Teenage Pregnancy - Research Paper Example

? Teenage Pregnancies Sherrie Thorne ChamberlainCollege Of Nursing ENGL 135 on: Advanced Composition AY Fuller Spring 20011 Abortion Introduction Teen pregnancy is a term used for pregnancies which occur in females who are in their teen ages. It has been seen that throughout the world teen pregnancy has increased steadily. In United States the pregnancy rate among teenagers was the highest in 2006 after undergoing a sharp decline in 2005 (1 USPT Trends). It was analyzed in United States that from 1995 till 2002 the rates of pregnancy had decreased and it is believed that the most significant factor for this decrease was the increased use of contraceptives. Previously it was believed that teen pregnancies are usually because of socio-economic factors, lack of sex related services and decreased contraception but nowadays this view is challenged by many as all these aspects have been overcome by the growing society (Kost et al 2010). It is a belief that the economic burden that is passed unto teenagers who become pregnant can put a significant strain on the possibility of a brighter future. Moreover, it could be argued that abortion can help alleviate a cycle of poverty in women who themselves are the result of teenage pregnancy. Therefore, abortions are the answer for a pregnant teenager in view of her health, future and career. Different Views on Abortion Smith (2001) carries out a study to explore the negative and adverse effects of teenage pregnancy in the form of premature delivery and stillbirth. The study is carried out in order to understand the adverse perinatal outcomes in teenage pregnancy cases. Teenagers are at a lower risk of unhealthy outcomes when given 1st birth. Moreover, the risk of caesarean is also loweramong teenage mothers in the first delivery. However, Smith (2001) reveals that second delivery of a teenage mother is highly risky in terms of caesarean and premature or still birth. There is an increase in the teenage pregnancies between the years 2005 and 2006 by 3% (Lewin 2010). The teenage abortion rate has also been increased by approximately 1 percent from 2005 to 2006. These increasing rates are related to the struggles made by government in order to curb this issue. The "abstinence-only programs" supported by Clinton's government are called into question. However, the pregnancy rates are significantly lower in 2005 at 69.5 as compared to 116.9 in 1990. The only issue that is gaining increasing attention from the opposition is the increased rate in 2007 of 71.5 in 2006. Lewin (2010) forms an opinion that Blacks, Hispanics and Whites are all showing increasing trends on teenage pregnancies in the recent years. Teen pregnancy is generally believed to be harmful by many for not only the pregnant woman but also for the baby. Teenage pregnancy can pose health risks to the baby because the teenager woman would not be capable enough to take care of the baby at such a tender age. Similarly the teenager woman would also not be able to support her child financially and thus this would disrupt safety and life plans for the baby. The only way out of these issues to teenagers is abortion. This interruption in pregnancy leads to increased risk of breast cancer among the teenagers (Melbye et al. 1997). The study suggests that the breast cells are proliferated quickly without following the normal procedure which protects the health of the woman. There are certain positive aspects of teenage pregnancy and motherhood which keep the trend going. Seamark (2004) provides a valuable study in this regard by interviewing teenage mothers to evaluate their experiences of having children at an early age. The responses were quite positive as the teenage mothers tend to be positive in their perceptions, goals and feel more motivated towards their aims by the responsibility of their children. They show a positive attitude towards the busy yet ambitious life to protect and help the children grow healthy and contented (Seamark 2004). The teenage pregnancies and abortion cases are not reported fully and accurately by the women, hence, it is difficult to measure the accurate or correct information on abortions and pregnancies. Fu et al. (1998) provides a quantitative study to estimate the level of reporting in order to find out if the actual reported cases form a true estimate of the pregnancy and abortion rates prevalent today. The study reveals that self-reporting works better than the computer assisted questionnaires and forms. The results carried out at the national level regarding pregnancies, births and abortions, hence, have limited chances of completeness and accuracy. Rossi (1996) provides a detailed analysis on pregnancy and related issues and finds out that most of the induced abortions are by women to stop an unwanted or unexpected child. The pregnancy may be caused by rape, incest relationship or unsafe sex. The abortions are presumably the last option for the pregnant women when other preventive measures fail. These abortions are to get rid of the unwanted child, maintaining quality of life and economic conditions (Rossi 1996). By keeping in view the financial concerns when deciding on having an abortion, the strong relationship between increased poverty rates and