...Teenage pregnancy 2 Teenage Pregnancy Sexuality always has been a curious topic for teens. Teenagers do not think of the consequences of sexual intercourse; including pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and economic aspects. When a child becomes a teenager, hormones affect how a teenager thinks rationally about sex. They think they have the maturity level to have sexual intercourse. Persisting problem Teenage pregnancy is a growing problem that affects the rest of that person’s life. The statistics of teenage pregnancy are staggering to consider. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 400,000 infants were born to teenage mothers in 2009 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Teenage pregnancy has lifelong consequences that most teenagers do not consider; including dropping out of high school, health problems, and a life of poverty (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). A teenage pregnancy is more than a global problem; the local communities are affected as well. Community affected A teenage pregnancy not only puts a burden on the teenager and the families involved but also the surrounding community. Teenage pregnancy costs more than $9 billion per year for the taxpayers of the community. The costs cover health care, foster care, lost tax revenue, and teenagers have a higher rate of crime; resulting in incarceration (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Teenage pregnancy 3 ...
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...Adolescent pregnancy is considered as a pregnancy in a female who is less than 20 years of age at the end of the pregnancy. It can occur in a fertile female either at puberty before the occurrence of her first menstrual period, or after the first period. The first menstrual period in nourished girls occurs at around 12 or 13 years of age. Pregnant teenagers experience many issues similar to other women. However, there would be other medical issues for mothers under 15 years. Teenage mothers of ages 15 to19 face socioeconomic issues rather than biological issues. Underage pregnancies are associated with high biological risks such as anemia, premature labor, and low birth weight among others (Creatsas & Elsheikh, 2002). In countries that are developed, underage pregnancies are associated with social issues such as poverty, low education levels, and poor upbringing of children. Teenage pregnancies in these countries are normally outside marriage, and it bears a social stigma in the society. Some of the same reasons may apply in developing countries. However, in these countries there may also be other reasons such as early marriages. In poor areas of developing countries, early pregnancies may be followed by high risks due to factors such as malnutrition and poor health services. Teenage pregnancies exist in all societies. However, the levels of these pregnancies differ with countries. For example, the rate of teenage pregnancies in Netherlands is 12 pregnancies out of 1000...
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...Abstinence only versus Sex education in preventing teen pregnancy Anamika Laddha Chamberlain University Abstinence only versus Sex education in preventing teen pregnancy Introduction United States has the highest level of teenage pregnancy amongst the industrialized nations – nine times as high as Netherlands or Japan, twice as high as England and Wales or Canada. Over eight hundred thousand teenage girls get pregnant each year, most unintentionally (The Alan Guttmacher Institue, 2000). Four out of ten young women become pregnant at least once before age 20. Moe than 80% of these pregnancies are to unmarried teens (National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2004). Teenage pregnancy usually refers to girls who have not reached legal adulthood. World Health Organization defines Teenage Pregnancy as “any pregnancy from a girl who is 10-19 years of age,” the age being defined as her age at the time the baby is born. It is not limited to any social, economic, racial or ethnic groups. It is a serious issue that has effect on all of us and should be a concern from obstetric and socio-economical point of views. Factors Contributing to Teen Pregnancy The reasons behind teen pregnancy are complex, varied, and typically interconnected. As Sisson (2012) points out that teen pregnancy should not be looked as isolated issue and it must be understood within context of social complexities and inequities all of which needs to be effectively addressed in order to be one step closer...
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...Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Dotlyn Robertson NUR/598 July 8, 2013 Pat Jamerson, RN, PhD Abstract The issue of controlling and preventing teenage pregnancy is a major problem in society. Teenage pregnancy is a significant health issue that plagues our nation and communities. Community and public health nurses are faced with the challenge of addressing teen pregnancy, a monumental health issues that affect vulnerable populations in society. Effectiveness of healthcare interventions depends in part, on the approach that is taken in addressing the presenting issues (Shi & Stevens, 2005). Factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy span socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological issues that are perpetrated by individual characteristics (of the teenagers), peers, family members, and the greater society (Maurer & Smith, 2009). Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that in 2009, more than 500,000 children were born to mothers of ages 15 to 19 years, at a rate of 45.5 per 1000 mothers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010, para. 1). Teenage pregnancy, a public health priority for youths, is a multifaceted health issue that is influenced, in part, by socioeconomic factors such as peer pressure, low income of families, and the media (Maurer & Smith, 2009; The National Campaign, 2010). Likewise, teenage pregnancy also creates socioeconomic and health problems for teenage mothers, teenage fathers, their children, and society...
