Pregnancy Information Digest » Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage Pregnancy

Editor — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:53:02 +0000

Teenage pregnancy is usually not an ideal situation. There are many reasons why teenage pregnancy is not a great situation. And the negative ramifications of teenage pregnancy effect both the mother and the baby. Teenage pregnancy in our day and age and in most cultures is premature. Teenage pregnancy means that a teenage girl will have to focus on the care and well being of another human when she herself may not be fully mature in many areas. The fact that she is still a teenager and pregnant means that there will be an interruption in her own psychological and emotional development and depending on the age of the teenager, her physical development as well can be adversely affected.

Most teenage pregnancies are unplanned so there are a host of negative emotional reactions to the pregnancy that are normal, but still negative. The teenager often feels fear and confusion and guilt. And she often feels resentment, anger and frustration. If she is not in a loving, supportive relationship, she can feel isolated and abandoned. All of these normal, but negative feelings create stress which in turn effects her growing fetus.

Teenage pregnancy often has negative outcomes for the baby. There has been much research done in the area of teenage pregnancy and vast amounts of money spent on campaigns to educate and inform the public, and teenagers, in particular about the harm that can be done by becoming pregnant during one's teens. One of the most obvious negative social effects of teenage pregnancy is the fact that schooling will be interrupted and even abandoned and a limited education will effect the financial well being of the family drastically. A large percentage of teenage mothers end up is social programs for support because she is apt to be alone and not have completed her education and her earning potential is very limited. In these cases, the children then often grow up in poverty. Although this may not be the most significant negative outcome of teenage pregnancy, it is relevant and frequently passes on from generation to generation.

The negative physical results that often occurs in teenage pregnancies is pre-term births, low birth weights in babies and later on, a higher risk of the child needing special education classes as a result of the psyco-social situation of the teenage mother. Growing up in poverty often means poor nutrition which can effect learning readiness. So it is less a matter of the age of the mother when pregnant and more the effect socioeconomic conditions of the mother. Children raised by teenage parents are more likely to become involved in crime and live in poverty.

Although teenage pregnancy throughout history was the norm. Once a teenage girl reached the stage of sexual maturity, she married and soon after became pregnant, but in the modern, Western world, this practice has changed and teenage girls pursue an education and teenage pregnancy is no longer a positive situation. In addition, studies show that girls are maturing at a younger age and becoming sexually active at a younger age so the incidence of teenage pregnancy is high and expected to increase over the next decade.

Teenage Pregnancy Rates in the US

Editor — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:00:47 +0000

Roughly 40% of females in the United States become pregnant before they reach 20 years of age. Half of these pregnant teens give birth each year, while around 45% have abortions. 18-19 year old women have the highest birth rate among adolescents; in 1996, for instance, the birth rate for 18-19 year olds was 86.5 births per 1000 women, while the birth rate for 15-17 year olds was 38.7 per 1000 women. Fortunately, only a few births were registered for teens under 15 years of age (1.2 per 1000).

Teenage pregnancy rates seem to vary across racial lines in the United States, though this is most likely due to the socio-economic status in which many minorities unfortunately find themselves. Black teenagers were at the greatest risk for pregnancy in 1991, but between 1991 and 1996, the birth rate for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 in this group decreased by 21%, a greater percentage than for any other group. However, there is a disparity between birth rates for white teens and that of minorities. In 1996, the birth rate for Black teenagers between 15 and 19 years old was 91.7 births per 1000, compared to 50.1 births per 1000 for white teens. In 1996, the highest rate of teen pregnancy, 105.5 per 1000, was registered among Hispanic teenagers aged 15-19.

In 2002, teenage pregnancy rates hit their lowest mark in 30 years, down 30% since their peak in 1990. It seems that increased abstinence, but also increased exposure to information about contraceptives, contributed to this decrease. Indeed, the teenage pregnancy rates among girls who did have intercourse dropped 28% between 1990 and 2002. The teenage birth rate in 2002 was 30% lower than the peak rate of 1991.

Even though the birth rates for all groups and across all states in the United States have been decreasing over the past several decades, teenage pregnancy rates in this country are still substantially higher than in most other industrialized countries. Teen birth rate in the US is twice that of the United Kingdom, the country with the highest teenage birth rate in Europe; it is more than four times that of Spain and Sweden; it is seven times that of Denmark and the Netherlands; and it is 15 times greater than the birth rate in Japan.

Studies have shown that teenage sexual activity in these countries with lower teenage pregnancy rates is not significantly different than it is in the US. As usual, according to researchers, the problem is twofold. How the US treats teenage sexuality and the lack of dialogue concerning all thoughts and behaviors relating to sex is failing to deal with the issue of teenage pregnancy, as is the extent of adolescents (and their families) living in poverty and therefore being denied access to education and proper health care.

What You Should Know about Teenage Pregnancy – Facts

Editor — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 07:00:06 +0000

Teenage pregnancy facts state that roughly 95% of teenage pregnancies are unintended. Teenage mothers usually do not have an easy life after their pregnancy; many researchers argue that women who experience teenage pregnancy do not have easy lives even before they become pregnant. Teenage pregnancy facts show that both before and after their pregnancy, adolescent mothers are more likely to have low family incomes; they are actually more likely to be poor and on welfare. Indeed, the poorer the adolescent, the more likely she is to become pregnant. Adolescent mothers are less educated than women who wait until at least 20 to have a baby, they are less likely to be married and their children are more likely to have developmental problems.

In 2002, 10% of mothers between the ages of 15 and 17 had graduated high school. After having the baby, only about 33% of adolescent mothers go back and graduate high school, while a very low 1.5% will go on to receive a college degree by age 30. Even fathers of children born to teenage mothers do not fare well. According to teenage pregnancy facts gathered by one study, these males earned an estimated average of $3400 less than the fathers of children born to mothers who were 20 or 21 years of age.

Close to 80% of adolescent mothers end up on welfare, usually within five years of giving birth to their first child. The annual cost of teenage pregnancy is around $7 billion in taxes, public assistance, child health care, foster care, and encounters with the law. In the period between 1985 and 1990, public costs resulting from teenage pregnancy totaled around $120 billion. A close analysis of teenage pregnancy facts suggests that around $48 billion could have been saved if the adolescent had waited to have the child until she was at least 20 years old. For every federal dollar spent on contraceptives for low-income women, the government saves more than $4 in welfare payments and medical costs, among other things.

