Adolescent pregnancy poses great risks to both the mother and the child.This is because the mother’s body has not developed fully to support a pregnancy. Any child between the age of 10 – 19 is an adolescent,they are not psychologically prepared to handle a pregnancy, they therefore get very stressed or even depressed from dealing with one.This paper analyzes the risks of adolescent pregnancy and the support they should be given.
There are many risk factors involved with adolescent pregnancies. According to (Papri,Khanan,Ara & Panna,2013),Adolescents are exposed to pregnancy risk factors like;
- Being underweight at conception from a poor diet. This can result in giving birth to an underweight child.
- Preterm birth due to immature uterus that is not able to carry a pregnancy to term.
- Labor and delivery complications as a result of an underdeveloped pelvis. This leads to a ceaserian birth or virginal birth operation.
Florida has incorporated support programs for adolescents during pregnancy to help them to transition to productive adults. This includes an education system that allows pregnant adolescents to continue with their education through flexible learning programs and according them access to all resources that other students are getting (Florida Department of Education, 2015).The state also has welfare support programs for them such as affordable housing and better still a Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act that offers provision for financial assistance for up to 60 months (Working with Pregnant and Parenting Teens,nd).According to (Florida department of health,2020) the statistics for adolescent pregnancies are as illustrated on the chart.
Alachua Alachua Alachua Florida Florida Florida
Year Count DenomRate MOV (+/-) Count DenomRate MOV (+/-)
2018 2,731 263,753 10.4 0.4 221,508 20,957,705 10.6 0.0
2017 2,826 259,349 10.9 0.4 223,579 20,555,733 10.9 0.0
2016 2,862 257,478 11.1 0.4 225,018 20,231,092 11.1 0.0
2015 2,885 255,631 11.3 0.4 224,273 19,897,762 11.3 0.0
2014 2,916 251,760 11.6 0.4 219,905 19,579,871 11.2 0.0
2013 2,823 248,526 11.4 0.4 215,194 19,314,396 11.1 0.0
2012 2,879 246,893 11.7 0.4 212,954 19,118,938 11.1 0.0
2011 2,960 247,151 12.0 0.4 213,237 18,941,742 11.3 0.0
2010 2,866 247,669 11.6 0.4 214,519 18,820,280 11.4 0.0
2009 2,925 246,489 11.9 0.4 221,391 18,711,844 11.8 0.0
2008 2,980 244,664 12.2 0.4 231,417 18,636,837 12.4 0.1
2007 2,849 242,215 11.8 0.4 239,120 18,500,958 12.9 0.1
2006 2,837 238,704 11.9 0.4 237,166 18,237,596 13.0 0.1
2005 2,690 233,859 11.5 0.4 226,219 17,876,663 12.7 0.1
2004 2,607 229,846 11.3 0.4 218,045 17,476,489 12.5 0.1
2003 2,480 226,976 10.9 0.4 212,243 17,074,368 12.4 0.1
2002 2,413 224,556 10.7 0.4 205,580 16,718,033 12.3 0.1
2001 2,462 221,643 11.1 0.4 205,800 16,384,860 12.6 0.1
2000 2,600 219,239 11.9 0.5 204,030 16,074,896 12.7 0.1
1999 2,389 213,346 11.2 0.4 196,963 15,679,606 12.6 0.1
this shows a decrease which was influenced by increased sex education in schools.
Adolescents experience a lot of external stress compared to adults. One is social stigma from their peers and the society at large.Another one is balancing parenting and education. This can be very pressurizing especially for those who experience severe morning sickness and other pregnancy related challenges.Adolescents do not have a source of income because they are in school and depend on their parents,in case of a pregnancy most of them are likely to be on welfare ( Kisker, Maynard, Rangarajan & Boller ,1998)
If not addressed these stresses could make the adolescents to develop withdrawal or low self-esteem which will affect their productivity.The pressure of balancing education and parenting can make the adolescent to develop a negative attitude towards school and drop out.To help the adolescents the society should accept and embrace them,especially family and friends. They should offer the required moral support. Counseling should also be given to help them deal with the psychological pressure. Flexible education programs should be encouraged to keep the adolescents in school.
Teenagers are not mature enough to handle physical, emotional and psychological pressure that comes with pregnancy. Parents and relatives should accord them all the support they need.This will help them stabilize and get a normal life without having to get console from their boyfriends which might lead to another pregnancy.
References
Florida Department of Education (2015) . Teenage Parent programs in Florida School Districts. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5576/urlt/ADA-Teenage-Parent-Program-TAP-FINAL.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiW2O3AsPLnAhWEgnIEHflCAg0QFjAAegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw2695C5mJyfQ8JaeA3ozzh6
Florida Department of Health.Bureau of Vital Statistics(2020) , FLChart for Births by Mothers age, Retrieved from http://www.flhealthcharts.com/charts/DataViewer/BirthViewer/BirthViewer.aspx?cid=0001
Kisker,E. Maynard,R. Rangarajan,A. & Boller ,K.(1998)Moving Teenage Parents into Self – sufficiency:Lessons from recent studies.Retrieved from
https://aspe.hhs.gov/report/moving-teenage-parents-self-sufficiency-lessons-recent-demonstrations
Papri, F. Khanan,Z. Ara, S. & Panna,M. (2013) Adolescent Pregnancy: Risk factors,outcome & prevention, Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh.Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.hsj.gr/medicine/risk-factors-for-teenage-pregnancies-in-sri-lanka-perspective-of-a-community-based-study.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiI8sO9nPHnAhXNVsAKHc4YBZoQFjAEegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw1erhRy2zuKp4qyoCnbGf06
Working with Pregnant and Parenting Teens.(nd) retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/pregnant-parenting-teens-tips.pdf