Causes and Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy Explained

Introduction

Data from the CDC shows that 229,715 children were born to mothers between 15 and 19 years of age in 2015. These figures represent a birth rate of 22.3 for every 1,000 women in that age bracket (CDC, 2017). The prevalence of street children, broken families, school dropouts, and abortions is largely linked to the high rate of adolescent involvement in sexual activity, which often leads to unintended pregnancies. Peer pressure has been cited in many forums as a major contributor to teenage pregnancy. Other contributing factors include absent parents, the glamorization of teen pregnancy by media outlets and films, alcohol use among teenagers, sexual abuse, rape, poverty, and a general lack of knowledge.

The purpose of this information handout is to educate young girls between the ages of 10 and 19 about the risks of becoming pregnant during the teenage years, and what steps they can take to avoid it. The target audience is primarily girls in upper primary and secondary schools. There is a critical need to engage with girls in these settings.

Teenagers experience significant pressure to make friends and conform to their social groups. On many occasions, they allow peers to influence their decisions about sex, including whether to have it, often without fully understanding the consequences (CDC, 2017). Sexual involvement can become a way for teenagers to appear sophisticated and socially accepted. However, this can result in unplanned pregnancy. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 29% of teens who became pregnant reported having sex due to peer pressure. Furthermore, 33% of pregnant teenage girls expressed that they were not ready for a sexual relationship but proceeded anyway out of fear of being rejected by their peers (Langham, 2015).

What Leads to Teenage Pregnancy?

Teenagers are at a higher risk of pregnancy when they receive little or no guidance from their parents. The demands of modern life have caused many parents to fall short in providing the support their teenage children need to make informed decisions about sex (Langham, 2015). When a teenager does not feel comfortable enough to discuss sexual concerns with a parent — whether because the topic has been forbidden or because the parent is frequently absent — they turn to friends for advice. Friends, however, may not provide truthful or accurate information.

Films and media contribute to high rates of teenage pregnancy by glamorizing it. When movies portray teen pregnancy as something desirable or fashionable, it can normalize the behavior for young viewers (Langham, 2015). During adolescence, teens are particularly preoccupied with appearance and acceptance. If pregnancy is portrayed positively among their peers or in popular media, some teenagers may be drawn toward it as a means of social belonging.

When teenagers lack proper sexual education, they are more prone to unintended pregnancy. Some teens have no understanding of the relationship between sexual intercourse and pregnancy, or of their own biological functioning (Langham, 2015). Such teens are easily misled by friends, movies, or television shows. In most cases, a lack of knowledge prevents teenagers from making responsible decisions regarding sex. Comprehensive sex education is therefore a critical tool for prevention.

Teenagers also become pregnant as a result of sexual abuse or rape. According to the Guttmacher Institute, between 43% and 62% of teens report that an adult male impregnated them, and two-thirds report that the father of their child is as old as 27 years (Langham, 2015). Approximately 5% of all teen births result from rape.

Drinking and poverty are also major causes of teenage pregnancy. Cook and Cameron (2015) note that women who experience deprivation tend to receive less education and poor mentorship, leaving them vulnerable to early marriage, drug abuse, violence, prostitution, and rape. According to the World Health Organization, 16 million females between the ages of 15 and 19, and a further one million girls below the age of 15, give birth each year. Childbirth and pregnancy-related complications are the second leading cause of death among teenage females aged 15 to 19 worldwide (McCarthy, O'Brien & Kenny, 2014). The WHO also estimates that approximately one million girls undergo unsafe abortion procedures annually.

Teenage pregnancy is a major public health issue that has attracted the attention of both the World Health Organization and the CDC. It is essential to sensitize young women and girls about these risks. School-going girls should be informed that reckless sexual activity can lead to pregnancy. They need to understand that once they begin menstruating, pregnancy becomes possible. Key preventive steps include:

Abstinence: Refraining from sexual activity is the most reliable way to prevent pregnancy.

Communication: Teenage pregnancy prevention is closely tied to open communication between teenagers and their parents. According to a report by the National Campaign, teenagers identify their parents as having more influence over their decisions about sex, relationships, and love than either media or peers (Summers, 2017). Starting these conversations before the onset of adolescence can make a significant difference.

Contraceptives: Teenagers who are sexually active should receive accurate information about contraceptive options. Resources from the CDC's teen pregnancy prevention program offer guidance for both teens and health care providers.

The Role of Abuse, Poverty, and Global Impact

Staying safe: Teenagers should be educated about how to protect themselves from sexual abuse, coercion, and high-risk environments.

CDC (2017). Reproductive Health: Teen Pregnancy. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 28, 2017, from

Cook, S. M. C., & Cameron, S. T. (2015). Social issues of teenage pregnancy. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine, 25(9), 243–248.