males shy away from the topic of pregnancy. Most likely they are scared or confused. They will have to take into account how this can affect their future too. Are they ready to settle down and have a family while still in high school?
Physical Effects on the to-be-mother:
During pregnancy, a female’s body changes to prepare for the baby. The first and most obvious change is the pregnant belly. Throughout and after the pregnancy, a females’ body does changes. When pregnant, a girl needs to think about the effects that her physical activities can have on the baby and on her own body.
Effects on the Future baby:
First and foremost, we must understand that every decision the mother makes will affect the baby in either a positive or negative way. While pregnant, if the teenager drinks alcoholic beverages, smokes cigarettes or marijuana, has a lack of sleep or unhealthy eating patterns the teenager could be harmful the child; smoking and drugs can lead to birth defects. The mother must take into account the financial problems the baby will face. Because the children or many teenagers are born into poverty, the baby might have financial problems or grow up without much attention from its parents.
Effects on Parents of Pregnant Teen:
A lot of parents blame themselves when their children walk the wrong path. This could also trigger some other psychological effects on parents such as denial, rejection, and self-loathing. There are parents that choose not to face the problem, and turn their backs on their children. Others that blame themselves are consumed with guilt and may overwhelm their children with care and help. Both of these are definitely not a solution, but only create a bigger problem.
Facts to consider
-Three out of ten teenage girls in theUnited Statesget pregnant at least one before age 20 (730,000 teen pregnancies each year!)
-TheUnited Stateshas the highest teen pregnancy rate in the world.
-Two-thirds of all teen pregnancies occur among 18-19-year-olds.
-Parenthood is the leading reason why teen girls drop out of school.
-Children of teen mothers do worse in school than those born to older parents.
-Two-thirds of families begun by a young unmarried mother are poor.
-Eight out of ten fathers don't marry the mother of their child.
-The daughters of young teen mothers are three times more likely to become teen mothers themselves.
-The sons of teen mothers are twice as likely to end up in prison.
How can we solve this problem?
Educate !!!
The only logical answer to teenage pregnancy is to educate people about the effects it has on their lives. And that’s something we have started to accomplish today. About 50% of the teenagers have never even considered about how a pregnancy would affect their lives. Shockingly enough, about 50% of teenagers have had sex buy the time they graduate high school (if they graduate high school). Some people have concerns that if sexual education increases than the amount of sexual activity will also increase, but that is not the case. Teenagers benefit from being taught the truth before they make a life-altering mistake.
TEENAGE PREGNANCY
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