Against Adolescent Pregnancy, Research Paper Example

Background and Thesis

Every year, almost 750,000 teenage girls aged 15–19 become pregnant. Though this quantity seems daunting, it is the lowest level in 30 years – down 36% since its peak in 1990 (U.S. Teenage pregnancy statistics, 2006). Recent decline is a steady tendency and it is supposedly the consequence of abstinence growth, contraception use and national programs. It is reported that during last fifteen years the teenage birthrate lowered in all states (U.S. Teenage pregnancy statistics, 2006). Though adolescent pregnancy like mature pregnancy can be terminated, the latest rates of teenage abortions also reduced – ‘by 2002, the teenage abortion rate had dropped by 50% from its peak in 1988’ (U.S. Teenage pregnancy statistics, 2006).

All these facts show that teenage pregnancy is usually seen as a problem. But in fact it is a controversial matter, just like all things that include human interaction. While for some girls it may be a problem that leads to lower social status, shame and breach of relationships, it may be an expected and happy fact for other girls. So the following discussion is an attempt to show both sides of the problem and find out what is adolescent pregnancy – a blessing or a curse.

Opposition

Those girls who became pregnant often have choice whether to give birth to their children or to terminate the pregnancy; and if they choose to give birth they also have two opportunities: parenting and adopting. Both of them are legitimate and have their advantages.

Parenting

Parenting gives an unparalleled opportunity to watch the child grow up and experience one of the rewarding things ever. A commitment to the child means your and his love, tender care, every kind of support and emotional closeness. Rosengard et. al. conducted the research devoted to advantages and disadvantages of teen pregnancy as teens themselves perceive it (Rosengard et. al., 2006). Surprisingly, many girls admitted that there are certain advantages of their pregnancy.

Love of babies was one of the named reasons of their pregnancy. Girls who really love babies and baby care feel happy about their future motherhood. For them it means that they can enjoy delicate care and love of their children. Though such excitement may seem strange, it is a positive change in girl’s lives.

Positive changes in relationships are an important factor of happy childbearing. Understanding that soon there will be a person who will love you and who you will love is exciting. It means that young mothers will have somebody to be attached to

Closeness in age was considered to be a benefit. It may help to understand the baby better and play with him or her, or involve siblings and friends in leisurely pastime.

One of the expected changes was support – family and partner’s support. It cannot be denied that pregnant adolescent girls need support and care, as well as attention. In schools and in companies they will certainly be treated respectfully. Also, if they have responsible partners their pregnancy will improve their relationships and make them closer.

Among other possible changes there were named more responsibilities, growing up, having purpose in life. Really, responsibility of the mother, however young, is incomparable to responsibility of the teenager. From the moment of the becoming pregnant and to the adulthood of the child she must care about two people instead of one. For many girls having a child means being more mature than mates and friends. Childbearing changes character and many attitudes of young mother. First of all, she gets one more target in her life; this one is not vague and changeable, it is clear and hard. The purpose to nurture the child is great and honorable. So, responsible teenagers accept their pregnancy and its consequences as a way to develop themselves.

For many adolescents the pregnancy means positive feelings. They perceive everything as positive and feel happy about situation. As well as simple acceptance of situation, such feelings change future mothers and make them more responsible. Surely, their maturity is a positive feature of pregnancy.

Girls who were asked to report their feelings about their pregnancies expressed different points of view, but s number of them found it advantageous to have purpose in life and take care about someone who loves you. Here are some of their expressions (Rosengard et. al., 2006):

“I will have more responsibilities in my life. I will have to be more mature.” (14-year-old, unintended pregnancy)

“I think that it will keep me away from doing bad things like drinking alcohol and/or doing drugs. It will make me be more responsible and I’ll learn how to depend on myself more” (18-year-old, unintended pregnancy)

“I [will] have someone to live for” (15-year-old, unintended pregnancy)

“There is not too many good things. Except now I’m going to have a huge responsibility and have to love and care for something. [T]o me that’s a good thing” (15-year-old, unintended pregnancy)

Youth is another aspect that young mothers tend to underline. Adolescents are young and energetic and can do many things more actively and, perhaps, more willingly than adults if they have a good motivation for it. Also, their idea is that early pregnancy can deprive them of future pregnancy concerns thus giving them an opportunity to do more in life.

Free time that they will have later is an argument too – they think that teen pregnancy helps them to get this over with and live for themselves later. This fact shows that for ambitious or egotistic girls their pregnancy is just the way they realize their ambitions. Also some girls expressed concerns about their future fertility and thus saw their pregnancy as timely.

Adoption

If a pregnant girl chooses adoption she still must go through her pregnancy. During it her child will be placed with another family. There are some positive aspects, as pregnant girl may help to choose the family and even contact her child after adoption. Adoption eliminates the risks involved in abortion and gives the experience of childbearing for future.

