Richelle Scott Mrs.

Verdun English IV-B8 26 February 2014 Research Paper Teen Pregnancy: Cause, Effect, and Prevention

Teenage pregnancy is something that many young adults are forced to deal with when engaging in sex. With low levels of knowledge and understanding of responsibility, teens are not prepared well enough to deal with the consequences and repercussions of their actions. Their level of ignorance is usually due to parents not educating their teens well enough to understand all the effects of having sex, and not speaking with a health care physician to see what they can do to prevent teen pregnancy. Sexual development is a normal cycle throughout teen developing years. Your teen needs your help in understanding his or her feelings, peer pressure, and how to say no if he or she does not want to have sex. If your teen starts having sex, he or she should know how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Teens want to talk with their parents about sex and relationships. Parents have a strong influence on whether a teenager makes healthy decisions for himself or herself. This assists them in making decisions effectively about sex, as well. Research shows that teens who talk with their parents about sex, relationships, birth control and pregnancy

begin to have sex at later age. They use condoms and birth control more often when they decide to partake in sexual intercourse. They will also develop better communication with romantic partners. This is all because they have coronal knowledge of the effects of fornication.

According to research, nearly 1 in 5 births to teen mothers, ages 15 to 19 are repeat pregnancies. On average, 183 repeat teen births occur every day in the US. Only about 1 in 5 sexually active teen mothers use the most effective types of birth control after they have given birth. According to statistics, American Indian, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, and African American teens are about 1.5 times more likely to have a repeat teen birth, in comparison to Caucasian teens.(CDC) Infants born from a repeat teen birth are often born too small or too soon, which can lead to more health problems for the baby. Working collaboratively, a sexually active teenage girl and her gynecologist or other health care physician can discuss which the most suitable birth control method is. Teenage mothers are less likely to gain adequate weight during their pregnancy, leading to low birth weight. Low birth weight is associated with several infant and childhood disorders and a higher rate of infant mortality. Babies born with low- weight are more likely to have organs that arent fully developed, which can result in complications, such as bleeding in the brain, respiratory distress syndrome, and intestinal problems. Teenage mothers have poor eating habits, typically worse than older women and are less likely to take recommended daily prenatal multivitamins to maintain adequate nutrition during pregnancy. Teens, also are more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or take drugs during pregnancy, which can cause health problems for the baby.

Teenage mothers receive regular prenatal care less often than older women. Prenatal care is essential for monitoring the growth of the fetus and the health of the mother. During prenatal care, doctors provide important information about practicing good nutrition and describing other ways to ensure a healthy pregnancy. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), babies born to women who do not have regular prenatal care are 4 times more likely to die before the age of 1 year. There are also a variety of low-dose birth control pills that are fairly safe for use in teens. Birth control pills also reduce menstrual cramps and blood flow, regulate the menstrual cycle, and, in some cases, reduce acne. Condoms and contraceptive jelly reduces the risk for teen pregnancy and for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This is the safest method of them all because it has no side effects. However if not careful, it can be one of the most risky. (Health Communities) Emergency contraceptive pills, also known as "morning-after pills," are effective if taken within 72 hours after having unprotected sex. Most medical insurance companies cover them. They must be prescribed by a doctor or other health care professional if the woman is under the age of 18. A popular one is Plan-B, One Step which is commonly used brand by many young adults. Pregnancy in the teen years can change the lives and futures of the mother, father, child, and their families. Repeat teen births, meaning two or more pregnancies ending in a live birth before they reach the age 20 can limit the mother's ability to finish her education. It can also limit her availability get a job. Giving birth and raising a child during the teen years can carry high health, emotional, social, and financial costs for teen mothers and their children. Teen mothers want to do their best