According to teenage pregnancy facts, eighty percent of children born to unwed teenage high school dropouts live in poverty compared to 8% of children born to married women who graduated high school and who waited until age 20 to become pregnant. A teenage mother receives around $1400 per year in support from Aid to Families with Dependent Children and the federal food stamp program during the first 13 years of being a parent. Fifty three percent of welfare funding is spent on families where at least the first child was born to an adolescent mother. Fifty six percent of teenage mothers receive public assistance to cover the cost of delivering the baby and 30% of teen mothers receive public assistance by the time they are 20 years old.

The Facts on Teenage Pregnancy in South Africa

Editor — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:30:08 +0000

As with many developing countries, the rate of teenage pregnancy in South Africa is high. Most people argue that this is a substantial problem for the country, and is an expression of a failure to help young girls deal with sexuality. This failure leads to not only pregnancies and abortions, but also to STDs and HIV and AIDS; many believe that adolescents in South Africa are in desperate need of adequate sex education and confidential contraceptive services.

There are many factors behind teenage pregnancy in South Africa. Often, adequate knowledge of contraception is lacking, due to negative attitudes regarding sexual activity before marriage. Young girls are not educated about contraceptive use because many believe there is no need to educate them; they must wait until they are married to have sex anyway.

Teenage pregnancy in South Africa is mainly a problem among women who live in rural, poverty-stricken areas; South Africa's urban female adolescents, however, are also at a high risk of finding themselves pregnant at an early age. These urban girls have become addicted to drugs, alcohol, and expensive lifestyles; to ensure that they have the money for their desires, they sadly stumble onto the path of prostitution and often become pregnant and drop out of school.

Unfortunately, there are a number of myths, the most prominent being that sleeping with a virgin will cure HIV-AIDS, that actually promote the rape of young women. In many cases, these victims are left pregnant. Education regarding these myths and other issues relating to teenage pregnancy in South Africa are believed to be fundamental in dealing with the problem of adolescent pregnancy. Many education programs, however, are controversial, as is the practice of forcing a young girl who is visibly pregnant to drop out of school; furthermore, a consensus has not been reached as to what degree tradition should play in educating young girls.

One controversial practice that may be impacting teenage pregnancy in South Africa is that of virginity testing in rural KwaZulu-Natal, where girls on average between the ages of 7 and 26 allow a stranger to check if their hymens are intact. The girls are overjoyed when the test confirms they are virgins. People supporting this practice say that it is an effective tool in stopping the spread of teenage pregnancies and HIV, while opponents claim that the practice is unconstitutional, unhygienic and a violation of human rights. Advocates of the practice also agree that virginity testing is unhygienic at the moment, as the tester touches up to 600 girls a day, often with bare hands and without washing hands between girls; however, advocates claim that if the government supported the practice, there would be funding to purchase gloves, food, and areas where girls could be tested in private. Furthermore, many supporters of the practice argue that in a country where rape of young girls is prevalent, virginity testing is proving to be a useful method of uncovering sexual abuse on young girls who fear speaking out about it.

Teens and the Media – Newspaper Magazine Articles on Teenage Pregnancy

Editor — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 11:47:42 +0000

Teen pregnancy is often spoken about in newspaper magazines, rightly so as it is an issue that concerns society and should receive ample coverage. All too often, however, the view presented is a biased one. Often the issue is treated as if teenagers were sex-crazed, promiscuous delinquents who must be disciplined into behaving "properly." The newspaper magazine articles on teenage pregnancy ignore scientific and public health information and can be detrimental to both the poor young teens who find themselves in a precarious situation and to the people around them.

If you want unbiased newspaper magazine articles on teenage pregnancy, you can start at the Planned Parenthood website, www.plannedparenthood.org. This site not only has articles on teen pregnancy, but also releases the names of the winners of the PPFA (Planned Parenthood Federation of America) Maggie awards, which recognizes achievement by the media and entertainment industries in support of reproductive rights and health care issues. Newspaper magazines which have useful, unbiased information can be found by doing a search of the recipients of this award.

Many newspaper magazine articles on teenage pregnancy are useful because they will give a girl information about her options. Finding herself in such a situation, it is helpful for a teenage girl to read about other girls in similar situations, their choices, and the outcomes of their choices. Teenage girls can choose parenting, adoption, or abortion. The worthwhile newspaper magazine articles on teenage pregnancy will be those that treat each option both scientifically and in an unbiased way, presenting all emotional outcomes. You can find a description of the various abortion procedures and what kinds of adoptions are available. Many articles will give information on organizations which provide emotional support and counseling services for pregnant teenagers; also listed in articles is information on organizations that provide health care.

Though newspaper magazine articles on teenage pregnancy are absolutely no substitute for a proper health care provider, they could be a good place to start for a teenage mother to understand what is going on with her body. You will find information on how to tell if you're pregnant, proper nutrition, what activities and behaviors to avoid, how to deal with morning sickness and the other symptoms of pregnancy, and a whole slew of prenatal activities to ensure your health and comfort (as much as that's possible) and the health of the baby.

Newspaper magazine articles on teenage pregnancy also provide statistics and information regarding the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy, for those who are interested on learning more about the details behind this issue. In general, the articles are useful sources of information, both for teenage mothers and for those wishing to understand teenagers who get pregnant. Make sure to examine more than one article before coming to any conclusions, though, as writers can sometimes be unintentionally biased.

Society and Teenage Pregnancy in Jamaica

Editor — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:45:06 +0000

Rates of teenage pregnancy in Jamaica are among the highest in the Caribbean, with the birth rate for 15-19 year olds at 108 births per 1,000 women. Forty-five percent of all Jamaican women who are 15 to 24 years old have been pregnant by 19 years of age, and 41% have given birth. Females between the ages of 10 and 19 account for roughly 25% of all births in Jamaica and about 22% of births in 15-19 year-olds are second births.

There are a number of consequences to teenage pregnancy in Jamaica. First of all, the education of the adolescent mother is disrupted and often completely ended. Indeed, only 36% of teenage mothers complete more than four years of secondary school, compared to 50% of girls who never become pregnant. The mother, then, is severely limited in her job opportunities. Furthermore, parents and society in general will not look kindly upon a young girl who has engaged in sexual activity at a young age, and often a girl is disowned and must support herself and her child alone.

