SENIOR RESEARCH PAPER
TEEN PREGNANCY
ANTHONY MCCARTNEY
THESIS PAPER
Rick Woolcott
Teen pregnancy is a huge problem that is happening within the United States and throughout the world. When a teenage girl becomes pregnant there are only three options available, the parents are forced with the decision of either parenting the baby, putting the baby up for adoption, or abortion.
In 2006 there were approximately 750,000 women under the age of 20 that became pregnant. In 2014 black and hispanic girl got pregnant twice as much as white teens. Teen girls with poor backgrounds and not as much education are more susceptible to pregnancy. Teens on welfare or are living in foster care are twice as likely to become pregnant than teens who are not. Only half of teen moms graduate from high school while 90% of non pregnant teens graduate.
The prevention of teen pregnancy is one of the CDC’s top priorities. They're committed to finding evidence based solutions which include: sex education programs, youth development programs, abstinence programs, and clinic based programs. Its also important for teens to have access to contraceptive and reproductive health services.
Adoption is the least chosen alternative for a pregnant teen. Only 2 percent of pregnant women place their child up for adoption. In the 21st century being pregnant isn't looked upon as poorly as it was in the past, leading to more women wanting to keep their babies. If a teen mom wants to consider adoption, she can choose a closed adoption or an open adoption. Adoption is much more complicated than a person might think. A teen mom needs to understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with adoption.
The major advantage of adoption is an improved quality of life; for the birth parents, the adoptive family, and the child. Many birth parents don't believe that they’re capable of providing for the baby at that point in their lives. By choosing adoption they believe that the child is more likely to grow up in a home that has more to offer like a better education, more money, just a better chance to become what they want to be. Teens that choose adoption are more likely to graduate high school, go to college, and not live in poverty. Studies have shown that teen mothers who choose adoption are as satisfied with their decision as those who choose to parent their child. And for adoptive parents adoption can be an answer to their prayers, especially if they're unable to have children of their own.
Open adoption is where teen parents choose the family that the their child is going to, and that family has to stay in contact with the parents, letting them know how the child is growing up. It’s possible that both of them could come to an agreement on the role the birth parents would have in the life of the child.
Closed adoption is where the birth parents just give the child to an adoption agency and that agency chooses who the child goes to. The birth parents will have no contact with the child at all unless the child wants to know who their biological parents are when they turns 18.
Both open and closed adoptions are full of potential problems. Open adoption is all about the relationship between the birth mom and the child. Like all relationships they can be good or bad but the can never be easy. Both parties have to trust each other, not be judgemental, communicate consistently, respect each other, and always believe the best about each other. It takes an amazing amount of maturity from both families to make an open adoption work. If problems arise, the victim will be the child. The child might end up feeling rejected by their birth mom, manipulate and play the two families against each other, or may struggle with their identity.
Birth moms can really struggle with a closed adoption. They have to deal with the grief and guilt of giving up their child as well as the feeling that they also abandoned their child. A closed adoption can also torture the birth mother by not knowing where their child is or how the child is doing. Conversely, the adoptive parents can live in fear that the birth mother will fight to have the child returned. Identity issues can also be significant for the adopted child; never knowing anything about their birth family, family tree, what makes them, them, and the reasons why they were adopted.
Abortion is the complete termination of a pregnancy by removing the fetus from the pregnant mom. There are many reasons as to why a teen mom would want to choose abortion; rape, incest, fear of their parents reactions, and many others. Spontaneous abortion is when the pregnancy is terminated by natural causes, such as maternal disease, problems with the pregnancy or the fetus. Induced abortion is a voluntary action, most often from the birth mom not wanting the baby but also due to rape and incest.
Abortion is legal in the United States. In 2010, 34 states had laws requiring girls under 18 to inform their parents before having an abortion. In 2006 the CDC reported 27% of pregnancies in girls 15 to 19 ended in abortion.
Abortion is a legitimate option. It gives the woman a choice as to whether she wants to have the baby or not. Abortion is a very safe medical procedure. It's 10 times more possible to die in childbirth than it is to die having an abortion. One third of all abortions are performed on teenagers and women over the age of 35, those groups being at highest risks for either medical or social impacts. Abortion is an option for women suffering with severe illness or disease, diseases than might be passed onto their children. Abortion also allows women to consider higher education, careers, and the privilege of planning their families and their futures.
