Knowing is Half the Battle: Trends in Teenage Pregnancies

There are many reasons why teenage pregnancy is getting quite commonplace in today’s society. Many talk shows and magazines feature teenage stars getting pregnant or having pregnancy scares of their own. Movies such as Juno and Knocked Up give teens an idea  that being a single mother is a good thing without showing them the reality and gravity of the situation. Trends in teenage pregnancies show that one out of a total of ten mothers are, in fact, only in their teens.

There are many reasons why teenage pregnancy is getting quite commonplace in today’s society. Many talk shows and magazines feature teenage stars getting pregnant or having pregnancy scares of their own. Movies such as Juno and Knocked Up give teens an idea  that being a single mother is a good thing without showing them the reality and gravity of the situation. Trends in teenage pregnancies show that one out of a total of ten mothers are, in fact, only in their teens.
A Look at the Trends
Trends in teenage pregnancies speak a lot about the society. In a million teens between 15 to 19 years of age, three quarters become pregnant every year. Within this, two out of three teens are 18 to 19 years of age when they bear a child. The number of teen mothers actually amount to 11% of the total number of births in the United States.
Black teens account for 134 per 1,000 pregnancies. Hispanic women account for 131 per 1,000 and non-Hispanic white girls amount to 48 per 1,000 pregnancies.
Causes for Concern
The trends in teenage pregnancies are no doubt a cause for concern. While there are a few teens who are exceptions to the rule, most are still at risk. No studies indicate that it is ever healthy for a teen to be subjected to the demands of child bearing at an early age. Pregnant teens are more likely to drop out of school and babies from teen mothers are also more likely to require special care due to the nutrition they receive while they are in the womb.
Parental Support Matters
Parents play an essential role in lessening the occurrences of teen pregnancies. Studies show that teens are still more likely to turn to their parents for reliable information than to their peers.