Teenage pregnancy in Jamaica also carries with it health risks to the mother and child, though doubts have been raised as to whether these risks may also be attributed to socio-economic factors. Statistics show that maternal mortality rate is 40% higher for mothers under 15 and 13% higher for mothers in their twenties. It is not only the teen mother who experiences health risks, but the child of the adolescent mother as well. Research points to the fact that the neo-natal death rate for babies born to adolescent girls is roughly three times higher than for babies born to adults.

Speaking of socio-economic factors, there are further health risks to the child due to the often precarious financial situation of the adolescent mother. Often, the mother passes long periods of time away from the child to try to find work or chooses to work extra hours to make enough money. This often leads to the mother stopping breast-feeding early and switching the child to foods which lack the essential nutrients found in breast milk; this leads to poor health and malnutrition among Jamaican children. The socio-economic situation of the Jamaican mother also often leads to child shifting, where a child is sent to live with other family members or other families, away from the mother. Studies have shown that 1 out of 5 Jamaican children did not live with either their mother or father; very often the shifted child will be placed in a negative environment.

What Jamaican society is beginning to realize is that the negative effects of teenage pregnancy in Jamaica are not felt solely by the adolescent mother or her child. The Jamaican economy suffers because of a poor labor force due to so many young girls being uneducated and because the resources of the country must be funneled into welfare programs for teenage mothers. Indeed, teenage pregnancy in Jamaica is obviously a complex and multi-faceted problem.

Teenage Pregnancy – Don't Blame the Victim

Editor — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:06 +0000

Teenage pregnancy, also referred to as adolescent pregnancy, is defined as pregnancy occurring in women up to 19 years old. Teenage pregnancy is a significant social issue in many nations, though in some it is natural for adolescents to marry young and have children at a young age. In nations where this is not the case, though, teenage pregnancy is an extremely difficult experience for young women; though teenage girls are technically able to give birth physically, they are not ready emotionally or financially to raise children.

Statistics say that about 34% of young women become pregnant at least once before reaching 20 years old (about 820,000). As is the case around the world, experts agree that behind the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy lies a lack of sexual education. Girls may not know how to prevent pregnancy and they often believe myths regarding pregnancy prevention (like douching after sex using Pepsi or Coke).

Whatever the view as to why girls get pregnant, all agree that a teenage girl's life changes upon finding out she is pregnant. Because of this, there are a number of programs worldwide to help prevent teenage pregnancy and opinions differ as to how to structure these programs and what their focus should be.

A big debate concerns whether abstinence-only programs are valid methods of dealing with the teenage pregnancy phenomenon; many researchers believe that sex education, including information regarding contraception, is essential to equip teenagers in the battle against teen pregnancy. Supporters of abstinence-only programs argue that including information about contraception is a sign to adolescents to be sexually active; studies, however, seem to show that there is no increase of sexual activity among students who receive information regarding birth control. Supporters of sex education claim that abstinence-only programs do nothing to help adolescents feel more comfortable talking about their sexuality and so teens will be most likely to avoid seeking adults for advice in confusing situations.

Many girls do not know that there are various birth control methods available. Depo-Provera is injected into a woman's arm muscle or buttocks every 3 months in order to prevent ovulation, alter cervical mucus and prevent implantation. Norplant is an implant made of 6 matchstick-sized rubber rods which is inserted under the skin by a doctor and is effective for 5 years. Low-dose birth control pills, condoms, contraceptive jelly, and emergency contraceptive pills are also available.

Within 72 hours of having sex, a girl can take an emergency contraceptive pill. If it is already late for that, the girl will have to decide between keeping the child, putting it up for adoption (which can be closed or open), putting it in foster care, or having an abortion.

Once a girl is pregnant, she needs to know that she has choices, and she must choose what is best for her. Even if girls are ashamed at talking with their family members, there are a number of doctors and clinics open which offer counseling services, like Planned Parenthood.

Teenage Pregnancy: A Global Issue

Editor — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:45:07 +0000

Among the many issues teenagers are facing today is teenage pregnancy. The term teenage pregnancy refers to a young girl the age of eighteen years old or younger becoming pregnant. Most girls are ready to get pregnant as soon as they have had their menarche or their first menstrual period. This would start the girls' bodies to have their ovulation as part of their menstrual cycle.

The rate of teenage pregnancy varies from country to country due to economic and social development due to a link between the increased rate of teenage pregnancy and a country's lower educational levels and higher poverty rates.

Causes Of Teenage Pregnancy

There are many causes that correspond to teenage pregnancy and the number one factor is the teenager's sexual behavior. According to the research the Kaiser Family Foundation, 33% of teenagers say that they are in a relationship that is moving too fast sexually, 29% say that they feel that they are being pressured to have sex, and 24% reported that they just did something that is sexual that they did not want to do.

Sexual abuse is also one of the leading causes of teenage pregnancy and it is usually pertains to rape or the act of forcing oneself to another to have sexual intercourse. It was researched that 11-20% of the cases of teenage pregnancies are a direct result of rape while 60% of the teenage mothers say that their pregnancy was caused by an unwanted sexual experience.

Lastly, the socioeconomic factors may be one of the major causes in teenage pregnancy. It has been proven that poor countries have a higher rate in teenage pregnancy as compared to well-developed countries and probably, that is because of their lack in education and that is what they see that is commonly happening around them.

To Do Or Not To Do It

Probably, the peak of the issue and highest rate of teenage pregnancy was during the 1990s when there was no emphasis of sex education on schools, television, and other media that could educate the teenagers about the use of contraception, the risks, and the responsibilities involved in becoming pregnant when you are not yet ready. Today, it is no longer considered as a taboo if we see and hear ad campaigns on the television and radio promoting safe sex.

Though there are many methods and many kinds of contraception to prevent teenage pregnancy, the most effective and surest way to not get pregnant is to abstain from having sex.

Teenage Pregnancy Stories – The Humanity behind the Numbers

Editor — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 04:15:49 +0000

Not only do teenage pregnancy stories serve to make girls feel like there is someone out there listening to them, they also show girls and others that the statistics listed on all the reports talking about the "teen pregnancy problem" are not merely numbers. Those statistics represent human beings with emotions.

The statistics on abortion are particularly deceiving in their coldness. It is easy for someone to rattle off percentages when there is no face attached to them. But teenage pregnancy stories make it more difficult to reduce teenage experiences to mere numbers.

