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Teenage pregnancy, which is also known as adolescent pregnancy is pregnancy in a female under the age of 20. A teenage female is a female between the age of 13 to 19. But sometimes preteens (under 13) can become pregnant as well. The fact that teenagers become pregnant is related to many factors. The rates of teenage pregnancy vary from country to country and are related to different sexual activities.
What are the effects of teenage pregnancy?
1. On the teenager
The maximum effect of this type of pregnancy is on the teenager herself. Being a young mother can affect education. Teen mothers are likely to drop out of school to take care of her child or even because of the social and mental pressure on her.
Many teen parents do not have the intellectual or emotional maturity that is needed to provide for another life. Often, it is seen that these pregnancies are hidden for months resulting in a lack of the care that a pregnant woman needs to give birth to a healthy baby.
2. On the child
Teenage mothers are less likely to gain adequate weight during their pregnancy, leading to low birth weight. Low birth weight is associated with several infant and childhood disorders and a higher rate of infant mortality. For example, their organs might not be fully developed which can result in complications, such as bleeding in the brain, respiratory distress syndrome, etc.
3. On the teenage father
Fathering a child as a teenager can be a frightening and life-changing event for not only a young teenager but also for a well-grown man. Teen fathers do not have to worry about the health implications of pregnancy and childbirth, but they could face similar difficulties staying in school and further, earning a living.
4. On the family
The younger sisters of teen mothers are less likely to pay attention to their schooling and the importance of education and are more likely to pay more attention to human sexual behavior, parenting, and marriage at younger ages. The younger brothers too are found to be more tolerant of non-marital and early births.
How to prevent it from happening?
1. Education
Education overall plays an important role in preventing teenage pregnancy. It has been found that the population of teenagers who have been educated well regarding this topic are less likely to indulge in sexual activities at an early age.
2. Other precautions
There are various ways of birth control. Some examples are:
- Copper-T or intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) placed in the uterus to block the passage of the sperm.
- Oral drugs as pills are also taken to avoid pregnancy.
- Condoms by the males or similar coverings worn by the female can also be used.
- Vasectomy is a surgical method done in males to block the as deference so that sperm transfer will be prevented.
- Tubectomy in females to block the fallopian tube which makes the egg unreachable to the uterus are proven to be contraceptive methods.
1. Illiteracy
Teenagers getting pregnant at an early age cannot pursue their higher education due to extra responsibility, which increases the rate of illiteracy in society. Most teenage pregnancies end with education dropouts because of the fear of embarrassment, humiliation, and harassment from their friends, relatives, and college mates.
2. Social Obligations
A teenage mother has to face several social obligations like not getting a good job or getting no respect from friends and family members. The entire social life of most teen mothers gets destroyed due to her early and unexpected pregnancy. This leads her to live her life in emotional trauma.
3. Lack of financial support
A teen mother who does not get proper financial support from her parents or friends has to face a severe financial crunch. She will have to face extreme difficulty to buy basic items for her newborn baby like clothing, food, and many other baby care products.
4. Medical Complications
Teenage pregnancy increases the risks of medical complications in both the mother and her baby. A lack of proper prenatal care often induces medical complications like high blood pressure, anemia, and premature birth of the baby. Moreover, in the case of teenage pregnancy, the baby may suffer from low birth weight, blindness, deafness, and respiratory problems.
5. Emotional Crisis
After getting pregnant at an early age, the teen mother may suffer from a huge emotional crisis due to a lack of social support from the family. She might experience severe depression while facing negative feedback about pregnancy at her age from society.
Written by - Hunnar Kaushal
Edited by - Chhavi Gupta
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