Teenage Pregnancy
The Challenges of Early Motherhood
In the past, teenage pregnancy was not only nothing unusual but it even used to be the norm. In fact, it still is in many developing countries where women often get married at a young age and have children soon afterwards. However, in the industrialized countries of today, teenage pregnancy is mostly considered as a problem, almost a tragedy. Why is that?
The many Challenges of Being a Teenage Mom
Teenage mothers in industrialized countries mostly lack a proper social network consisting of family, friends and elder women which is usually present in developing countries. Besides, there are many social pressures on them. The main pressure on young pregnant women is, of course, to come to a decision about the unborn child, considering the options of keeping the child, adoption and abortion.
Other pressures are education and money. For one, young teenage women in industrialized countries are generally expected to get educated and find work. This becomes almost impossible when having a baby without a strong social network. Then, there often are financial pressures, since the lack of education often leads to unemployment or the dependency on low paid jobs or welfare.
Risks for Teenage Mothers and their Child
As a result, teenage pregnancy may lead to various problems for both the mother and the child. According to a student factsheet of the Australian organization Women’s Health Queensland Wide, teenage mothers and their children may face some of the following risks:
There are significantly higher complication rates both during pregnancy and delivery for teenage mothers and their babies, such as an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, having a baby of low birth weight, birth defects and other complications.
Children born to teenage mothers are statistically more vulnerable to neglect and abuse. This is due to a range of factors including poverty, parenting inexperience and being in an unhealthy relationship (for example when there is a situation of domestic violence).
Teenage Pregnancies and the Disintegration of Families
Teenage pregnancies contribute to the disintegration of the family as a social institution. Most teen mothers are single mums. This is either because the child was conceived outside of a relationship or because the pregnancy places a great deal of strain on young relationships which are usually not as stable and enduring as adult relationships. Consequently, 60% of young Australian mothers do not have a male partner when their baby is born, as mentioned in a student factsheet on teenage pregnancy by the Australian based Women’s Health Queensland Wide Inc.
Teenage Mothers and Education
Teenage mothers are often unwilling or unable to complete their education. This lack of education can result in long term unemployment or low paid, insecure jobs. Being dependent on welfare or on a poorly paid job can place teenage mothers under greater financial pressure, even more so when they are single mums and have no supporting network of family and friends.
Finally, teenage mothers are often alienated from their peers and family because their new life is either disapproved of or cannot be related to by family and friends.
In developing countries, teenage mothers are usually married and have a broad support system. However, malnutrition, poor health care and complications of childbirth significantly increase the mortality rate of these young women.
Teenage pregnancy support and advice
Pregnant teens can look to a variety of organizations, forums and support sites for help. Links to websites offering more information and a variety of support and advice can be found on another article called Teenage Pregnancy: Online Help and Advice.
Sources:
David Popenoe’s testimony before the House of Representatives in Washington in 1996, see http://republicans.smbiz.house.gov/hearings/105th/1998/980716/popenoe.asp.
The UK based Brook Advisory Centres website, providing free and confidential sexual health advice and services specifically for young people under 25.
A student factsheet on teenage pregnancy by the Australian based Women’s Health Queensland Wide Inc.
Teenage pregnancy has its challenges AND rewards
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