Indeed, the case with abortion illustrates the difficulty in classifying teenage pregnancy with simple statistics. Teenage pregnancy stories illustrate that many teenagers are devastated by an abortion: "The day I aborted my baby I lost the will to live. Everything I ever built up I threw away. Through grief and pain I dropped out of college, threw myself into partying and fell out with all my best friends…A year on, the pain is still as strong as it was the day I told my unborn child I was sorry I was taking its life away."

Some who would have felt relieved are haunted by the experience forever because of physical complications: "About 3 years ago my husband and I started trying for a baby. I didn't expect there to be any complications. After all, I knew I could get pregnant. After 2 years of trying we went to see a doctor. Cutting a long story short, after many tests on both sides, it turns out my fallopian tubes are blocked after an infection I picked up after having the abortion when I was 19. Thanks to my careless teenage ways, my husband and I are now having to go through the very stressful and trying process that is IVF as this is our only chance of ever having the baby we so wish for. The daily guilt I feel is unbearable."

Others, however, enjoy the full feeling of relief: "Physically I wasn't in any pain and more importantly, I wasn't an emotional wreck! I'd made my peace with my God and my decision long before I went in for the procedure and knew I wanted so much more for this child than I could give right now…I hoped by sharing my positive experience, someone considering an abortion can realize that it doesn't have to be the negative experience we are made to think it will be…"

Numbers can't describe the feeling of being pressured into having an abortion, though teenage pregnancy stories can: "I think I knew deep down that I didn't want to go through with it but I guess I just wanted someone to rescue me and tell me that I would be ok, but nobody did."

While statistics are useful to get a quick idea of the general characteristics of a situation, teenage pregnancy stories, rather than statistics, are needed to fully understand the experiences of the women behind the "teenage pregnancy epidemic."

Protecting Yourself and Your Baby – Teen Pregnancy and Health Risks

Editor — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:15:07 +0000

Teen pregnancy and health risks to both mother and infant are unfortunately closely related. In general, infants born to adolescent mothers are at a higher risk of accidental injury and poisoning, complications of prematurity, learning disabilities and cognitive problems, minor acute infections, sudden infant death syndrome. Also, rates of premature birth and low birth weight are higher among teenage mothers.

Teen pregnancy and health risks go hand in hand in girls 14 years old and younger because of an underdeveloped pelvis which can lead to difficulties in the childbirth process. In industrialized nations, this situation can be resolved with a Cesarean section. In developing nations, however, which have high rates of adolescent pregnancy, medical services are scarce and problems during childbirth can lead to eclampsia, obstetric fistula, infant mortality, or maternal death.

Another reason that teen pregnancy and health risks are closely associated is due to lack of knowledge of proper behavior; pregnant adolescents tend to have very poor eating habits, do not take vitamins and may smoke, drink and do drugs while they are pregnant, and this may lead to their baby being born with health problems or being stillborn. Statistics show that teenagers are also less likely to be of adequate pre-pregnancy weight, which increases the risk of having a baby with low birth weight.

Looking at some statistics regarding teen pregnancy and health risks, in 2002, 9.6% of 15-19 year old mothers had a baby of low birth weight, while only 7.8% of mothers of any age had babies that weighed less than 5.5 pounds. For pregnant adolescents that are younger, the risk is even greater; 11.3% of mothers aged 15 had a low birth weight baby. These underweight babies may have organs that are not fully developed, which can lead to things like respiratory distress syndrome, bleeding in the brain, blindness, and intestinal problems.

Furthermore, the relationship between teen pregnancy and health risks is dependent on the fact that pregnant adolescents often do not receive early and regular prenatal care, putting both the mother and the baby at risk. In 2002, 6.6 percent of 15-19 year-old mothers got late or no prenatal care; this is in comparison with 3.6% of all age groups. This is even more serious because an adolescent mother is at a greater risk for pregnancy complications such as anemia and high blood pressure, and these risks are even greater for adolescents under 15 years of age. Adolescents in this young age group are more than twice as likely to die of pregnancy complications as mothers between the ages of 20 to 24.

Out of 12 million cases annually, 3 million are the teens affected by sexually transmitted diseases. If the mother is affected by an STD, these can cause serious health risks to her child as well; syphilis can cause death of the infant, besides causing blindness and death of the mother, and HIV can be fatal to both mother and child.

Teenagers Speak Out – Statistics on Teenage Pregnancy

Editor — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:00:08 +0000

Seventy four percent of sexually active females between the ages of 15 and 19 have partners who are the same age or 1 to 3 years older. Twenty five percent of girls had a first partner who was 4 years older or more. Twenty percent of teenage mothers have a partner six or more years older. These statistics on teenage pregnancy are important because the younger the girl is when she begins to engage in sexual intercourse, the greater the difference in age between her and her partner; more importantly, adolescents with older partners are more likely to be sexually active on a consistent basis, less likely to use contraception, and much more likely to experience at least one unintended pregnancy.

Among adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17 who practice abstinence, 94% claimed that concern about an unwanted pregnancy was the major influence in their decision to wait to have sex. Of those girls who are sexually active and are between the ages of 15 to 19, the rate of pregnancy has declined, from 211.8 per 1000 in 1995 to 197.1 in 1998).

According to statistics on teenage pregnancy gathered by various studies, thirty three percent of sexually active adolescents between the ages of 15 to 17 are in relationships that move too fast sexually and at least 29% report feeling pressured to have sex. Twenty five percent of sexually active adolescents use drugs or alcohol during sexual encounters and 51% claim that they tend to do more sexually under the influence of these substances than they normally would do. Whether under the influence of drugs and alcohol or not, there are still many teenagers who do not engage in safe sexual practices. According to statistics on teenage pregnancy, one in five sexually active teenagers uses no method of contraception. A teenage girl who engages in sexual intercourse without using contraception has a 90% chance of experiencing an unwanted pregnancy within one year.

Forty eight percent of 12-17-year-olds claim that they desire more information about sexual health from health care providers. Indeed, according to statistics on teenage pregnancy collected by one study, only 6 in 10 sexually active 15-17 year-olds has ever seen a health care provider about their sexual health. Due to this lack of information, one unwanted pregnancy often leads to others; about seventeen percent of adolescents go on to have a second baby within three years after their first baby is born.

