TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Teen pregnancy is a serious challenge that has risen by more than 50% in the past 5-6 years . Pregnant adolescents often attempt self-abortions without proper medical guidance and lack of knowledge. Over the counter availability of emergency contraception has also made it easier for teenagers to indulge in sexual activities and misuse their freedom. When both parents are working and away for longer hours, there’s often a gap in expectation setting and communicating the importance of a strong value system to your child.

Even though the teen pregnancy rate has declined over the past few decades, the fact of the matter is that the United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate of the Western industrialized world. It is true that the teen pregnancy and birth rate was much higher prior to 1980 (and especially in the 1950s and 1960s), but at the time young women were getting married and having children before the age of 20. Most of the teen pregnancies occurring before 1980 were to married women; now most of today’s teen mothers are unwed. Here are some more interesting teen pregnancy statistics:

Teen Pregnancy Statistics

• In 2015, a total of 229,715 babies were born to women aged 15–19 years, for a birth rate of 22.3 per 1,000 women in this age group.  This is another record low for U.S. teens and a drop of 8% from 2014. Birth rates fell 9% for women aged 15–17 years and 7% for women aged 18–19 years.
• 89% of teenage parents are unmarried
• 86,000 teens aged 15-17 gave birth in 2012
• Nearly 1,700 teens aged 15-17 give birth every week
• About 77% percent of teenage pregnancies are unplanned
• 4 in 10 teenage girls who had sex at 13 or 14 report the sex was unwanted or involuntary
• 15% of teen pregnancies end in miscarriage
• 30% of teenage pregnancies end in abortion

Building a meaningful relationship with a teenager is a delicate task and needs enormous effort, patience, affection and an open communication. As a conscious parent, you must try to establish honest and open communication channels with your teenager such that she knows your views on early dating and sex throughout her childhood.

Teenage pregnancy leads to a lot of medical risks for the young mother and the child. Following symptoms often signifies early pregnancy:

• Morning sickness or nausea
• Mood swings
• Extreme Tiredness
• Unusual aversion to certain foods like fatty foods
• Sore breasts
• Frequent urination

The medical risks associated with teenage pregnancy are many, some of them are explained below:

• High Blood Pressure – Teen pregnancy brings along complications such as premature delivery, health risks to the unborn child, higher risk of preeclampsia and susceptibility to high blood pressure against a pregnant woman in her twenties and thirties.
• Pre-natal care – Teenage pregnancy is considered taboo in the Indian society and pregnant teens often lose their family support. Since pre-natal care is crucial in pregnancy, a teen mother faces many health challenges that adversely affect baby health.
• Premature delivery – A full term pregnancy usually lasts for 40 weeks and deliveries before week 37 is considered Premature. Pregnant teens run high risks of premature deliveries owing to health issues of the mother and the child. This gives rise to medical complications like cognitive, vision, respiratory and other problems in the baby.
• Postpartum Depression – According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, US, teen mums are at a higher risk of postpartum depression. They feel alone and isolated that interferes with taking care of the new born and their teenage self-development.

Tips to prevent Teenage Pregnancy

• Proper knowledge and communication – Sex education is important and while the students feel embarrassed in asking questions, the educator must help them engage in meaningful discussions every detail that they must know.
• Talk to your child – Though it can be difficult but parents must establish open communication channels with their teenage children such that they feel comfortable seeking support and advice.
• Know your children’s friends and families – Friends are the greatest influencers. So, always encourage them to socialize in big and small groups. Try and get to know friends and their families. Such interactions foster open environments that encourage kids to be confident and bond better.
• Monitor their activities – It is important to establish rules and set desired behaviour system in a family. As a parent, one must make sure what kids are doing when they get back from school or when they go out with friends. Supervising their activities from time to time also helps in creating a value system at home.
• Help your child set meaningful goals in life – When you guide your child about their future plans, there are chances that the children will focus on meaningful goals in their life. Let them know that education is fundamental. Obviously, this will significantly help them prioritize their career.
• Keep a tab on what they are watching, listening to and Reading – Online and print media is full of content that sends inappropriate messages. It is important to keep a tab on their online behaviour and exposure levels. Encourage your kids to watch programs with educational value. You might not be able to control your children’s habits fully but make your views known.

These tips work greatly when you make every effort for a relationship that is warm, affectionate, firm in discipline and high on communication. It must highlight mutual trust and respect for each other. Children at all ages feel a great need for a close relationship with their parents. Always helps them with your guidance, approval, support and direction.

Posted in: parenting