Health And Social Service Programs

There is presently much controversy regarding teenage pregnancy and the probability of its chances being reduced by education and good parenting. The surrounding environment plays an essential role when considering teenage pregnancy and it is thus very important for teenagers to be provided with proper education and a positive environment in order for them to be able to understand the difference between right and wrong. One of the most important things about teen pregnancy is that society as a whole needs to get actively involved in combating it, taking into account that it has a negative effect on the social order in general.

In recent years, teenage pregnancy has been labeled a major issue amongst teens that it can be known as an “Epidemic.” Is teenage pregnancy directly responsible for a host of society’s ills? Increasing teenage pregnancy rate translates directly into increasing rates of “school failure,” early behavioral problems, drug abuse, child abuse, depression, and crimes. Many social problems can be directly attributed to the poor choices of teenage girls.

Teenage birth rates, defined as live births per one thousand 15-19-year-old US females, declined by 10% from 2012 to 2013 from 29.4 to 26.5. In fact, the birth rate has been on a steady decline over the past 20 years, from 61.8 in 1991 to 26.5 in 2013. Teenage pregnancy represents both a health and social inequality in our society. Specifically, teenage childbearing is a public health issue because teenage mothers are more likely to experience negative social outcomes such as dropping out of school. This is a self-reinforcing cycle, as children of teenage mothers face higher chances of poor academic achievement as well as getting pregnant or getting someone else pregnant in their teenage years (CDC). Although the overall rates of teenage pregnancy have dropped, ultimately, the variations in the rates reflect the intersecting disparities regarding race and ethnicity, income inequality, geography, and environmental factors, which in turn affect access to medical care, education, and resources.

Each year around 90,000 adolescents become pregnant in the United States. Around 51% of adolescents pregnancies end in live births, 35% end up in induced abortions, and 14% result in miscarriage or stillbirth (Frick, 2007). Historically, the highest teen pregnancy rates in the United States were during the 1950’s and 1960’s before the legalization of abortion and the development of many the current forms of contraception(Frick, 2007). Rates enlarged steadily until 1991; since then, the birth rate among teenagers has decreased 35% for 15-17 year olds(Frick, 2007). Three in 10 teen American girls will get pregnant at least once before age 20. That is nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies every year. In 2013, there were 26.6 births for every 1,000 adolescent females ages 15-19, or 274,641 babies born to females in this age group. To prevent teen pregnancy, we should teach them abstinence, safe sex by using protection, and communication skills to discuss prevention from peer pressure.

Adolescent parenthood has been an issue of public concern for many years. Adolescent parenthood has been the subject of numerous articles, public health reports, and public debate. So what makes adolescent parenthood such a popular topic of discussion and a reoccurring social problem? How does an adolescent parent relate to such public issues as education, poverty, and family? Researchers conduct literature reviews and original research in an effort to find a resolution to decrease adolescent pregnancy/parenthood and methods to improve the quality of life for adolescent parents. Although these articles share many themes and patterns, often their reason for conducting the research, methods, conclusion, and belief regarding adolescent pregnancy and parenthood differ.

Teen pregnancy has been a serious social issue for quite a while. Often, a teen pregnancy is detrimental for both the teen and the child involved. Both a teen mother and her child are more susceptible to complications during the pregnancy and birth than and adult mother and her child. Unfortunately, a teen mother and her infant are also less likely to pursue and receive healthcare to alleviate these health risks (Teen Pregnancy). Moreover, “teen pregnancy is often cited as a factor that perpetuates the cycle of poverty, since teen mothers are likely to be poor in the first place, and their children are likely to grow up to be poor” (Teen Pregnancy). While there is no argument that teens should be educated to prevent teen pregnancy, there is a debate on how it should be done. Currently, there are two forms of education focused on reducing teen pregnancies: abstinence-only education and comprehensive sex education with birth control. However, sex education and birth control are clearly the superior option, due to its effectiveness and the futility of abstinence-only education.

