Teenage Pregnancy: What Are Its Causes?

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.