Statistics on teenage pregnancy illustrate that rates of teenage pregnancy are going down, however. The decrease in the adolescent birth rate has contributed roughly to 26% of the decrease in the number of children living in poverty, and to 68% of the decrease in the number of young children living in single family homes.

Teenage Pregnancy Statistics – What the Numbers Reveal

Editor — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 02:15:08 +0000

Teenage pregnancy statistics in the United States vary by state. In 2000, teen birth rates were highest in Mississippi, Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, and New Mexico; Nevada had the highest teen pregnancy rate at 113 per 1000 women. Birth rates were lowest in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, North Dakota, and Maine; the lowest birth rate was found in North Dakota, with 42 per 1000 women.

Abortion rates among teenage girls were highest in the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Nevada, and California. Indeed, more than fifty percent of pregnant adolescents in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia choose to terminate their pregnancies. Adolescents in Utah, Kentucky, South Dakota, and North Dakota had the lowest abortion rates; South Dakota, Kentucky, and Utah had fewer than 17% of their pregnant teenagers choose abortion.

According to available teenage pregnancy statistics, Arkansas has the highest pregnancy rate among its non-Hispanic white teen population, with 77 per 1000. Other southern states also showed a similar trend, having high non-Hispanic white pregnancy rates; the teenage pregnancy statistics regarding rates for Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, and South Carolina, for example, ranged from 71 to 73 per 1000. Again, North Dakota had the lowest rate among non-Hispanic whites, with 33 per 1000.

When looking at teenage pregnancy statistics for black teenagers between the ages of 15 to 19, rates of pregnancy were highest in New Jersey, with 209 per 1000; following closely were Wisconsin, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Oregon with rates ranging from 161 to 177 per 1000. Pregnancy rates among black teens were lowest in Utah, New Mexico, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Colorado, where they ranged from 71 to 114 per 1000.

Moving to the Hispanic population, pregnancy rates ranged from 154 to 169 per 1000 in Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee, Colorado, and Delaware, the states which have the highest rates among this group. The lowest rates for Hispanic teens are found in Mississippi, Missouri, South Dakota, and Ohio, where the numbers range from 71 to 115 per 1000.

Between 1988 and 2000, teenage pregnancy rates declined in every state and among all groups. The pregnancy rate among black teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 declined by 40% between 1990 and 2002. The decrease in white teenagers was of 34% and among Hispanic teens it was of 19%.
Compared to its peak in 1988, the teen abortion rate decreased by almost 50% in 2002. This decline reflected in teenage pregnancy statistics represents the fact that fewer teenagers are having sexual intercourse, 47% in 2003 compared to 53% in 1993. Alongside the increase in abstinence, however, there has been an increase in the rates of contraceptive use.

Getting to the Root of the Causes of Teenage Pregnancy in Jamaica

Editor — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:15:07 +0000

Before 20 years of age, at least 20% of Jamaican women have been pregnant at least once. The economic, political, and socio-cultural environments in Jamaica seem to influence the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy and are found at the heart of the causes of teenage pregnancy in Jamaica.

Jamaica has unfortunately experienced alternatively a period of marginal economic growth and negative growth in recent times. What funds the country has are funneled into dealing with the enormous budget deficit and are subtracted from important social programs such as assistance to young girls to teach them about sexuality and contraception. There is a terrifying lack of easily available contraceptives and youth friendly services are extremely rare.

Many experts believe that one of the major causes of teenage pregnancy in Jamaica is ignorance regarding proper sexual behavior and consequences. Indeed, 48% of males aged 15-19 do not always use a condom with their regular partner, and 41% do not use a condom with their non-regular partners. The reason why boys do not always use condoms is that they don't like them. When examining females, 60% do not always use a condom with their regular partner and 46% do not always use a condom with their non-regular partner. Females claim that they don't use condoms with partners that they know well. A large number of teenage boys are not aware of the correct use of a male condom, while the majority of young girls are not aware of the existence of a female condom.

Social traditions also contribute to the causes of teenage pregnancy in Jamaica. Jamaican women see motherhood as an assertion of status and identity and a way to eliminate any suspicion of infertility. A young girl, however, receives mixed messages about pregnancy, as the strong Christian background present in Jamaica means that there are taboos against sexual behavior in girls. These Christian beliefs have caused Jamaican society to adopt an "abstinence only" approach to teenage sexuality and any further communication with adolescents regarding puberty, the maturation process, sexual intercourse, and contraception, is non-existent. Because of this taboo, yet another of the causes of teenage pregnancy in Jamaica, adolescent boys and girls are even hesitant to buy condoms on their own in their own communities. Young girls, then, engage in sexual activities often without protection and without being fully aware of the consequences.

As in other developing nations, there are a number of myths that surround pregnancy and sexual activities, and these are further causes of teenage pregnancy in Jamaica; girls turn to these myths instead of medical facts. Studies show that a large number of girls in Jamaica believe that douching with Pepsi after sex or having intercourse in the sea will prevent pregnancy. The persistence of these myths in Jamaican society is yet another expression of the ignorance in which many young girls find themselves when dealing with their sexuality.

Real-life Stories on Teenage Pregnancy – Feeling a Little Less Alone

Editor — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:00:10 +0000

Whether a pregnant teenager looks online, in a magazine, or in a pamphlet at a clinic, it is always helpful for her to know that she is not the only one going through such an ordeal. Stories on teenage pregnancy are a comfort to pregnant teens; they look to these stories for suggestions, strength and inspirations.

For example, girls can read stories on teenage pregnancy that deal with the terror an adolescent feels when she finds out she is pregnant: "Two pink lines stared back at me. I was numb. The next few weeks were filled with conflicting emotions about the pregnancy. The things I knew about unwed young mothers weren't good things. I knew how I looked upon girls I knew that got pregnant and it wasn't how I wanted to be looked at."

Stories on teenage pregnancy can show girls how teenage mothers cope with how society views them: "As my pregnancy continued and then as my son grew I got use to the stares and the remarks, 'You look to young to be his mother!' But as I talked with people they always ended up saying how "different" I was then other teenagers that got pregnant. I was unlike them because I went to a good school, I lived on my own, made things work with my son's father, took care of my child and responsibilities, worked three jobs, and had a plan for the future. Part of me believed them to a certain point. I did what I had to do for my child and I and the images of teen motherhood that society wants us to see were much different." From this story, an adolescent mom can gain the strength to know that, should she choose to keep the child, she can make it.