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... Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Abstract The issue of controlling and preventing teenage pregnancy is a major problem in society. Teenage pregnancy is a significant health issue that plagues our nation and communities. Community and public health nurses are faced with the challenge of addressing teen pregnancy, a monumental health issues that affect vulnerable populations in society. Effectiveness of healthcare interventions depends in part, on the approach that is taken in addressing the presenting issues (Shi & Stevens, 2005). Factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy span socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological issues that are perpetrated by individual characteristics (of the teenagers), peers, family members, and the greater society (Maurer & Smith, 2009). Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that in 2009, more than 500,000 children were born to mothers of ages 15 to 19 years, at a rate of 45.5 per 1000 mothers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010, para. 1). Teenage pregnancy, a public health priority for youths, is a multifaceted health issue that is influenced, in part, by socioeconomic factors such as peer pressure, low income of families, and the media (Maurer & Smith, 2009; The National Campaign, 2010). Likewise, teenage pregnancy also creates socioeconomic and health problems for teenage mothers, teenage fathers, their children, and society. Some of the effects of teenage pregnancy on the children...
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...Teen Pregnancy in the United States Teen Pregnancy in the United States Lakiara Collins English II` Abstract Teen Pregnancy occur more than you think in the United States. More than 400,000 teen girls, aged 15-19 years old, give birth each year in the US. Having a child during teen years carries high costs emotional, physical, and financial to the mother, father, child, and community. Teen Pregnancy is becoming more popular in the media and from a political, ad educational standpoint. This is an underlying social problem that is now making it known. Teen Pregnancy in the United States “Each year in the U.S. almost one million teenagers become pregnant--at enormous costs to themselves, their children, and society”. (Pregnant Teen Help, Teen Pregnancy Statistics) Some would argue that teen pregnancy is all glorified. Other individuals would protest that it is too influential. Teen pregnancy is a rising social problem in the United States and among other countries. Teen pregnancy is now being publicized as multimedia corporations, with shows such as “16 & Pregnant”, “Teen Mom”, “Maury”, “Secret Life of the American Teenager”, and “Juno”. All of which concentrate on teen pregnancy. These shows or movies could be informational for young people. However, the shows display an altered reality that teen pregnancy is easy, laughs and joy. Despite what the shows might portray teen pregnancy is an uprising national and global epidemic. In the past teen pregnancy has been...
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...Teen Pregnancy—A Social Issue After researching various statistics, I found that premarital pregnancy is quite prevalent in teenagers throughout the world. Teen pregnancy is one of the most difficult experiences a young person might ever face when it interrupts school or other plans. It can create an emotional crisis resulting in feelings of shame and fear, and it may appear that you will crumble under pressures in your environment. The stress of how one would break the news to their parents might be even greater, and finding help may seem an impossible task. People might think that they can help others, or one might be too embarrassed to search for help. For the most part, when one sees teenagers raising children, we often think that the teen has been raped or is too mature for their age. For this reason, some totally miss the issues that one must have been exposed to in their society, the society of their home, community, school. There are many viewpoints as to why teenage females are having so many children out of wedlock. However, the facts are obvious—teenaged females are highly influenced by many social issues, but those with the lack of strong parental guidance, sex education, and positive mass media are more likely to have a premarital pregnancy. As one travels the globe, they will find that industrialized and developing countries have distinctly different rates of teenage pregnancy. In the online article, “Teen Pregnancy on the Rise,” Sipokazi Maposa says that in developed...
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...Teenage pregnancy among today’s Filipino youth http://opinion.inquirer.net/74517/teenage-pregnancy-among-todays-filipino-youth The National Youth Commission, supported by the Department of Health and the World Health Organization, convened the 2014 National Summit on Teen Pregnancy last April 24. This summit, which saw the active participation of adolescent youth, delivered a clear message: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH), or the lack thereof, is fast becoming the defining issue of this generation of young Filipinos. Without a robust response from all stakeholders, the Philippines is on track toward a full-blown, national teenage pregnancy crisis. Staggering facts support this call for concern. Recent (2014) data from the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) reveal that every hour, 24 babies are delivered by teenage mothers. According to the 2014 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) study, around 14 percent of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 are either pregnant for the first time or are already mothers—more than twice the rate recorded in 2002. Among six major economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies and is the only country where the rate is increasing, per the United Nations Population Fund. According to Josefina Natividad, YAFS coordinator and director of the University of the Philippines Population Institute, young Filipinos have limited access to sex education and ASRH services...
