Teen Pregnancy, A Public Health Blog

​Teen pregnancy is a complex topic to understand. Most people do not realize that teen pregnancy can be caused by numerous factors, it is not just a result of irresponsibility. About 750,000 teenagers aged 15-19 get pregnant every year (in the US alone). Although the amount of teen mothers are at an all-time low, prevention is something that still needs to be worked on. Nonprofit organizations such as Planned Parenthood have introduced programs in order to prevent as many cases as possible. Their idea to promote teens to have safe sex and understand the effects of giving birth at such a young age. Teen mothers are less likely to graduate high school, and they are more likely to suffer with complications regarding the pregnancy. 

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Author

Isobel Brookes
​Outrbreak!2020

Additionally, the child would more likely be abused and live in a low-income area. Teen pregnancies are also an extreme financial burden to the mother and her surrounding communities. An estimated 10.9 billion is lost in tax revenues to contribute to the foster care system and other ways to support young mothers. The government should require sex education to be taught in all high schools and allow contraceptives to be more accessible to younger people. This could change the rate of teens pregnancies dramatically. Abortions should also be more accessible, and teens should be supported if they ever decided to back out of the pregnancy. The main issue that can cause teen pregnancy is the lack of education about it. If schools took initiative and spread awareness, it would prevent so many cases. Parents also need to support their child and educate them on being safe when it comes to sexual intercourse as well. Lack of knowledge is the real problem. Communities need to combine their efforts to educate, and they should always support a teen who is going through a pregnancy. Pregnancy is not an easy thing to go through, especially when the mother is still growing up herself. Organizations like Planned Parenthood are doing their best to support mothers in difficult circumstances as well as offering free healthcare to those who need it most. It is our job to support these organizations in helping spread education about certain issues. 
 
Works Cited
https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm#:~:text=In%202017%2C%20a%20total%20of,drop%20of%207%25%20from%202016.&text=Birth%20rates%20fell%2010%25%20for,women%20aged%2018%E2%80%9319%20years.
 
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/6813/9611/7632/Reducing_Teen_Pregnancy.pdf