Almost 750,000 teen girls between the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Fourteen percent of these pregnancies end in miscarriage, 27 percent in abortion, and 59 percent in births. When a teen girl becomes pregnant, it isn't just her sexual activity that caused it, but rather several other factors affecting early teenage pregnancy, including race, social status and attitudes about sex. Watch for warning signs that your teen girl is at risk for teenage pregnancy.
Racial
Some races are simply more prone to teen pregnancy. This encompasses attitudes toward sex, socioeconomic status and family involvement. The Guttmacher Institute notes that blacks typically have 126 teen girls become pregnant in every 1,000 girls, while Hispanic have 127. Non-Hispanic whites average 44 pregnancies per 1,000 girls. While it may seem a broad generalization to point out that race can affect teen pregnancy, it is truly a combination of culture, race and support system that can put a teen at risk for pregnancy.
Social
A teen's socioeconomic status is a factor to whether or not pregnancy will be an issue. Psychology Today notes that a girl who lives in poverty is more likely to become pregnant because of teachings and attitudes on sex, as well as access to contraception. A teen who has been in the foster care system is also more likely to become pregnant before the age of 19. While not all parents and teachers can alter a teen's socioeconomic standing, proper education about, and access to contraception can reduce the chances of teen pregnancy.
Biological
A teen's biological maturity can put her at risk for experiencing a teen pregnancy, notes a report published by The Internet Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The article points out that teens reach biological maturity for sexual behavior and pregnancy four to five years before they become emotionally ready. Unfortunately, that fact is lost on the hundreds of thousands of teen girls and boys who become parents each year. An early-developing teen may be more likely to become pregnant than one whose puberty is delayed, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Sexual Attitude
Your family's attitude about sex and contraception can affect your teen's likelihood of becoming pregnant and how the pregnancy is dealt with. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that half of all teen pregnancies occur because of a lack of contraception. If sex isn't something that is taboo in your family or your teen doesn't understand contraception, she could be at risk for becoming pregnant. Relying on the school system or friends to teach her about sex can alter her attitude and affect her getting pregnant and how she reacts and deals with the pregnancy.
References
- Guttmacher Institute: Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Psychology Today: How to Get a Teenager Pregnant: Combine Emotional Distress, Poverty and Conservative Religious Beliefs
- The Internet Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics: An Update on Teen Pregnancy
- Pediatrics: Early Puberty and Adolescent Pregnancy: The Influence of Alcohol Use
- Kaiser Family Foundation: Sexual Health Statistics for Teenagers and Young Adults in the United States