Girls can also read about the "ignorance" of other girls in going through their pregnancies, and can learn from previous mistakes: "I only wish that I had known that I had a right to make a birth plan, and to request that it be respected. I knew about birth plans, I just didn't think one would apply to my situation. I felt that I barely had a right to be having this child, who was I to say how he or she would come into this world."

By reading stories on teenage pregnancy, girls can understand that all teenage mothers are just as scared as they are: "I sat at my desk, 15 years old, failing in school, pregnant, sick and terrified. I sat at my desk, rubbing my still-flat stomach and clenching my jaw tightly to hold down my vomit."

At times a teenage girl finds herself alone, alienated from her friends and family because of her situation. Reading stories on teenage pregnancy, seeing names and faces attached to other lives like hers, can make her feel a little less alone.

When Reality Hits – The Effects of Teenage Pregnancy

Editor — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 04:30:05 +0000

Trying to distinguish the effects of teenage pregnancy is a complex task given the difficulty in separating pre-existing conditions and those that are a direct result of adolescent pregnancy. Despite this complication, though, there is a large amount of research which shows that a pregnant teenager will encounter a great deal of negative effects. First and foremost of these effects of teenage pregnancy is the emotional stress of being pregnant at such a young age and of having to make a decision as to what to do about the pregnancy.

Teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school than their peers who are able to avoid pregnancy. Statistics from 1997 show that only 41% of adolescents who have children before they reach 18 years of age graduate from high school, compared to 61% of adolescents from similar backgrounds who delay pregnancy until at least 20 or 21 years of age.

Because many teenage mothers drop out of school, another of the effects of teenage pregnancy is their lack of necessary job skills to be successful in the work force. Many teenage mothers then become dependent on public assistance. Over 75% of all unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within 5 years of the birth of their first child. On the flip side, though, some studies have shown that for teenagers who live in poverty, getting pregnant and being supported by the father of the child could be a "survival mechanism" to avoid an even more hopeless situation.

Adolescent mothers may not have adequate parenting skills and could harm the psycho-social development of their child, resulting in another one of the effects of teenage pregnancy. Studies show that teenage mothers do not provide their children with stimulation through touch, smiling, and verbal communication, nor do they seem sensitive to their child's needs. Furthermore, children of teenage mothers are more likely to suffer from poor nutrition. Many adolescents, in addition, show a great deal of anger towards their child and rely heavily upon punishment. Indeed, the incidence of developmental disabilities and behavioral issues is higher in children of teenage mothers.

When these children grow up, they often exhibit poor academic performance, failing to graduate, being held back, and scoring poorly on standardized tests. Daughters of teenage mothers are more likely to fall into the trap of teen pregnancy themselves and sons of teenage mothers are three times more likely to go to prison.

Effects of teenage pregnancy also include health risks for the mother and the child. Indeed, women aged 15-19 experience four times the risk of maternal mortality compared to 25 to 29 year old women. The risk is even higher for girls aged 10 to 14 and the children of these adolescent are more likely to fall sick or die in infancy.

Understanding Our Teens – The Causes of Teenage pregnancy

Editor — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:15:06 +0000

Obviously, the reason at the base of any pregnancy is sexual intercourse. But many researchers would like to know why the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy is so widespread. The easiest answer is that teens want to become pregnant; while this is not untrue in all cases, at least 80% of teen pregnancies are unintentional.

Research has shown that one of the causes of teenage pregnancy is the lack of a sense of personal responsibility for their actions, lack of maturity, and most importantly a lack of knowledge regarding sexual intercourse and contraception. Related to this, teenage pregnancy is often closely associated with poverty, limited education and employment opportunities.

53% of teens admit not understanding sex or birth control and this is a reflection of one of the most fundamental causes of teenage pregnancy, ignorance. Indeed, teens in America, especially girls, are bombarded with mixed messages concerning sex. Sex is seen as immediate gratification with no consequences, but preparing for sex makes a girl promiscuous. Sex is seen all over the television and in movies, but equal treatment for birth control methods is completely absent. Open discussions about sex are very rare.

If an adolescent female experiences low expectations for her future or lack of control over her life, she is more likely to become pregnant. Depression in general is another one of the causes of teenage pregnancy, leading girls to engage in risky sexual activity. Abuse of alcohol or drugs also leads to poor choices about sex and contraception, often ending up in pregnancy. Growing up in a family without an adequate amount of love or a father figure could also be one of the causes of teenage pregnancy; an adolescent girl will fall prey to the attentions of an older man in the hopes of receiving affection. Most girls are pressured by their boyfriends into having sex because they believe this will make their boyfriends love them more.

Researchers have studied European pregnancy rates and have seen that the large difference (10 -fold between US and Holland, for example) in pregnancy rates between the US and most European cities lies in the fact that the European countries had better sex education, contraceptive services, acceptance of teenage sexuality, and low child poverty.

Surveys of adolescents have been performed to try and understand how they view the causes of teen pregnancy. In a 1996 study, 76% of girls and 58% of boys reported that teenage girls had sex because their boyfriend wanted it. One in three young men between the ages of 15-17 admitted having had sex because pressured to do so by his friends. 70% of girls in a 1997 study said that it was embarrassing for them to buy birth control or request information from a doctor.
The exact relationship between factors associated with teen pregnancy and teen pregnancy is unclear at the moment. What the majority of researchers agree on, however, is that teenagers need to be more educated about the real consequences of sex and contraceptive methods.

Third-World Pregnancy Rates in the US – Teen pregnancy in Tulare County

Editor — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 22:15:09 +0000

Tulare is an agricultural county in California with the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. Eighteen percent of white teens live below the poverty line and their birth rate is 50 per 1,000, at least 10 times that of the lowest birth rate in the country where teens live above the poverty line.

The population that suffers most in terms of poverty and teen pregnancy in Tulare County, though, are the Latino girls. School officials confirm that over 80 percent of students are Hispanic and these adolescents account for nearly 70 percent of teenage births in the 15- to 18-year old group. Many of these teenage girls are children of migrant farm-workers and many of them live well below the poverty line. Forty percent of Tulare's Latino girls are poor, and the rate of teen pregnancy in Tulare County among this population is over 100 per 1,000 women; this number is similar to rates seen in underdeveloped nations.