Teenage childbearing is serious social problem in the United States. The rates of teen parenting are at is lowest, but the numbers still remain an issue. Teen parenting has been associated with negative outcomes for the parents and their children. Many teenage parents and their families are unaware of the disparities when becoming a teen parent. With outcomes of teen childbearing being identified, teen pregnancy prevention needs to be further addressed. Addressing teen pregnancy and methods of prevention will help strengthen families and promote healthy development in the future. Evidence- based teen pregnancy programs, parent involvement, and community involvement need to be implemented to help decrease teen pregnancies and rates and sexual risk behaviors; a comprehensive approach would be the most beneficial for youth.

Teen mothers are at an increased risk for having subsequent births due to multidimensional and complex needs. These risks contain complex social and economic aspects and public health issues. These mothers appear to have a recurring theme associated with “poorer medical, educational, economic and parenting outcomes” (Barnet et al., 2009, p. 435). Factors that affect these teen mothers appear to be multi-disciplinary, and therefore the efficacy of such interventions has been difficult to determine. Risk factors that seem to be prevalent with an increase in subsequent pregnancies among teen mothers include emotional and psychological aspects as well as race, poverty, school concerns, and inconsistent use of contraception. A number of programs have been implemented as an intervention to reduce secondary teen pregnancies. Examination of different methodologies aimed at prevention confirms that an integrated or multi-disciplinary approach appears to be most successful. Such programs address reproductive health needs, preventative care, and effective parenting behavior for the teenage mother, including a broad scope of services aimed at life’s concerns, and promotion of social skills.

The rise in teen pregnancy is often associated with three immediate causes. First, in these hard times, more and more teen

Teen pregnancy is an issue in the U. S. It is thought of as a widespread issue, which creates a problem and involves the teen mom and her parents as well. The parents’ participation is vital. It’s essential for them to remain involved and participate in the sex preventive measures of their child or children. With this involvement, a smaller quantity of teenagers would probably not be sexually active.

Teen pregnancy is a pressing issue that needs to be dealt with. Although it has declined within the last decade it is still higher

Teen pregnancy continues to be a public health concern in the United States. Compared to other industrialized nations, the USA ranks higher in teen pregnancy and abortion rates than other Westernized countries (Segeh, Finer, Bankole, Eilers , Singh 2015). It was estimated that in the year 2015, 229,715 babies were born to teenagers in the United States (Martin et al., 2017). Medical research has shown that teen pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes for the mother and the child. Children born to teen mothers are more likely to have low birth weights, are less likely to be breastfed and are at a higher risk for infant death (Chen et al., 2007). In addition to the potential clinical challenges, teen motherhood can present a new set of barriers for future socioeconoimical well-being. Teen mothers are less likely finish high school, are delayed in joining the workforce and are more likely to remain single ( Hoffman & Maynard, 2008).

Each year approximately 750,000 adolescents (ages 15-19) in the United States will become pregnant and about 400,000 of those adolescents will give birth. Out of all the developed nations in the world, the United States has the highest incidence of teen pregnancy. Although there has been a decline in the number of pregnancies among adolescents, teen pregnancy is still a serious health concern that needs continued intervention. It is widely agreed upon that becoming pregnant at a young age has negative effects on both mother and baby in many different aspects. What are the reasons for the increased rate of teen pregnancies in the United States despite the health risks, and how can we lower it?

Adolescent pregnancy is a contemporary social challenge that can no longer be overlooked in terms of its magnitude in the society today. Despite the widespread sex education and peer counseling and guidance, there still is a wide prevalence of teen pregnancy, a challenge that does not only affect the teenagers but the society at large.

Nearly one million teen girls become pregnant each year, with four out of 10 young women becoming pregnant at least once before they turn 20. The federal government spends about $40 billion to help families that began with a teenage birth. The overall U.S. teenage pregnancy rate declined 19 percent between 1991 and 1997 , from 117 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-19 to 94.3 per 1,000.3 The national teen birth rate declined 5 percent between 1998 and 2000, reaching a rate of 48.5 births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 - the lowest rate ever recorded. Since 20011, the teen birth rate has declined 22 percent. These numbers, though declining, show that we are in dire need of a change. Providing Sex Education in schools provides the necessary tools to decrease these numbers and change the thoughts and actions of children who act impulsively with little or no knowledge of the consequences of their actions.