TEEN PREGNANCY

Teenage Pregnancy

Abstract

Social and cultural factors influence biomedical determinants of health. Teenage pregnancy is one of such socially inflicted health hazard. The term paper exemplifies obstetric characteristics, statistics, outcomes and program interventions for teenage pregnancy. It has negative implications for teenage mothers, teenage fathers, children, and the society in general. Various factors include individual factors, family influences, educational level, the socio-economic status of the community, and ethnicity. The United States has recently witnessed a decline in teenage pregnancies, births, and abortion rates. Despite of this decline, the rate of teenage pregnancies is highest in the United States. The term paper is divided into three sections. The first section discusses epidemiology, etiology and statistical prevalence of the stated problem. The next section highlights the evidence based knowledge on protective and risk factors for this global concern. It briefly converses related demographic, psychographic, immigration and economic factors. Poverty and income are comprehensively discussed for its adverse affects. The theoretical framework assists to critique on program evaluation for successful solutions of this concern.

Abstractii

Introduction1

Discussion2

Section I: Current Problematic Situation2

Statistical Findings: Etiology and Epidemiology2

Principles of Findings2

Historical Perspectives3

Critical Analysis4

Family Structure4

Section II: Risk and Protective Factors5

Individual Factors6

Family Influences6

Neighborhood7

Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status7

Poverty and Teenage Pregnancy7

Family Income8

Section III: Program Evaluation9

The Need for Prevention Programs9

PROGRAM I: AIM 4 TEEN MOMS11

Description:11

Program Features and Evaluation Setting11

Findings:12

PROGRAM II: GENDER MATTERS12

Program Description:12

Program Features and Evaluation Setting:12

Findings:13

Program Features and Evaluation13

Findings:14

Conclusion14

References16

Appendices20

Teenage Pregnancy

Introduction

Teenage pregnancy is also considered as adolescent pregnancy. The term paper infers to discuss the association between teen pregnancy and school dropouts. The communities in the United States is confronting reproductive health crisis. One in every three female teens is becoming pregnant earlier than the age of 20. On the other side, there are a few societies in the world where teenage pregnancy is considered a norm (Cherlin, 2002). Teenage pregnancy, in developed countries particularly, is considered a social burden of participation. Various statistical and qualitative researches have been conducted for this study. Adolescents aged 15-19 in The United States has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy (Finer, 2010).

From 1991 to 2005, there was a slight decline in teenage pregnancy in the United States. However, a recent increase has reversed the pattern of decline. Currently, every one girl out of seven girls in the United States becomes pregnant between the ages of fifteen and nineteen. A majority of these pregnancies is unintended (Heller, 2008). The social, educational and financial cost of teen pregnant has increased this statistics.

Teenage pregnancy involves diverse physical challenges. In order to raise a child, financial commitment is also required. All these challenges and requirements interfere with the social and economic development of teenage mothers (Klepinger et al, 1999). The objective of this term paper is to stimulate a program evaluation for this socially schemed concept. The paper also talks about the various determinants and early perception of pregnancy and child bearing in America. The paper ends with the dynamic framework for program design to mitigate risk in the best practice for families, children and ...