Social Implication of Teenage Pregnancies

Social Aspects of Teenage Pregnancies

Implications to Mother

- not being able to complete education
Only 40 percent of teenagers who have children before age 18 go on to graduate from high school, compared to 75 percent of teens from similar social and economic backgrounds who do not give birth until ages 20 or 21
(National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Why It Matters.)

- long term unemployment / poorly paid jobs -- financial pressures
more than 75 percent of all unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within 5 years of the birth of their first child
Ventura, S.J., et al. Estimated Pregnancy Rates by Outcome for the United States, 1990-2004. National Vital Statistics Reports, volume 56, number 15, April 14, 2008.

- low income results in poor housing and being unable to afford adequate healthcare/basic necessity

- alienation from peers and family

-cause great strain on young relationships (60% don’t have a male partner when baby is born)

-stigma in society towards teenage mothers
- affect teenage mother’s view on parenting ability, motherhood and self-esteem.

- higher risk of postnatal depression than older women
Due to lack of support, isolation, family and financial pressures, societal attidues.


Implications to baby

-more likely to perform poorly in school
Maynard, R.A., Ed., 1996. Kids Having Kids: A Robin Hood
Foundation Special Report on the Costs of Adolescent Childbearing, New
York: Robin Hood Foundation.

-greater risk of abuse and neglect.
Due to poverty, inexperienced parenting
(George, R.M., & Lee, B.J. 1997. Abuse and Neglect of Children. In R.A.
Maynard, Ed., Kids Having Kids: Economic Costs and Social
Consequences of Teen Pregnancy, pp. 205-230. Washington, DC: The
Urban Institute Press.)

- The sons of teen mothers are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison,
while teen daughters are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers
themselves.
(Maynard, R.A., Ed., 1996. Kids Having Kids: A Robin Hood
Foundation Special Report on the Costs of Adolescent Childbearing, New
York: Robin Hood Foundation.)

links
http://www.vahealth.org/teenpregnancyprevention/documents/TeenPregnancyConsequences.pdf
http://www.womhealth.org.au/studentfactsheets/teenagepregnancy.htm
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1159.asp