Teenage Pregnancy: Health and Social Issue Analysis

Today teenage pregnancy is evolving as a serious problem all over the world. It defines as getting pregnant below eighteen years. Researches reveal that almost fifteen million teen pregnancies occur every year. These teen pregnancies are mostly common in developing countries where teenagers lack parental monitoring and they are unaware of modern birth control methods. Many teenagers plan to get pregnant, but mostly do not. Unplanned pregnancies occur at all levels of age, creed, and race with a particular negative impact among teenage population.Teenage Pregnancy: Health and Social Issue Analysis

Teen pregnancy is an important social problem and as well as a major health issue, that need to reduce because of the negative consequences that it bears on teenagers. They are at risk of conception and many sexually transmitted infections. On fearing the medical procedures and parental responses, they hide the fact of pregnancy and therefore are at more risk of its severe consequences. They did not receive parental care on time. Moreover, studies shows that teenagers are psychologically immature and unstable and the additional stress of pregnancy on them brings up negative results.

In 2000, “The Health of Nation” failed to reduce the rate of teen pregnancies. Another policy set the target to halve the rate by 2010. In order to achieve the target, many other policies were set based on researches especially on focusing the importance of parental monitoring and use of contraception.

Recent literature on teen pregnancy prevention mostly focuses on parental monitoring. Role of parents in this issue is crucial. They are responsible for educating their children and providing them enough knowledge about the negative consequences of teen pregnancies. The rate of teen pregnancies is high especially among those who suffer from poor education in their childhood. Another interest that lies on the parent’s role in reducing the unplanned teen pregnancies is by talking openly with the teens about this issue through several controversies exist on whether it increases the sexual activity or vice versa (DiClemente, 2001).