Teen births are at a record low since tracking began 60 years ago. Yet, despite this progress, nearly half a million babies are born to teens each year. About 100,000 are repeat births. 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 - as well as her child.
The Teen Mom
- Nearly 80 percent end up on welfare.
- Disproportionately poor throughout her life, relying 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 under age 15), including toxemia, anemia, hypertension, and prolonged or premature labor.
- Maternal death rate is 2.5 times greater than that of moms aged 20 to 24.
- Higher incidence of suicide and suicide attempts than older moms.
The Child of a Teen Mom
- Twice as likely to be born premature.
- Greater risk for low birth weight and infant mortality.
- Greater risk for childhood health problems including epilepsy, blindness, and deafness.
- Greater risk of lower intellectual and academic achievement (including repeating a grade and dropping out of school).
- Greater risk of social behavior problems and problems of self-control.
- Greater risk of abuse and neglect.
- Daughters are more likely to become teen moms.
- Sons are more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system.
Beyond academic, physical health, and financial costs, there may be emotional, relational, physical, and spiritual costs.
Programs that Help
Federal, state and local government agencies and various community and faith-based organizations continue 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.
In addition, agencies are offering positive alternatives for teens through education and training, community service, after-school opportunities, and jobs. One such program is second chance homes. These adult-supervised homes offer parenting skills training, job counseling, education, and more. Early evidence shows that teen parents in second chance homes are less likely to have repeat pregnancies, and are more likely to immunize their children, complete high school, and become self-sufficient.
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 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 than 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 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. |
