Public Health Problem Of Teenage Pregnancy - 2260 Words

Public Health Problem Teenage pregnancy has been a common public health problem in society, particularly in America. When an individual hears that 15 year old girl is pregnant, people perceive it as a negative connotation. The average age to have a child today is 28 years old (Jewkes, Morrell, Christofides, 2009). Adolescent pregnancies are preventable, but are still bound to happen today and in the future (Langille, 2007). This is a problem is society due to teenagers not being able to support a child and also not being physically able to carry the baby without health risks (Schneider, 2014). Unplanned pregnancies for adolescents effect a woman financially, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Childbearing at an early age†¦show more content†¦Even with effective sexual education programs in high school, adolescents still find it difficult to talk to their parents about sex as well as the idea of being sexually active and safe (Bonell, Wiggins, Fletcher, Allen 2014). Also, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), it is common for mothers who conceived their daughter at a young age to have a daughter that will also have a child at a young age. This creates a domino effect for the family s generation that will affect the family tree if it continues (CDC, 2014). Teenage pregnancies continue to happen worldwide, but the US and western European countries have higher rates compared to smaller countries. (Jewkes et al., 2009). If teenage pregnancy rates continue to rise in America, the chances of a young mother becoming successful is very slim. Back in the 1950 s, financial costs to have a baby were not a big of a concern compared to today because social pressure forced marriage on many girls who became pregnant, but did not have a husband at the time (Schneider, 2014). Today, many women who give birth at a young age remain unmarried with very little financial help from their family (Schneider, 2014). Teenage pregnancies also effect the economy and where tax money goes. The more unexpected pregnancies that happen, the more tax money goes to children, some examples include abortion and foster care, and public health care rather than going to other parts of the government that