Teen Pregnancy: The Role of Parental Support
A significant proportion of babies in the U.S. are born to women aged 15 to 19 years. In 2014 alone, 249,078 babies were delivered by teenage women, representing a birth rate of 24 in every 1,000 females in this age category (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016). This represents a historic low in the prevalence of teen pregnancy in the U.S. compared to two decades ago, with delayed and/or reduced sexual activity as well as increased use of birth control among teens believed to be the major contributors of the decline (CDC, 2016). Even so, teen pregnancy in the U.S. remains the highest in the developed world (Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2016).
Whereas majority of teen births are unintended and occur outside marriage, it is important to note that many of these are intended (Sekharan et al., 2015). At times, teens may make a conscious decision to be mothers. Regrettably, whether intended or not, teen pregnancy is often condemned and shamed by parents, families, schools, and the society at large. Indeed, most discourses, efforts, and interventions in this area are predominantly obsessed with preventing teen pregnancy (Weed, Nicholson & Farris, 2014; Macutkiewicz & MacBeth, 2016). While the teen pregnancy may have negative consequences on both the mother and the child, it is crucial for parents to offer encouragement and support whenever their teenager(s) express a deliberate intention to become mothers. This paper critically highlights why it is important for parents and the society to understand teens' perspectives on pregnancy, and why social support is crucial for the teen's overall wellbeing.
Teen Perspectives on Pregnancy
The general assumption is that all teen pregnancies are unwanted. From the media and schools to the family and the society at large, pregnant teens are usually seen as promiscuous, deviant individuals who will never achieve anything significant in life. Nonetheless, not every teenager perceives their pregnancy as unplanned (Weed, Nicholson & Farris, 2014). Indeed, a number of studies conducted in the U.S. reveal that up to 12% of teenage women consciously elect to become pregnant (Macutkiewicz & MacBeth, 2016), with the prevalence of planned teen pregnancy being greater in African-American and Latin American teens compared to their Caucasian counterparts (Sekharan et al., 2015). This group (teenagers who deliberately plan to become mothers) tends to have a positive attitude towards early childbearing. In spite of the associated hardship, they view young motherhood as a source of positive influence and transformation on one's life (Macutkiewicz & MacBeth, 2016). They envision motherhood as a more attractive option compared to
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