Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage Pregnancy is one of the most distressing problems that are prevalent in the United States. Statistics show that without a doubt, teenage pregnancy should be a national concern, not only because four out of ten women are bound to get pregnant before they even reach the age of twenty. Rather, it is because of the fact that teenage pregnancy has various adverse effects not only among the individuals involved, but also on the whole country as well.

Gaining attention through the use of popular media…

Various non-government organizations (NGOs) and government agencies have sought for various ways to significantly decrease the number of teenagers aged 19 and below. According to recent studies however, the most effective way to deliberately reduce the teenage pregnancy rate is through sex education through songs about teenage pregnancy.

Teenagers who have risky behaviors that are associated with the susceptibility to early pregnancy should be subjected to various education programs that increase awareness on the effects of this problem. Aside from regular lectures and discussions, most advocacy groups have tried to make use of the popular media in order to promote awareness. Among the most effective measures is through the use of songs about teenage pregnancy.

Why songs are effective mediums

Mass media allows one to promote ideologies, popularize a certain concept, and somehow dictate the trends and styles that will be prominent in the society. That is why studies show that programs that aim to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy should incorporate the use of popular media – primarily that of songs and music.

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Teenage pregnancy is definitely an alarming national concern in the United States. This is because 10% of annual births in the country belong to that of a teenage mother. While this number alone can be a clear-cut source of apprehension, there are far more facts on teenage pregnancy that can cause distress and concern among every citizen of the United States. Below are some of the most vital statistics published by the Guttmacher Institute regarding this social concern:

•    Teenage pregnancy is very prevalent. On a yearly basis, an estimate of 750,000 young girls aged 15 to 19 become pregnant. This means that 750,000 young girls are subjected to responsibilities that they are unprepared to face.

•    Among this pregnant population, it should be noted that only a few teen mothers planned to be pregnant in the first place. According to statistics, more than eight percent of all the teenage pregnancies are unintended. What’s more is that twenty percent of all the unplanned pregnancies in the United States every year fall under cases of teen pregnancy.

•    Facts on teenage pregnancy also showed that approximately 66% of all the cases happen to girls within the age range of 18 to 19 years old. This means that they are almost at the brink of adulthood and they are almost starting out on their way towards the fulfillment of their dreams but then suddenly, teenage parenthood demands a lot of lifestyle changes from them.

•    One of the most alarming facts on teenage pregnancy is that among all the cases of adolescent pregnancy, only 57% end in birth while the rest end either in miscarriage or abortion. This only implies that abortion is a popular choice among teenage mothers.

•    About 33% of all the pregnant mothers want to abort their babies. In this case, abortion seems to be the only easy way out from the responsibilities and hardships associated with becoming a young mom. However, it should be noted that abortion is very dangerous. If the pregnancy is not terminated by abortion, it can cause various serious birth defects to the unborn child. In the case of mother, he can suffer from hemorrhage, infection, infertility, and even death even if the pregnancy is terminated.

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Becoming a teenage parent can be very difficult. Girls who still regard themselves as young individuals who still need and want a lot of adventure are forced to face the task of becoming a young mom. Instead of studying and loafing around with friends their age, young moms should stay at home and watch their babies. More than often, young moms are also forced to make a living and earn enough money to sustain not just their own needs, but that of their babies. Young moms are also subjected to lots of physical and emotional stresses.

The need for support

Without a doubt, young moms need support from people around them. They definitely need the love and concern of their partner, as well as that of their family. Such can help them realize that they still have someone that they can rely on. However, aside from family members, young moms still need friends. This can come in the form of teenage pregnancy support groups.

With these support groups, young moms will have someone to relate to. Contrary to popular misconceptions however, these groups are not just composed of people who share the same problems about teenage pregnancy. Rather, experts – such as counselors and advisers – also join such groups. In various meetings, get together activities, and programs of these teenage pregnancy support groups, the members can talk about their situations, problems, and the hardships associated with becoming a young parent.

Finding support

There are many support groups that young moms can join. They just have to know when and how to look for these teenage pregnancy support groups. There are local groups and international ones. Prior to the searching phase however, young mothers should know what kind of support that they are looking for – they should determine the kind of activities that the group promotes, the general profile of its members, and its main objectives.

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People think that the definition of teenage pregnancy should be limited to the basic concept that girls aged 19 or younger already have the ability to conceive and reproduce. However, experts argue that everyone should look beyond the concepts in our vocabulary books.

Without a doubt, teenage pregnancy is one of the most devastating problems that can strike women regardless of their social class, educational attainment, and social inclinations. It is a widespread problem that concerns everybody primarily because it affects not only the teenage parents but their families, communities, and the whole society as well. Experts even note that in order to fully address this national problem, people should be taught to look at teenage pregnancy not just as somebody else’s burden but as a social phenomenon that concerns all.

Teenage pregnancy, a product of various social factors

When one considers the definition of teenage pregnancy, people should regard the problem as a product of various social factors – poverty, lack of education, liberation, democracy, and youth empowerment. Although the rate of teen pregnancy continuously decline year by year since 1990, it should be noted that still, the numbers are terribly alarming. According to experts, the decline should be attributed to the increase in the use of condoms but since no contraceptive provides 100% protection, teenagers should be taught the importance of abstinence. Such seems to be quite impossible since more and more teenagers are becoming sexually active.

Product of pop culture…

Looking at the social definition of teenage pregnancy, it should be noted that adolescent pregnancy is a product of the various components of pop culture. As observed, the youth of today are growing up in a society that promotes the idea that unmarried sexual relationships are very common and even “accepted”. This concept is promoted by various TV series, movies, music, and magazines. What’s more is that although premarital sex is regarded as an “expected action” from many teenagers, the society also lacks awareness and education on responsible sexual actions.

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Teenage pregnancy is a very alarming problem, especially in the United States. According to the recent statistics, the country has the highest rate of teen pregnancy among all the industrialized nations. In fact, there are 42.9 births for every one thousand teenage girls within the age 15 to 19 and four out of ten girls get pregnant as soon as they reach the age of 20. In this pregnant population, 80 percent were unintended and 79 percent of the pregnant teenagers are not yet married. Because of this continuously hiking number of pregnant teenagers however, many social groups and government agencies have been prompted to look for various ways on how to reduce teenage pregnancy in the soonest time possible.

Knowing the causes

In order to determine how exactly teenage pregnancy should be dealt with, action groups try to determine its various causes. According to experts, teenage pregnancy is often associated with many risk factors. That is why studies aimed at how to reduce teenage pregnancy look at the scenario as a general social phenomenon that is a product of several circumstances.

Based on earlier studies, a teenager who has been subjected to child abuse is more likely to be pregnant at an early age. Being poor and living with a broken family or in a single-parent setting also prompts an individual to engage in early sex which causes teenage pregnancy. Furthermore, engaging in various risky behaviors such as drug abuse and delinquency in the community can also be predictors of a teenager’s susceptibility to early pregnancy.

Possible solutions

According to experts, there are three general strategies that action groups can use in their quest to significantly reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy all around the country. Foremost of which is to provide campaigns that promote abstinence. However, it should be noted that this approach is not effective especially in industrialized countries where sexually active teenagers are abundant.

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