Teen Pregnancy 1
Teen Pregnancy: A Review of the Literature
Kristen Bradford
Hampton University
Teen Pregnancy 2
Abstract
Teen Pregnancy is a serious problem that effects teenagers from the ages of 13 to 19.
Teen Pregnancy 3
Teen Pregnancy: A Review of the Literature
What is Teen Pregnancy? Teen Pregnancy is defined as a teenage girl, usually between
the ages of 13-19, becoming pregnant. This refers to girls that have not reached legal adulthood
and becomes pregnant. Teen pregnancy is one of the most common issues among teenage girls
who have a huge impact on young teens, parents, families, and the world. The United States
alone has the highest teen pregnancy rate among all industrialized nations. Being involved in a
teen pregnancy could cause many medical risks and could put the baby in extreme danger. Not
only that but parenthood is the leading reason why teenagers dropout of school at such a young
age.
Teen Pregnancy is a very important topic that needs to be discussed about, so that many
teens can know and understand the consequences of having a child at such a young age. Four
main questions that need to be answered when discussing Teen Pregnancy:
1.What options are available to young women who face an unintended pregnancy?
2.What are the teen birth rates and are there any differences in various racial and ethnic groups?
3.Are teen pregnancy-prevention programs effective?
4.What are the effects on the babies of teen pregnant mothers?
The following review on literature will: provide information about Teen Pregnancy, discuss the
teen birth rate, inform teenagers on the teen pregnancy-prevention programs and list the effects
of having a Teen Pregnancy.
What options are available to young women who face an unintended pregnancy?
An unintended pregnancy is a pregnancy that is reported to have been either unwanted or
mistimed and 98% of teen pregnancies are unwanted. Therefore, it is important to look at all
options when facing an unwanted pregnancy. First thing is to always take a pregnancy test to
Teen Pregnancy 4
confirm the pregnancy. Once it is confirmed there are 3 main options to consider: abortion,
adoption, and parenting.
Abortion is a medical procedure which terminates a pregnancy to someone who doesnt
want to remain pregnant. In the United States, there are two types of abortions that consist of
either In-clinic abortion or the abortion pill. In clinic abortion is performed within a clinic,
hospital, or doctors office and usually occurs within the first trimester during pregnancy. The
abortion pill is another method that provides similar feelings to a heavy, crampy period that
terminates the pregnancy. Teenage mothers that are under 18 must have one or both parents to
give permission for both abortion methods.
Another option to consider during a teen pregnancy is adoption. Adoption is the legal
process where children will not be raised by their birth parents but become full and permanent
legal members of another family. Adoption is another option for teenagers who are not
emotionally, physically, or financially ready for a child. When considering adoption there are two
main types of adoption, open and closed. Open adoption is one where the mother of the child is
known to both the child and the adoptive parents and closed is where all the records of the birth
family is sealed.
Lastly, parenting is another option to consider. Becoming a parent helps the child build a
connection with the mother and builds a strong loving family environment. Although it doesnt
provide the teen with the average teenage life if she can provide for her child, then parenting
would be another option to consider.
What are the teen birth rates and are there any differences in various racial and ethnic
groups?
Teen Pregnancy 5
Surprisingly teen pregnancy and birth rates have declined and majority of the decline
came from a decrease in women who were already teen mothers. Teen birth rates have also
declined in the 1970s and early 1980s due to an increase in abortion. Not only that but
Brookings.com states that four out of 5 teen births are to an unwed mother, the drop in the teen
birthrate contributed to the leveling of the proportion of children born outside marriage after
1994, as shown within the graph.
All teen birth rates differ based on age, race, and ethnic group. When it comes to birth
rates, they are usually higher towards Hispanic and African Americans than among Whites.
According to hhs.gov, Hispanic adolescent females ages 15-19 had the highest birth rate at 38
births per 1,000 adolescent females, followed by black adolescent females and white adolescent
females.
Based on an interview done in 2017, a female Hispanic discusses her life while going
through a teen pregnancy. She states that in the beginning she had many goals for herself hoping
to pursue a career as a detective. However, as soon as she found out that she was pregnant her
life took a turn and she stopped attending college and is currently putting her life on hold. For all
teenage girls that are sexually active she says to always wait until you are financially stable and
Teen Pregnancy 6
mentally prepared, because life doesnt get easier, it just gets harder. (A. Estrada, personal
communication, March 20, 2017)
Are teen pregnancy-prevention programs effective?
Teen pregnancy prevention program is a program that includes all kind of education like
comprehensive sex education, HIV/STI prevention, youth development, service learning and
abstinence approaches. The Office of Adolescent Health is responsible for developing the Teen
Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program, a $105 million discretionary grant program. These
programs can be found anywhere within schools, the community, and at the local doctors office.
All programs target teens who are abstinent or sexually active, as well as adolescents. It has been
proven that this program helps reduce teen pregnancy, sexual activity, and increase the use of
contraceptives. Although majority of the teen pregnancy prevention programs are effective, some
may be more effective than others. For instance, programs that focus more on a specific skill and
takes place over long periods of time tend to be more effective than the average or shorter
program.
What are the effects of the babies on teen pregnant mothers?
Being involved in a teen pregnancy could cause many medical risks and could put the
baby in extreme danger. Babies that are born to teen moms are at an increased risk for many
health risks. Out of all ages of mothers, teenage mothers are less likely to gain the right amount
of weight which leads to low birthweight. This could lead to many infant disorders and an
increased rate for infant mortality. Not only that but low birth rate babies are more likely to have
organs that arent fully developed yet. This may result in complications like bleeding in the
brain, respiratory distress syndrome, and intestinal problems.
Teen Pregnancy 7
Although there are many health risks that come with a teen pregnancy, there are also
other serious risks. Children born to teenage mothers are more likely to experience many social
and emotional problems. According to healthcommunities.com, Children born to teenage
mothers are less likely to receive proper nutrition, healthcare, and cognitive and social
stimulation. As a result, they are at risk for lower academic achievement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Teen Pregnancy is a serious worldwide issue that has a huge effect on teens and
their lives. Although teen pregnancy and birth rates tend to be declining, it is still a nationwide
issue. There are many ways to prevent a teen pregnancy whether its using contraceptives, not
being sexually active or simply joining a teen pregnancy prevention program. Regardless of the
circumstance there must be something done to reduce teen pregnancy rates.
Teen Pregnancy 8
References
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs." What Works - Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017
About Teen Pregnancy." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 26 Apr. 2016. Web. 20 Mar. 2017
About Teen Pregnancy." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 26 Apr. 2016. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.
Parenthood, Planned. "I'm Pregnant, Now What? | Pregnancy Options For Teens." I'm Pregnant,
Now What? | Pregnancy Options For Teens. N.p., 29 July 2016. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.
