Three in ten American girls will become pregnant at least once before they are 20. What is the most common reason teenage girls are getting pregnant worldwide? They are either restricted from or lack the knowledge of what can happen when having sex. Currently only 43% of American high schools and 18% of middle schools offer sex education classes.
According to the World Health Organization, about twenty-one million girls between the ages of ten and fourteen in developing areas were pregnant in 2023.
Teen pregnancy is not ideal for most. While some people want to have a family, most would still like to graduate high school. However, because of factors such as teen marriage and being forced to keep the child, many are not able to graduate from their high school.
The National Library of Medicine reported, “For a young mother and her child, life may be challenging. Teenage moms are more likely to leave school for childcare compared to other females.”
Sixty percent of teen moms drop out of school while only two percent graduate college.
Not only is caring for a baby difficult, but some challenges come with the baby and the mother herself. Teenage moms are at a higher risk of danger during deliveries. The leading causes of death of girls between 15- 19 worldwide, are pregnancy and childbirth complications. Not only does pregnancy affect the physical health of a young mother, but can also cause mental trauma.
The National Library of Medicine reported that teenage mothers can develop irregular eating patterns. They might start diets and skip meals to lose weight while pregnant. Conversely, they might start snacking excessively and eat a lot of fast food, leaving them vulnerable to a lack of nutrition.
Society does very little to help teenage moms. With the recent abortion ban, many states do not allow abortions under any circumstances. This leaves the teenage mother to either carry out the baby or risk her life by taking dangerous routes to have an abortion. If they do try to end their pregnancies, they can face jail time in several states, including Indiana. History has shown that banning medical abortions do not stop abortions overall, it only leaves women and teenagers desperate to find dangerous alternatives
There is also a stigma surrounding pregnant teens. Psychology Today reported the stigma against teen moms is that they are seen as young girls who are troubled and are deemed emotionally unstable. Teen moms are seen as poor parents, but that is a stereotype. Teen moms often teach their children about their mistakes and make sure their children do not follow in their footsteps.
There are resources to help teen mothers, even if they want to keep the baby, such as Life.Forward, American Pregnancy, and Nation Wide.