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...Teen Pregnancy, Whose Problem is it? Name Ashford University Social Problems SOC 203 Gina Rollings March 11, 2013 . When a teenage girl becomes pregnant she faces many stresses during her pregnancy. Things like depression, shame, guilt, and fear set in (Meyerhoff, 2006). These things are difficult for adults to deal with let alone for a young girl who is pregnant. Fear of the future comes into play. These girls do not know what to do, what they are going to do, or where to start. Many of them feel as though they now have to put their lives on hold, change their goals, and learn how to juggle school and motherhood. Many teenage mothers also face depression, both before and after the baby are born; interactions with a depressed mother can make children more susceptible to mental health problems. Many teenagers have limited or no support and some get thrown out of their parent’s homes with nowhere to go. The teenage mother can become very shameful and try to hide the fact that she is pregnant. During the first 3 months of pregnancy; seven out of ten teenage girls do not get prenatal care, see a doctor, or go to a clinic (Taylor, 2010, 11, 12). They are at a greater risk of getting anemia, high blood pressure, placental problems, and pregnancy induced hypertension. The mother (the teen) is not the only one who faces stresses. The baby itself can experience difficulties as well. Things like low birth weights...
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...Teenage Pregnancy in the U.S. Brandon Lisak Principals of Sociology 4/31/2014 “Each year in the U.S. almost one million teenagers become pregnant at enormous costs to themselves, their children, and society”. (Pregnant Teen Help, Teen Pregnancy Statistics) Some would argue that teen pregnancy is all glorified. Other individuals would protest that it is too influential. Teen pregnancy is a rising social problem in the United States and among other countries. Teen pregnancy is now being publicized as multimedia corporations, with shows such as “16 & Pregnant”, “Teen Mom”, “Maury”, “Secret Life of the American Teenager”, and “Juno”. All of which concentrate on teen pregnancy. These shows or movies could be informational for young people. However, the shows display an altered reality that teen pregnancy is easy, laughs and joy. Despite what the shows might portray teen pregnancy is an uprising national and global epidemic. In the past teen pregnancy has been an underline issue that is vastly taking center stage. Media, education, and economy are all components to this phenomenon, nevertheless, how are they all connected? All of which will all be addressed in the contents of this paper. Which leaves the burning question, is teen pregnancy accepted into our society as a norm, or is it still a deviant act? First and for most, there are many different definitions of teenage pregnancy depending on the source of the information. However, as a broad definition defines teenage...
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...GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES IN TACKLING TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN ENGLAND Name of student Class name Instructor’s name Name of school Date ABSTRACT Teenage pregnancy is one of the major problems affecting the United Kingdom’s not only the health sector but also all other sectors. The problem has slowly been increasing and through its associated negative impacts has affected the economic status of the country due to increased number of school drop-outs. Accessibility to health and contraception services has been one of the major causes of teenage pregnancy more in England than any other western European countries. Due to the severity of the associated effects of teenage pregnancies in the country, the government has developing ways to minimize or rather mitigate the increasing rate of teenage pregnancies in England. The paper addresses the extent of how government initiated strategies has impacted on the overall teenage pregnancies problem. DEDICATION (OPTIONAL) TABLE OF CONTENT ABSTRACT 2 DEDICATION (OPTIONAL) 3 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 5 Introduction 5 Background 5 Problem statement 6 Research Question 6 Research Objective 7 Main Objective 7 Specific objectives 7 Research Justification 7 Literature search strategy 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 9 Introduction 9 Government role in addressing teenage pregnancy 9 Barriers towards teenage pregnancy reduction 10 Bibliography 12 ...
