Causes Of Teenage Pregnancy example essay topic

Teen pregnancy is a social problem that affects the entire community. It is important to examine the root causes of this problem, and the effects this problem has on our society, the individual, and the community. Then we will be able analyze possible ways of combating this problem. The causes of teenage pregnancy is not only the fault of the individual.

There are a myriad of influences and circumstances that give rise to teenage pregnancy that are found in families, the community, and social dysfunctions. The negative consequences of teenage pregnancy affects the teenagers involved, the mother, and the tax payer. Every step should be taken to battle this problem. There is no single solution to this problem. It is up to the individual, the family, and the community to take necessary measures to prevent teen pregnancy. There are many causes of teenage pregnancy on the individuals part.

For one, the need to participate in high-risk behaviors such as smoking, drinking and drugs influences this social problem. Teenagers sometimes choose the wrong crowds that pressure them into engaging in sexual activity. Poor school performance or lack of future goals sometimes create an atmosphere that opens the door to sexual activity. This is because teenagers sometimes feel a sense of hopelessness and an isolation to towards the world around them. The overall poor decision-making skills, and self esteem of a teenager sometimes leads to teenage pregnancy.

The family on a whole has a major influence on teenage pregnancy. Some homes lack fathers or other responsible male role models. This can affect the teenager because they might seek this kind of role model from another teen which leads to teenage pregnancy. Mothers who were themselves teen mothers may influence their children. There is often ineffective modeling and reinforcement of family values in the home. Some parents struggle with appropriate parenting skills, this leads to poor communication between them and their children.

Parents are faced with the situation of not being able to talk to their children about sex or ways of preventing sex because of this. Poverty puts increasing financial pressures on families that result in more emphasis on work, thus less time is spent together as a family. Some of the community and social problems that exist can be diagnosed as the cause of teenage pregnancy. For example, single-support families without support systems open the door to teenage pregnancy. The media's influence and advertising has corrupted the minds of teenagers.

There is an increase in poverty that contribute to teenage pregnancy due to low income families. There is also an inability to address sex and its related issues. Overall there is an inability to collectively agree on viable solutions to address teenage pregnancy. The effects of teen pregnancy are far-reaching. Approximately $6 billion in state and federal money is spent each year on public services for families started by teen parents. Also, teen mothers are less likely than other women to receive adequate prenatal care, which leads to low birth weight and premature births.

Females cite pregnancy and parenting as a major reason for dropping out of school. (Hinckley, 1998). Teen pregnancy is a controversial issue because it effects society as a whole. Teenage mothers often raise children who never learn how to live productive lifestyles. Negative elements like drug addiction and crime seem to be the only outlets that are available to lonely, confused children who live in poverty-stricken cities.

For many of these children there are only the options of dead-end jobs, jail or early death. Many of these children end up having their own children at an early age; therefore perpetuating the vicious cycle of poverty, poor education, joblessness, and lack of hope for the future. Teenage girls that get pregnant become overwhelmed with the pressures of supporting their children financially while trying to instill morals and ethics in their lives. It is practically impossible for a single parent to raise kids, work a job, and pay all of the bills and utilities.

The build up of all of these pressures causes enormous physical and mental stress on both the mother and child. Most teen mothers have to rely on government aid like Welfare, W.I. C, Focus Hope, project housing, and Medicaid as relief. The family, individual, and the community play a vital role in preventing teenage pregnancy and providing comprehensive solutions to the problem. Individuals must take steps to ensure that they do not become a statistic. This means dedication to good school performance, youth involvement in community and or employment, and working towards developing interpersonal skills.

There are a lot of things that a family can do to ensure that their child do not become a victim of teenage pregnancy. There is an important need for responsible and positive adult role models in the home. Parents should participate in youths' education, and apply appropriate and consistent discipline to their children. Parents should also talk to teens openly (girls and boys) about love, relationships, and sexuality. Parents can ask kids about their interests and what they want to accomplish, and help them see how early pregnancy could hinder those dreams... If kids see the potential outcomes of their decisions, it's more likely that they will make good decisions now.

Parents can supervise their teens' activities without forgetting that they are no longer kids, but rather young adults who need a certain amount of independence. Children need parents to share their values and expectations. This will give teens foundation to sustain them against the negative influences of peers and popular culture, and to place them firmly on a path to future success. The community can also work towards preventing occurences of teenage pregnancy.

Communities can build the social aspect of teens by setting up parent and teen support groups. Teenagers should be taught sexual education and life skills relevent to today's world. Their is a need for school-based health centers that provide easy access to contraceptive services. The needs of impoverished families need to be addressed.

It is important that there is employment and volunteer opportunities available for youth, so that they will occupy their time. Finally, businesses, churches, and other community organizations need to make a commitment to support schools and other agencies' efforts in teen pregnancy prevention. Teen pregnancy has implications that reach everyone. Although there are many causes and negative consequences that result from teenage pregnancy, all is not lost. Unwanted teen pregnancies can be avoided.

Like an unwanted house guest, unwanted teen pregnancies breed resentment, ill will, and a lifetime of hurt in many cases between both the parent (s) and the children. Strong ethics, education, and communication will help stem the tide of unwanted teen pregnancies.