To be able to determine just how society affects the younger generation, it is important to analyze the statistics related to common teen issues. One such important and controversial topic is the rise in teen pregnancy. In 2006, the Guttmacher Institute has conducted a study which includes the statistics of teenage pregnancies.
What the Numbers Say
One in ten births that occur in the United States actually involve a teen mother. Three out of four million teens aged 15 to 19 years old become pregnant every year. This collectively results in 11% of the total number of births in the whole country.
Black teens are the most likely to get pregnant when compared to those of a Hispanic descent and non-Hispanic white females.
Overall, the statistics of teenage pregnancies in the US has twice the number of teen pregnancies when compared to Canada, England or Wales. It is eight times higher when compared to Japan or the Netherlands.
Complications and Abortion
Because of the nature of the teen mothers, the statistics of teenage pregnancies related to medical issues are different from those based on older pregnant females. Considering teen pregnancies as a whole, 57% of these end in birth. Due to the quality of health care received during this critical period, 14% of the pregnancies result in a miscarriage.
Because of it being unplanned, nearly one third (29%) of these teens resort to abortion.
Education for the Teen Mother
In the past, teens are less likely to finish high school once they become pregnant. With the help of government programs and organizations, more teen mothers are able to attend high school or earn a GED at present, however, they are still less likely to get a college diploma than those who do not get pregnant, opting to work or take care of their child instead.

The purpose of this quiz is to test how much you know about teenage pregnancy. The objective is for you to be aware of the risks of sex and teenage pregnancy.

Here are nine quick questions for you to answer:

1. In the western industrialized world, which country has the highest teen pregnancy rate?

o Mexico

o Canada

o United States

o France

2. What pregnancy related complication does a teenage mother have?

o Pre-eclampsia

o Long labor

o Toxemia

o All of the above

3. Children of teenage mothers are most likely to have?

o Greater risks of neglect and abuse

o Lower birth weights

o Poor health

o All of the above

4. What are the health-risks for a baby born from a teenage mother?

o Low birth weight

o Still births

o Undeveloped organs such as lungs, heart and brain

o All of the above

5. Which among the races has the highest rate for teenage births?

o African-American

o Hispanics

o Whites

o Pacific Islanders/ Native Hawaiians

6. What is the ratio of teens having sex before the age 15?

o 2 out of 10

o 4 out of 10

o 6 out of 10

o 8 out of 10

7. The best way to avoid teenage pregnancy is to

o Use condoms

o Refrain from having sex/ abstinence

o Urinate or douche after having sex

o Use contraceptives

8. Teenage pregnancy is a problem in

o The United States of America

o Japan

o The Netherlands

o All over the world

9. What are the social problems a teenage mom would face?

o Reduced employment opportunities due to lack of education

o Being alienated from family and friends

o Her child will likely be teenage parents themselves

o All of the above

Answers:

1. United States of America
2. All of the above
3. All of the above
4. All of the above
5. Whites
6. 8 out of 10
7. Refrain from having sex/ abstinence
8. All over the world
9. All of the above

Comparing to nations such as Switzerland, The Netherlands, Canada and Britain, the USA has the highest rate in teenage pregnancy in the Western World. Yearly, there are approximately 560,000 teenage girls in the USA who gets pregnant.

Of these, 95% are unintended leading to 1/3 ending in abortions and 1/3 in spontaneous miscarriage. The rest will continue the pregnancy term and keep the baby. More than half of these teens are younger than age 17 during their first pregnancy. Less than 25 percent of births to teens occur within wedlock.

As per statistics, 24% of girls and 27% of boys in the USA have become sexually active before 15 years of age. That leads to 66% of unmarried teens having sex by the age of 19. By age 20, 77% of women and 85% of men are sexually active.

The following are the possible reasons for such early pregnancy:

• Birth control is not being taught in sex education classes
• The topic is not discussed at home by the parents
• Teens are not given access to information on pregnancy risks

Teenagers should be educated about contraception for them to use it when they begin to have sex. Other countries who educate their teens about this are rewarded with low rates of adolescent pregnancy.

There are states and localities that have support programs for teenage parents. This helps teenage fathers and mothers adjust to new responsibilities. Programs like Women, Infants and Children (WIC) makes sure that teenage parents have available support to take care of their baby. This includes access to pediatricians and baby food and formula. Programs are offered in local hospitals too to teach young parents all that they need to know about taking care of an infant.