abortions is also worth mentioning here. Stein (2010) proposes that the poverty rates among women from 2000 to 2010 have been increased by approximately 25%. The research reports that the increase in abortion rates is as much as 60% between the years 2000 and 2010. Although the increase in abortion rates is higher than the increase in poverty specifically caused by recession, the poverty rates form a major factor behind the increasing abortion rates (Stein 2010). Bielski (2010) provide a supportive paper about sex education on perceptions and practices of teenagers when it comes to pregnancy and abortions. The study reveals that Canada's teenage pregnancy and abortion rates are declined by nearly 36.9%. This huge decline is basically a reflector of emphasis on sex education and awareness in teenagers about the related issues of teenage motherhood which include the financial and health impacts. Corocoran (1995) raises a debate on the intergenerational poverty trends which are prevalent. The study forms the conclusion on the basis of 4 different models. Teenage pregnancy and lack of sex education is claimed to be a major factor influencing the financial and economic conditions of such families (Corocoran 1995). Elders et al. (1998) further elaborates the situation by asserting that early childbearing experience negatively affects the academic performance, educational opportunities, employment performance and income levels of youngsters. There is a group of people who do not go for abortion but instead carry the child and move ahead with their life. This group is further divided into people who have good willpower and patience to face the financial crisis and fight against the problems that arise later in their lives. While the other group of people include those who end up making their own and the child's life devastating in terms of financial, social, academic and economic wellbeing. However, abortion is not the way out to this problem. Early preventions, birth control measures and safe sex are the answer to this issue. People today take abortion as a legal and ethical way of discarding their unwanted child (Kerzinke 2003). However, abortion has negative influences on the teenage mothers and it should be avoided as much as possible. Conclusion In conclusion, although it may be the case that abortion is a moralistically complicated issue it may serve as a valuable tool in the effort to break the cycle of poverty. The direct cost of raising a child is extremely high, and raising a child for young mothers may also mean that they would have to forgo educational opportunities that may bring a more successful future. The problem of teenage pregnancy has been such that programs have not been launched by the nursing departments to help the teenagers who are pregnant. The nursing departments are asking the government to enact laws which help these teenagers financially and emotionally both. Thus it is necessary that programs be highlighted in this review along with the recommendations of researchers who want a program to be effective. References Bielski, Z. (May 26th 2010) Canada’s teen Birth and Abortion Rate Drops by 36.9%.The Globe and Mail. [online] Available at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/canadas-teen-birth-and-abortion-rate-drops-by-369-per-cent/article1581673/ Accessed on March 26th 2011. Corocoran, M. (1995)Rags to Rags: Poverty and Mobility in the United States. Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 21, 1995 Elders, M. J; Hui, J Padilla, S(1990) Adolescent Pregnancy: Does the Nation Really Care. Berkeley Women’s Law Journal P 170. Fu, H.; Darroch, J.; Stanley, D.; Kolb. E; & Kolb, H. (1998) Measuring the Extent of Abortion Underreporting in the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. Family Planning Perspectives.Vol. 30, No.3. PP. 128-138. Kerzinke, K. (2003) 30 Years after Abortion Ruling, New Trends but the Old Debate.New York Times [online] Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/20/us/30-years-after-abortion-ruling-new-trends-but-the-old-debate.html Accessed on March 26th 2011. Lewin, T. (January, 27th 2010) After a Long Decline, Teenage Pregnancy Rate Rises. New York Times.Page 14 of the New York Edition. Melbye, M,;Wohlfahrt, J.; Olsen, J.; Frisch, M.; Westergaard, T.; Helwig-Larson, K.; Anderson, P. (January 9th 1997) Induced Abortion and the Risk of Breast Cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine.Vol. 336 No.2. Rossi, A. (1966) Abortion Laws and Their Victims: Will Growing Public Support for Some Abortions Eliminate Illegal Operations and Unwanted Births. Society. Volume 3, No. 76,7-12. Seamark, C.(2004) The positive experiences of motherhood: a qualitative study.www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov retrieved on March 27th 2011. Smith, G. & Pell, J. (June 4th 2001) Teenage pregnancy and risk of adverse perinatal outcomes associated with first and second births: population based retrospective cohort study. British Medical Journal.University of Cambridge, Rosie Hospital. Cambridge CB2 2SW Stein, R. (2010) Has the Recession Affected Abortion? The Washington Post. [online] Available at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/05/has_the_recession_affected_abo.html Accessed on March 26th. 2011. Read More