The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 435,436 babies were born to mothers between 15 and 19 years old in 2006. Most of these were unintended births and the rates of teen pregnancy were found to be higher among Latino, African-American and Native American teens than other groups. Pregnant teenagers face both health difficulties and social issues that make the experience of pregnancy more difficult than for older women.
Causes
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, U.S. teens have a higher rate of teenage pregnancy than their peers in other developed countries. This likely occurs due to a lower level of birth control usage in America as compared to countries such as Canada, France, Sweden and Great Britain. Only 40 percent of American teens use oral birth control pills, as opposed to an average of 70 percent in those other countries.
Options
Three options exist for teenagers who become pregnant, explains MayoClinic.com. Many pregnant teens choose to give birth to the baby and raise the child either by themselves, along with the father or with the assistance of extended family members. Giving the baby up for adoption provides another option and modern adoption services offer a variety of ways to do this including family or friend adoptions, closed adoptions, open adoptions and the option of meeting and approving the family who will raise the child. The third option available to pregnant teenagers is to terminate the pregnancy. In some states, abortion is accessible to teens without parental permission while in other states, parents are required to give consent.
Risks and Complications
Teen pregnancy carries risks to both the mother and baby that do not or rarely occur with older mothers-to-be. A pregnant woman under 20 years old proves more likely to experience premature labor, high blood pressure or anemia, according to the March of Dimes. Their babies present a risk for low birth weight and premature birth. Babies born to teenage mothers also are at a higher risk of death within their first year of life.
Prevention
Programs to prevent teen pregnancy typically focus on a few different key points, explains Medline Plus. Many schools and churches sponsor abstinence-based programs to try to teach teens to postpone sexual activity until later in life. Schools and local health organizations may also promote knowledge about and access to birth control in different forms including birth control pills and condoms. Some communities use peer counseling to spread information and offer support for teens who want to discuss issues dealing with teenage sexuality and avoiding pregnancy.
Support
According to MayoClinic.com, teens who become pregnant often have a more difficult time finishing school and planning for the future than their non-pregnant peers. Family and community support proves vital to help these young mothers avoid poverty, unemployment and domestic violence. Programs exist in many communities to help address these problems and teens who become pregnant often require encouragement to seek out help early in the pregnancy.
