Title: "I couldn't believe when it happened to me:" the challenge of unintended teenage pregnancy.

POPLINE Document Number: 129307

Author(s):

Polansky L

Source citation:

ZPG REPORTER, 1997 Jan-Feb;29(1):1, 8-9.

Abstract:

While teen pregnancy and out-of-wedlock births have been a part of American society for centuries, unintended pregnancies and births, especially among adolescent girls, have recently gained a great degree of public attention. The proportion of teens having sex by age 18 has increased steadily since the 1930s to reach 61% of males and 58% of females among people born 1963-74. However, only 75% of sexually active teens use contraception, leading almost 10% of all girls aged 15-19 years to become pregnant each year. The current teen birth rate is lower than it was 35 years ago and has fallen slightly over the past 2 years, but it has nonetheless risen markedly since 1980. Teenage pregnancy and motherhood is a national problem, transcending boundaries of socioeconomic class, race, and ethnicity. Evidence suggests that teen motherhood often has negative consequences for both mother and child. Measures must be taken to change young girls' self-perception so that they can delay sexual relations until they are prepared to take responsibility in preventing pregnancy. Support must be given to those young women who do get pregnant.

Keywords:

United States
Adolescent Pregnancy
Adolescents
Needs
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Reproductive Behavior
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Economic Factors