Indeed, one does not have to go to underdeveloped nations to find the close association between teen pregnancy and extreme poverty, which many experts say is essentially at the root of concerns regarding teen pregnancy. Rural communities in California have long suffered poverty and socio-economic isolation. One of the results of this situation is the extreme rarity of teen reproductive health care and medical services; also very rare are school-based teen clinics and comprehensive sex education services, initiatives which have proven to be effective in combating the problems of teenage pregnancy in other locations. One of the results of this scarcity of government aid seems to be the high rate of teen pregnancy in Tulare County. Barriers due to culture and language also cause problems when trying to relate to and communicate with Latino migrant and seasonal farm-worker families, as well as populations of other ethnic groups.

According to the Census Bureau, alongside the high rate of teen pregnancy in Tulare County, this area has the fifth highest percentage of poverty and the third-highest percentage of people with less than a high school diploma in the country. Within California, Tulare County has the highest percentage of poverty, unemployment, and lack of education. A frightening statistic is that close to two-thirds of the population under 18 in this county live below 200 percent of poverty, and this is the highest rate in the state; surprisingly enough, Tulare is the leading agricultural producer in the country, yet poverty and its effects, such as teen pregnancy, in Tulare County run rampant.

There is a frightening lack of access to proper health care services, due to the absence of health insurance, low socio-economic status, and limited resources in many of the migrant farm-worker families. The population of this county has in fact been designated as a Medically Underserved Population and many areas in the county have been designated as primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas. Measures are being taken to bring basic health care services, including those dealing with women's health, to this population.

The Facts on Teenage Pregnancy in Australia

Editor — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:30:13 +0000

In 2003, the rate of teenage pregnancy in Australia was ranked the sixth highest among more developed nations falling below the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. It was found that five percent of all Australian children were born to women who were 19 years old or younger and legally induced abortions were the second most common reason for 12-24 year-old women to be admitted into an Australian hospital. Furthermore, it was shown that emergency contraception methods provided at Family Planning clinics were most frequently used by teenagers and roughly 45 percent of sexually active high-school students fail to use condoms on a consistent basis.

Looking at data from 2004, the rate of teenage pregnancy in Australia was 16.3 babies per 1000 women. To demonstrate the disparity between young girls living in poverty and those who are "better off", the pregnancy rate of Queensland mothers living in poverty and aged 15-19 was 67.8 births per 1000 compared to 21.7 per 1000 in the general Queensland population.

According to studies, factors which seem to be associated with a higher risk of teenage pregnancy in Australia are similar to factors which can lead to adolescent pregnancy around the world, such as low self-esteem, hostile family environment, underprivileged socioeconomic status, and a family history of teen pregnancy. Whatever the factor or factors which contribute to teenage pregnancy in Australia, there three options available to an adolescent who finds herself in this situation. The most common gynecological procedure in Australia, regardless of age, is abortion; almost half of all unplanned pregnancies end in abortion and roughly 16% of women seeking abortions are teenagers. Regulations differ among regions; in Queensland, for example, abortion is legal if the continuation of pregnancy can cause serious risk to the woman's physical and mental health. Abortion in Queensland is available up to the 20th week, though over 90% of abortions occur before 12 weeks. The cost ranges from $200-$300 for terminations before 12 weeks, though there are instances where underprivileged individuals receive government aid. The cost increases dramatically for everyone after 12 weeks.

A second option is adoption, though in Australia this does not seem to be a common choice either among teenagers or women in general. Most likely due to a rise in the acceptance of single parenting and improved access to contraceptives and abortion services, only about 80 adoptions occur every year in Queensland. A variation on the adoption choice is foster care; a few teenage mothers give up their child to a foster family only for a certain amount of time, until they feel ready to take on the responsibility of primary caregiver. Finally, since the social taboo of single parenting is something of the past and since government aid is available, many more pregnant teenagers are choosing the parenting option. Counseling is available in all Australian regions to help deal with issues of teenage pregnancy in Australia.

Teenage Pregnancy Statistics – What the Numbers Reveal

Editor — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:30:08 +0000

The Facts on Teenage Pregnancy in Canada

Editor — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:30:16 +0000

Rates of teenage pregnancy in Canada are some of the highest in the developed world, though the numbers are below those of the United States and the United Kingdom. In 1994, approximately 47,800 pregnancies were recorded for adolescents who were between 15 and 19 years old. Of this number, roughly 21,000 women chose abortion, about 2,000 had a stillbirth or miscarriage that required hospitalization, and 24,700 carried the pregnancy to term. The incidence of pregnancy in Canada in 1994 was lower than it was two decades earlier, but since 1987 it experienced an increase.

Since 1994, however, teenage pregnancy in Canada has been decreasing. In 2003, 33,553 pregnancies were reported for women who were younger than 20, and this included live births, abortions, and stillbirths/miscarriages. The rate of teenage pregnancy in Canada, which comes out to about 27.1 per 1000, is highest among adolescents between the ages of 18 and 19; many of the pregnancies within this group, however, are planned. The pregnancy rate in teenagers ranging from 15 to 17 is lower and the rate among girls younger than 15 is even lower.

Equally important, there has also been a change in the resolutions of teenage pregnancies. In 1974, 66% of adolescent pregnancies ended in a live birth, 26% in abortion, and 8% in a stillbirth/miscarriage. In 1994, on the other hand, the majority, 51%, of pregnancies among teenagers still ended in live birth, but almost as many this time, 45%, ended in abortion. Indeed, in 1994, Canada saw the highest annual number of teenage abortions in the previous two decades with 21,000 teenagers choosing this option to end their pregnancy. Teenagers actually represented 20% of the total number of abortions performed in 1994, and represented just 6% of all live births. In 2003, the number of adolescent pregnancies ending in abortion rose to 50%.

Rates of teenage pregnancy in Canada vary by province and territory. In 1994, the Northwest Territories had the highest pregnancy rate among adolescents with 137 per 1,000 women who were between 15 and 19. Next came Yukon, with 88 pregnancies per 1,000; rates among the provinces varied from just over 60 per 1,000 in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to just over 30 in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. Quebec's teenage pregnancy rate remains the lowest in the country.

In order to curb the rate of teenage pregnancy in Canada, the country is looking to the Netherlands, which has one of the lowest teenage pregnancy rates, for suggestions. Based on observations, it seems that sex education, open discussion of human sexuality in the mass media, easier access to contraceptives, education programs, and active participation of parents and teenagers in such programs are all strategies that could prove useful to keeping the rate of adolescent pregnancy down.

The Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy

Editor — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:00:09 +0000

Few people would argue with the statement that one of the most precious of all of life's events is the birth of a child. This is certainly the case for a grown adult with an education, a financial future planned, and an emotional support system in place. However when the mother to be is a teenage girl there are concerns and considerations that limit some of the joy usually felt at the news of an impending birth. Teenage pregnancy is currently on downward spiral fortunately, but these young mothers face significant challenges to their futures, their health, and the health of their babies.

Some of the negative effects of teenage pregnancy for the mother are swift and severe. Many teenage moms face an uncertain future due to not having the money, childcare support, and time to further their education. This causes a financial strain that can last the rest of the girl's life and adversely affect the living conditions of the baby. There is a definite link between poverty and teenage pregnancy. In terms of a young mother's health, obstacles arise during pregnancy and delivery as well as in later years. Young mothers have a higher risk of STDs, anemia, and conditions like pre eclampsia, which among other problems causes high blood pressure. Long term medical problems as a result of teenage pregnancy are life long high blood pressure and obesity.

In addition to a higher risk of poverty, teenage pregnancy causes other social ramifications. Young teenage mothers often face disapproval and discrimination in places where before the pregnancy; they were welcomed with open arms. Problems with teachers, in their churches, and being left out by friends are just a few examples of how unpleasant these young women's lives can become. The impact of teenage pregnancy on families is enormous as well. The opportunity to mature and experience their teenage years is seriously undermined by an unplanned pregnancy.

Babies born as a result of a teenage pregnancy, sometimes have special challenges to overcome as well. Due to a lack of knowledge and maturity teenage moms sometimes ignore their own nutrition and as a result, many of these babies are born with low birth weight or ahead of schedule. After birth, because of not having adequate health care themselves, teenage mothers often have a difficult time providing good health care for their children.

The picture of teenage pregnancy looks bleak. And unfortunately, it often is. However, with good education, healthy self esteem, and solid family and social dynamics, more and more teenage girls are making the choice to wait to start families.

The Importance of the Issue of Teen Pregnancy

Editor — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 07:56:51 +0000

During the last quarter-century in particular, there has been a serious overall decline in the rate of teen pregnancy, and this is quite possibly due to the increased availability of contraceptives, as well as the more openly talked about discussion of sex and protection for sex in general. Teen pregnancy, although it may seem as though a growing epidemic, is actually lessening, and this is due to many reasons.

What are the Most Recent Statistics of Teen Pregnancy?

In regards to the most recent statistics of teen pregnancy, in 1997 an estimated 19,724 women aged 15 to 19 gave birth, and a slightly larger number in this age range – 21,233 had an abortion. It should be known that pregnant teens themselves are at greater risk for health problems during their pregnancy, and this includes such problems as anemia, hypertension, renal disease, eclampsia, and depressive disorders.

Additionally, teen pregnancy creates multiple dilemmas, as the teens themselves are at greater risk of having economic consequences, as a lot of teens are not established enough in their lives and simply cannot afford to have a baby.

Also in 1997, an estimated 42,162 of pregnancies aged 15-19 ended in birth, abortion, or miscarriage. Also, the number of pregnancies had declined steadily since 1994, when for instance the estimated total was at 46,753.

Abortion is now considered as the most common outcome, as in the past, more teenage pregnancies ended in a live birth rather than an abortion, however since 1997, with the decline in live births to teens, abortions quickly became the most common outcome of teen pregnancy; the percentage of teenage pregnancies that ended in abortion is strongly weighted by that of trends among that of 18-19 year olds in particular, who still account for that of the majority of teenage pregnancies.

It should also be known that the abortion rate was much higher for that of older teens, even though pregnant 15-17 year olds were far more likely than that of pregnant 18-19 year olds to have an abortion, and the higher abortion rates at the ages of 18-19 years old truly reflects that of the higher number of pregnancies among older teens.

As well, clinic abortions were considered as being far more likely to occur earlier or later in the pregnancy, as in 1997 alone, 40 percent of teenagers who had clinic abortions were less than 9 weeks pregnant, and whereas this was the case for 25 percent of those who had hospital abortions.

Teens Talking to Teens – Science Fair Project Ideas on Teen Pregnancy

Editor — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 08:02:02 +0000

Science fairs are a forum where children are able to demonstrate their abilities at approaching certain topics from a different point of view compared to the standard classroom lesson. Furthermore, science fairs are places where information can flow from child to child, a highly effective method of transmission, for children can relate to each other often better than to adults. For these reasons coming up with science fair project ideas on teen pregnancy could be an excellent method to teach adolescents about this issue.

One of the many science fair project ideas on teen pregnancy could be to have a poster session using various color-coded world maps. One map could show pregnancy rates, another birth rates, and another abortion rates in countries around the world. Another map could show the socio-economic statistics of countries. A connection could be made then between teenage pregnancy rates and socio-economic characteristics. Yet another map could show whether a country had implemented abstinence-only programs, sexual education-only programs, or programs that combined the two approaches. A final map could illustrate any change in the teenage pregnancy rates within a certain recent period and a connection could be made as to what types of programs cause (or don't cause) changes in the teenage pregnancy rate.

Another of the science fair project ideas on teen pregnancy could be to make a movie on teenage pregnancy. This could depict either a fictional situation, where actors and actresses model what happens when a teenage woman gets pregnant, or it could be a documentary-type movie where teenage girls who found themselves experiencing an unwanted pregnancy are interviewed. The latter option is usually the most effective. The best approach would be to get girls who have had varied experiences with teen pregnancy and who each had made slightly different choices as to what to do about it.

Finally, another of the science fair project ideas on teen pregnancy could be the creation of a board game akin to the infamous game "The Game of Life." The option of becoming pregnant as a teenager could either be added on, so that a direct comparison can be made between those who fall into the trap of teenage pregnancy and those who do not. An equally effective option would be basing your version of the game on the premise that you are a pregnant teenager from the start. Then, the game would be a lesson in all the hard choices that teen mothers have to make and the consequences with which they must live.

These are just some thoughts as to how to approach the topic of teenage pregnancy in a science fair. There are many other science fair project ideas on teen pregnancy out there; the important thing is to discuss the issue and try to get children to fully understand all the consequences of teenage pregnancy in ways they can relate to.