USA will continue to have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the western world until it effectively finds a way on giving teenagers access to birth control. With this, teenage pregnancies will be lessened as evidenced by other countries that have liberal birth control awareness system in place.

Here are some important information regarding US teenage pregnancy:

• In 2004, more than 10% of all births in the US were to mothers under the age of 20. 67% of teenage births are from girls ages 18-19.
• Each year, there are more than 750,000 teenagers who become pregnant. About 420,000 of them complete the term or deliver.
• 3:10 is the ratio of teenage girls becoming pregnant before reaching the age of 20.
• From 1991 to 2004, teenage birth rate has declined. The rate fell from 61.8 per 1,000 women to 41.1.  After their first baby, 22 -30 % of teenage mothers under age 18 have a second baby within two years
• Teenage mothers are more likely to give birth prematurely than mothers over age 20. The preterm birth rates between 2002 and 2004 averaged 14.3% for those women under the age of 20 compared to 11.7% of women that are 20-29 years of age. Babies who are born prematurely face risks of newborn health problems, disabilities dues to organ failure and even stillbirths.
• In 2004, 14.2% of teens ages 15-19 smoked while pregnant, compared to 10.2% population of all pregnant women.
• From 2000 to 2002, 7% of teenage mothers between ages 15 to 19 years do not receive proper prenatal care, compared to 3.8% for all ages.

Based on the statistics, teenage mothers are at greater risk than those women over 20 years of age for pregnancy complications.

According to public opinion polls, teenage pregnancy is caused by peer pressure, mass media, and unloving, inattentive parents. Listed here are more opinions on its causes and how this could be avoided.

1. Gender roles and early marriage. Early pregnancy is seen as a blessing in other cultures such as in sub Saharan Africa because a young woman’s fertility is proven. Thus, early marriage is favorable.

2. Lack of contraceptive use (for those in developed countries) as most teenage pregnancies appears to be unplanned.

3. Adolescent sexual behavior:

• Pressure to have sex
• Being in a relationship
• Drugs /alcohol inhibiting them to do something sexual

4. Inadequate contraception use. Teenage boys may have incorrectly used condoms or teenage girls forgot to take oral contraceptives

5. Age discrepancy between the teener and the man who gets her pregnant. Those who are in a relationship with older boys/men are likely to get pregnant compared to those involved with those their own age.

6. Sexual abuse/ statutory rape. Teenage girls manipulated by an adult.

7. Dating violence. Teenage girls beaten by their dates. The use of contraceptives may have been sabotaged by their boyfriends.

8. Socio-economic factors. Countries that are economically poor have more teenage mothers than rich countries.

9. Childhood environment. Those exposed to domestic violence or abuse during childhood is more likely to have teenage pregnancy.

Organizations are coming up to solve the growing issue which includes giving two or three sessions (a total of 14 hours) of teen education programs to provide basic information regarding the situation like the health risks involved.

There are also clinics that provide one-on-one counseling as they give information about contraception and abstinence. Certainly, teenage pregnancy cannot be eradicated but everybody can take part to reduce it.

Pregnancy among teenagers is an important concern. There are risks to both the mother and the baby’s health. Compared to older mothers, teenage mothers who don’t receive prenatal care are likely to have higher risks of pregnancy related complications such as anemia, pre-eclampsia, toxemia and high blood pressure. They may also face long labor or go into labor early.

Low birth weight and/ or premature birth are risks for the baby. This may lead to underdeveloped organs such as the lungs, heart, and brain, respiratory distress syndrome and intestinal problems. There is also a possibility of high infant mortality rate or stillbirths.

Other factors that may affect the baby’s health includes cigarette smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, iron deficiency anemia and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Teenage pregnancy is universal. As per data that supports a survey regarding this, it has been shown that in developed countries, this is rampant among those of lower education levels and with high poverty rates. This is usually outside of wedlock so it carries a social stigma in many cultures and communities. Because of this, studies are being made to uncover its causes to eradicate or limit the number of adolescent pregnancies.

In the developing world wherein the culture is different, this doesn’t involve social stigma, teenage pregnancy is typically within marriage. In some societies, early marriage as well as traditional gender roles are one of the main factors in the rate of adolescent pregnancies. Take for instance in sub-Saharan Africa where pregnancy is a proof of a woman’s fertility so early pregnancy is considered a blessing.