for their health and their child's, but some can become overwhelmed by life as a parent. Teen births may also cause other problems. Babies born from a repeat teen birth are often born too soon or too small. This can lead to more health problems for the baby. By the time the teen makes 22, only around 50 percent of teen mothers have received a high school diploma. Nearly, 30 percent have earned a General Education Development (GED) certificate, whereas 90 percent of women who dont get pregnant during adolescence receive a high school diploma. Only about 10 percent of teen mothers complete a two- or four-year college program. Teen fathers have a 25 to 30 percent lower probability of graduating from high school than teenage boys who arent fathers. Children who are born to teen mothers typically experience a variety of problems. For example, they are more likely to have a higher risk for low birth weight and infant mortality. They experience lower levels of emotional support and cognitive stimulation. They typically have fewer skills and are less prepared to learn when they enter kindergarten. Also, some have behavioral problems and chronic medical conditions. They rely more heavily on publicly funded health care such as Medicaid and Social Security. They have higher rates of foster care placement. be incarcerated at some time during adolescence. They have lower school achievement and dropout of high school. give birth as a teen and be unemployed or underemployed as a young adult. These immediate and long-lasting effects continue for teen parents and their children even after adjusting for the factors that increased the teens risk for pregnancy. Examples of this

are: growing up in poverty, having parents with low levels of education, growing up in a singleparent family, and having low attachment to and performance in school. Teen pregnancy costs U.S. taxpayers pay almost $11 billion per year due to increased health care and foster care, theres higher incarceration rates among children of teen parents, and lost tax revenue because of lower educational attainment and income among teen mothers. Some recent cost studies estimate that the cost may be as high as $28 billion per year or an average of $5,500 for each teen parent. The majority of this cost is associated with teens who give birth before age 18.(CDC) About 20% of the decline in teen pregnancy rates since 1991 is thought to be related to a decrease in sexual activity among adolescents. According to the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), fewer teens are having sexual intercourse and teens have fewer sexual partners than in the past.(Stanley J. Sweirzewski, III M.D.) Teen pregnancy prevention is important to the health and quality of life of young people and communities throughout the United States. It is also one of CDCs six public health priorities. CDCs efforts in this critical area include promoting evidence-based programs designed to help teenagers develop "protective factors" to avoid teen pregnancy and childbirth. Examples of protective factors include: having knowledge of sexual health, HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pregnancy that includes these methods of prevention. The risk of getting HIV is then increased when you are ignorant to unprotected sex. Before, personal values about sex and abstinence form. Attitudes start to develop toward condom use. Limit your number of sex partner and be well protected. Individual ability to avoid risk and

risk behaviors associated with HIV and other STDs. Avoid places and situations that might lead to sex. Intend to use a condom before initiating sexual activity. Your health can be compromised by a simple mistake. You can also die eventually from certain STDs If you do not teach your children about STDs and their overall sexual health, they become more prone to them. This also raises the value of teen pregnancy. More than 9 in 10 sexually active teen mothers used some method of birth control, but only about 1 in 5 used the most effective types of birth control. 1 out of 4 Caucasian (White) and Hispanic 7 out of 25 teen mothers are almost twice as likely as compared to African American teen mothers to use the most effective types of birth control.(CDC) The use of long lasting contraceptives can be a good option for a teen mother because they do not require her to take a pill each day. Implants in the arm and IUDs are two types of long-acting reversible birth control. These are some of the most effective forms of birth control. Teens should talk to their health care provider to determine which the best choice is for them. Your doctor will provide the needed information on the contraceptives below. Typical brand names for these contraceptives are: Depo-Provera, which is injected into a woman's arm muscle or buttocks every 3 months. This type of birth control requires a visit to a doctor or other health care professional. This method prevents pregnancy by controlling ovulation, altering the cervical mucus to make it complicated for the sperm to reach the egg, and preventing a fertilized egg from implanting itself into the uterus. Depo-Provera also reduces menstrual cramps, iron-deficiency anemia, and the risk for endometrial cancer. Side effects include irregular periods, weight gain, and tender breasts. (Health Communities)

In conclusion, uneducated teenagers are more prone to having unprotected sex, and not using a form of birth control. Doctors need to become more involved, and parents need to be more open minded about the SEX topic. That way, the teen pregnancy rate can drop and the rate for abortions will lower. Parents should also supply their kids with proper contraceptives so that their child can lead a normal life until theyre able to have kids in the future. Having a kid can disable you from endless possibilities, and it can affect your level of education.