Teen births are at a record low since tracking began 60 years ago. But despite this progress, nearly half a million babies are born to teen moms each year. About 100,000 are repeat births for these moms. The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate of any industrialized nation.
Trends show a steady reduction in teen pregnancies, abortions, and births. The decline has been seen among all adolescent age groups, for all racial and ethnic groups, and for both first and second births to teens. Yet, about one million teenagers become pregnant each year; 95 percent of those are unintentional. Almost a third of these pregnancies will end in abortion.
Public costs from teenage childbearing totals well over $100 billion. Teen parenting also carries some heavy consequences for the teen mom – as well as for her child.
The Teen Mom
- Nearly 80 percent end up on welfare.
- Disproportionately poor throughout her life, a teen mom will rely on government and charity aid.
- Only a third will receive a high school diploma or GED. The risk of not finishing elementary or high school increases the younger the teen's age at childbirth.
- She is less likely to go to college.
- Nearly 80 percent do not marry the baby's father.
- One third of these pregnancies receive inadequate prenatal care.
- Nearly one in five will be pregnant again within one year; and another 20 percent will have a repeat pregnancy within two years
- Young mothers experience several health risks (especially if they are under the age of 15), including toxemia, anemia, hypertension, and prolonged or premature labor.
- Maternal death rate of teen moms is 2.5 times greater than that of moms age 20 to 24.
- There is a higher incidence of suicide and suicide attempts by teen moms than by older moms.
The Child of a Teen Mom Is...
- Twice as likely to be born premature.
- At greater risk for low birth weight and infant mortality.
- At greater risk for childhood health problems including epilepsy, blindness, and deafness.
- At greater risk of lower intellectual and academic achievement (including repeating a grade and dropping out of school).
- At greater risk of social behavior problems and problems of self-control.
- At greater risk of abuse and neglect.
- (If a girl) more likely to become a teen mom herself.
- (If a boy) more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system.
Beyond academic, physical health, and financial costs, there might be emotional, relational, physical, and spiritual costs as well.
How Parents of Teens Can Help
Federal, state and local government agencies and various community and faith-based organizations are working together to prevent teen pregnancies and related problems. Their message: Don't get pregnant or father a child until you are ready to take on the responsibility of parenthood. Abstinence and personal responsibility are the primary messages of these prevention plans.
Parents and other adult mentors play key roles in encouraging teens and young adults to avoid early pregnancy and stay in school.
- Teens who have strong emotional attachments to their parents are much less likely to become sexually active at an early age.
- Parents rate high among teens as trustworthy, and as their preferred information sources on birth control.
- Teens who have been raised by both parents (biological or adoptive) from birth have lower probabilities of having sex early than do teens who grew up in any other family situation.
- Teens from intact, two-parent families are less likely to give birth in their teens than are girls from other family backgrounds.
- More than 33 percent say their parents have the most influence over their decisions about sex.
- 70 percent of teens want their parents to talk with them about love, relationships, sex, abstinence, and contraception.
- 70 percent or more say that a lack of communication between themselves and their parents contributed to their teen pregnancy.
- Parental supervision contributes to later-age sexual involvement.
By working together and presenting a consistent message, parents, organizations, and agencies are helping teens avoid pregnancy and its related problems. |