Refutation

Though pregnant adolescents found many reasons to consider their pregnancy something positive, there are serious disadvantages that cannot be omitted or ignored.

Love of babies and positive feelings included are emotions and thus they are prone to fading. These advantages are so elusive that it does not make sense to become pregnant for the positive emotions sake. Baby care is a hard toil, either emotional or physical, and growing child is not a toy. Quick disappointment in babies can lead to carelessness, indifference or dissatisfaction.

Closeness in age with the child is also a myth, because in fact 12-19 year-olds are children themselves; they have their personalities changing and reshaping. What is dangerous is the possibility that in the long run there will be two children – young mother and her child. In this case the function of teaching and upbringing will be performed by grandmother or close relatives. Such family may satisfy some people, but in general it is nonsense.

Support of the adolescent fathers is something ephemeral. Statistics proves that it is more of mother’s imagination than of real situation in this expectation. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy gives the next facts. They claim that ‘eight of ten teen fathers do not marry the mothers of their first children’. Such fathers pay less than $800 every year for their children support because they are quite poor themselves and unable to maintain the family (NCPTP, 2006).

So given the fact that father of the newborn will not support him or her one should think of the next facts. Lack of father support causes many problems with upbringing. Children without fathers in families are ‘twice as likely to drop out of school, twice as likely to abuse alcohol or drugs, twice as likely to end up in jail, and two to three times more likely to need help for emotional or behavioral problems’ (NCPTP, 2006). It can also lead to children’s inadequate perception of sexual activity – just think of the fact that teen girls who don’t have a father are seven times more likely to get pregnant compared to girls with fathers present!  Of course, it depends on the family and circumstances, but the ratio requires no comments. ‘Teen boys who live with both parents initiate sex at an older age compared to teen boys in other family situations’ claims NCPTP (2006). Both mothers and fathers are important for the child’s upbringing, but teen fathers usually are far less responsible than teen mothers.

Possible changes in the lives of young mothers are not so positive and include problems. First of all, it is much more difficult to study when you have a baby. Eased courses and special education lead to ambiguous situation. The education is far from good as the teen mother cannot pay due attention to homework; at the same time child is not given all necessary time and care. What teen mothers can have is lost opportunity to study and lost opportunity to bring up the baby. Even if the young mother is old enough to work she also cannot earn enough money for her family and pay due attention to the baby.

Youth is a controversial factor, too. U. S. Census Bureau provides information that teens are ‘more likely to suffer pregnancy-related complications that endanger their lives or lead to infertility’ (McDevitt et. al., 1996). Adolescent pregnancies are more likely to end in delayed or obstructed labor, ruptures in the birth canal; these are associated with higher mortality of mothers and infants. And if prenatal care is inadequate risks are even greater (McDevitt et. al., 1996).

It is also suggested that maternal mortality rates for women ages 15-19 may be up to double compared to those of women in their twenties and early thirties (McDevitt et. al., 1996). And given the fact that adolescent pregnancies are frequently associated with ‘low birth weight, prematurity, birth injuries, stillbirth, and infant mortality’ (McDevitt et. al., 1996), it is more accurate to think of the youth as of negative factor.

When it comes to adoption, it is cold comfort to understand that the baby lives somewhere apart of you. It is better than abortion, but for the happiness sake it is better not to resort to such a drastic measure. First and foremost adoption means loss of someone dear, your blood, your genes and a member of your family.

Conclusion

Just like any other issue that is connected with human emotions and health, teen pregnancy is a very delicate and ambiguous issue. Aforementioned studies show that pregnant teens tend to find positive aspects in their condition. But vast majority of medical, psychological and social factors are against teen pregnancy, so it is logical to summarize that risks involved make it unwelcome and troublesome condition.

Works Cited

McDevitt, Thomas M., Adlakha, A., Fowler, Timothy B., Harris-Bourne, V. “Trends in Adolescent Fertility and Contraceptive Use in the Developing World” U. S. Census Bureau, 1996. July 11, 2009 < http://www.census.gov/ipc/prod/ipc95-1/ipc95_1c.pdf>

Rosengard, Cynthia, Pollock, Lealah, Weitzen, Sherry, Meers, Ann, Phipps, Maureen G. “Concepts of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Teenage Childbearing Among Pregnant Adolescents: A Qualitative Analysis” Pediatrics 118 (2006): 503-510. July 11, 2009 <http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/118/2/503.pdf>

“U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity” Guttmacher Institute, 2006. July 11, 2009 <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/09/12/USTPstats.pdf>

“Why It Matters: Teen Pregnancy and Responsible Fatherhood”. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. July 11, 2009 <http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/why-it-matters/pdf/fatherhood.pdf>