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...GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES IN TACKLING TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN ENGLAND Name of student Class name Instructor’s name Name of school Date ABSTRACT Teenage pregnancy is one of the major problems affecting the United Kingdom’s not only the health sector but also all other sectors. The problem has slowly been increasing and through its associated negative impacts has affected the economic status of the country due to increased number of school drop-outs. Accessibility to health and contraception services has been one of the major causes of teenage pregnancy more in England than any other western European countries. Due to the severity of the associated effects of teenage pregnancies in the country, the government has developing ways to minimize or rather mitigate the increasing rate of teenage pregnancies in England. The paper addresses the extent of how government initiated strategies has impacted on the overall teenage pregnancies problem. DEDICATION (OPTIONAL) TABLE OF CONTENT ABSTRACT 2 DEDICATION (OPTIONAL) 3 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 5 Introduction 5 Background 5 Problem statement 6 Research Question 6 Research Objective 7 Main Objective 7 Specific objectives 7 Research Justification 7 Literature search strategy 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 9 Introduction 9 Government role in addressing teenage pregnancy 9 Barriers towards teenage pregnancy reduction 10 Bibliography 12 ...
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...Teeange Pregnancy 3 What Are The Risks And Causes Of Teenage Pregnancy? There are many reasons as to why Teenage Pregnancy remains to be. Sexual activity beginning at a young age is thought to be caused by drug and alcohol abuse, lack of knowledge and parental guidance, as well as peer pressure. Television plays a role in what our children come to believe that how things should and shouldn't be. Some shows and movies portray life to be something other than that of being realistic. There was a time when HIV was a scare, but now that folk are seeing victims living with this disease longer due to the medication at hand, the use of condoms have decreased. Since the ninety's, teen pregnancy have decreased but remain to be at a high level. Some believe that pregnancy among teens are okay in that they are permitted to marry young. We the people in America don't see this as being normal. Americans see teen pregnancy as being a deficit, a henderance to life. Not only does teen pregnancy cause a delay in life for some, the health risks can be life threatening. Research shows that 85% of these pregnancies are unplanned, which in any population can increase the risk for problems. The biggest risk for teen mothers is delaying prenatal care or worse, 7.2% received no care at all. (Weiss, August 2013.) Some teens are ashamed of their situation and refrain from telling their parents or someone who would be able to guide them to the help needed. They are afraid of what would be...
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...Community Pregnancy Project April McCormick MGT/522 September 01, 2014 Mark Holtzclaw Community Pregnancy Project Teenage pregnancy is a social problem that has existed for over a century and has always been a great concern to every nation due to the numerous adverse consequences it brings on both the economy and society at large. In the middle of the 70s, teenage pregnancy had reached an astronomical height an “epidemic” by the Alan Guttmacher Institute in a booklet entitled “11 Million Teenagers” which was widely circulated at the time (Gallagher, M., 1999). In fact, put pressure on Congress at the time to pass a bill that would increase family planning fund by hundred percent as a strategy to curtail teenage pregnancy “epidemic” (Gallagher, M., 1999). The rate of Teenage Pregnancy rose from 23.9 births per 1000 teenage female in 1975 to 31.4 in 1985 and has gotten higher to 46.4 in 1994. In the last part of the 90s, the rate had dropped by16 percent. For teenagers between 15 and 19 years, the rate of teen pregnancy had dropped by 36 percent by 2002 and 33 percent by 2004 (Gallagher, M., 1999). Until recent times, Teenage pregnancy was considered an abomination and a mockery to a family. It carried a stigma and a disgrace to the young mothers and their immediate families. The young mothers were often considered sinners and the children born out of wedlock were referred to as bastards or illegitimate. The horror and the disgrace associated with giving birth to bastards...
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...Teenage Pregnancy A Significant New Zealand Health Issue In the following assignment I will discuss the significance of teenage pregnancy, as a health issue, in New Zealand. This discussion will include the significance of the issue itself, and its impact on both infants and teenage mothers. I will consider this topic looking at populations in New Zealand and include international comparisons. In the last century there has been significant changes in family size, reproductive patterns and population dynamics. As shown by the New Zealand Health Information Statistics, when looking at births, it is apparent that New Zealand women now have fewer children, later in their lives, and many forgo parenting altogether (Statistics NZ , 2003). New Zealand is said to rate high in International comparisons for teenage pregnancy. However, most recently reports have indicated a drop in our teenage birth rates. Statistics New Zealand (2002) reported the birth rate for teenagers (aged under 20 years) dropped by 6.5 percent, from 27.7 per 1,000 in 2001 to a new low of 25.9 per 1,000 in 2002. The following table summarises these significant changes in birth patterns by age of mother over the past ten years. Distribution of Live Births by Age of Mother 1992 and 2002 Table 1. Statistics New Zealand Another recent report from the National Youth Health Survey...
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