Teen Pregnancy is a socially stigmatized public health concern that is persisting amongst the youth of our generation. In spite of having access to numerous resources and educational guidance, our lack of awareness on this long-standing issue is fast spreading.
Once upon a time, teen pregnancy was seen as a challenge to women’s rights. Now, it is a continuous challenge that requires sustained attention.Teenage pregnancy occurs in a woman aged 20 years or younger. A teenage woman can get pregnant after she has begun menstruating. It is also known as adolescent pregnancy.
Teenage pregnancy is a public health concern because it causes social, economic, and medical problems to both the mother and baby. According to WHO, an estimated 3 million unsafe abortions occur globally among girls who are aged between 15 to 19 years. This statistic proves to save the negative impact that pregnancy has on a young woman’s life.
Teenage women experience more adverse perinatal issues such as premature birth, painful contractions, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths, and even when a baby is delivered, it is born with low birth weight. The lack of awareness and inadequate resources make it a continuous challenge for teenage mothers to navigate.
Factors like taboo around reproductive health, misconceptions around pregnancy, illiteracy, and lack of sex education are some factors that are difficult to navigate around.
Researchers from the University of Washington found out that adolescents who are given a thorough and comprehensive sex education are less likely to become pregnant than adolescents who receive no formal education or are to receive abstinence till marriage.
Limited access to contraception and birth control options can lead to unwanted pregnancies in adolescents. Restrictive laws and regulations based on marital status and age can also limit access to contraceptive options and birth control. Peer pressure can also significantly influence a teenager's decision to become pregnant since teenagers tend to copy and replicate the behavior of their peers in order to fit into their groups.
Teenage pregnancy leads to serious health risks for the mother and baby. Hypertensive disorders, low anemia, and depression are common risks for the mother whereas low birth weight, preterm birth, and congenital birth defects are common risks associated with babies birthed by teen mothers.
The social stigma revolving around teen pregnancy is a deep-rooted cultural perception that has harmful effects on teen mothers and their babies. Stereotypes are often cast on teen mothers and they are quick to be judged as irresponsible, promiscuous, and incompetent parents.
Measures that can be taken to prevent such teen pregnancies are better sex education in schools without making the topic itself an embarrassment or taboo to talk about, easier access to healthcare and contraceptive facilities without preconceived notions and laws restricting the same, and also building support systems for young mothers who are psychologically disturbed and often fall into a state of depression.
Teenage pregnancy is a long-standing issue that needs sustained attention and timely action so that getting pregnant can be avoided and, if a teen woman does get pregnant, there are supportive systems and environments to keep her feeling balanced and peaceful
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