There are risks associated with abortion. With one abortion, you're twice as likely to get cervical, liver, or ovarian cancer than a woman who has not had an abortion. With additional abortions, there is a 5 times higher risk. There are a number of complications that can occur from an abortion including uterine damage, and cervical lacerations. These complications can lead to serious medical problems with later pregnancies, such as: placenta previa, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and endometriosis. Studies have found that with multiple abortions these complications and risks increase dramatically. This is important because 45% of all abortions are repeated abortions. Its also significant to know that teenagers, who are 30% of all abortions, are at an even higher risk of these complications. One risk, not often talked about are the psychological and emotional problems associated with the termination of a pregnancy. Teen moms who decide on abortion can struggle with grief, guilt, and depression. Research on doctor visits for psychosocial reasons increased a 180% from the year prior to the abortion.
Over half of teen pregnancies lead to the young woman deciding teen parenting is the best option for her. Teen mothers are not as likely to complete high school or even get to college than women that waited to have kids until they were at least twenty. 25% of all teen moms have another child within two years after their first child's birth. Sons of teen moms are 3 times more likely to go to prison than those who are born of women over the age of twenty. Almost 80% of teen moms are unmarried, have dropped out of high school, and can’t find a good enough paying job to support their family. Being a parent is maybe the hardest job in the world, its a tremendous responsibility because you not only have to take care of yourself but also a tiny, innocent, vulnerable human being. A teen mom must create a plan her family's future and have a large support system surrounding her.
It's not all bad news being a teen parent. Small children have a lot of energy and most teenagers have more than enough energy to keep up with their children, unlike most older parents. Having a baby could be the best thing that will ever happen to a teen mom. She could be heading down a horrible path but having a baby might turn her life around. Teen moms might try to stay away from drugs and partying, get a job, or even go to college. Teen moms must mature more quickly than other teenage girls and take on the responsibilities of motherhood, planning and organizing their lives and future. Having kids at such a young age means that they can have grandchildren and great grandchildren before the age of 60.
The statistics on teen pregnancy makes the future look very positive. Teen pregnancy rates have dropped to an all time low in the United States. Over 41% of teen birth rates have dropped from 2006 to 2014. Hispanics have shown the greatest drop at 51%, the African Americans dropped 44%, and whites dropped 35%.
As a senior in high school and having dated a teen mom, I can see the benefits to each and every one of these choices. Being a teenage girl and becoming pregnant would be extremely hard and if my daughter got pregnant at the age of 15 or 17 or any age I would probably push her towards open adoption. I would be there to take care of her every step of the way. I would respect any choice she made. If she chose to have an abortion and it was early enough in the pregnancy then I would respect her choice and help her through it. The girlfriend I mentioned who kept her baby, is doing amazing! She works as a retail manager, will graduate this spring and attend college in the fall.
References
· www.livestrong.org/artice/125702-options-pregnant-teens/
· www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm
· www.livestrong.org/article/204487-the-pros-cons-of-putting-a-baby-up-for-adoption
· www.prcswok.org/benefits_adoption.htm
· Americanpregnancy.org/adoption/open-advantages/
· Americanpregnancy.org/adoption/closed-adoption-disadvantages/
· www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/articles/civilize.html#us
· Afterabortion.org/1999/abortion-risks-a-list-of-major-physical-complications-related-to-abortion/
· www.pamf.org/teen/sex/pregnancy/parenthood.html
· www.livestrong.org/article/562347-pros-and-cons-of-teenage-parenting/
· Abcnews.go.org/us/teen-pregnancy-hit-historic-lows-cdc-finds/story?id=38739305
ANTHONY MCCARTNEY
THESIS PAPER
Rick Woolcott
Teen pregnancy is a huge problem that is happening within the United States and throughout the world. When a teenage girl becomes pregnant there are only three options available, the parents are forced with the decision of either parenting the baby, putting the baby up for adoption, or abortion.
In 2006 there were approximately 750,000 women under the age of 20 that became pregnant. In 2014 black and hispanic girl got pregnant twice as much as white teens. Teen girls with poor backgrounds and not as much education are more susceptible to pregnancy. Teens on welfare or are living in foster care are twice as likely to become pregnant than teens who are not. Only half of teen moms graduate from high school while 90% of non pregnant teens graduate.
The prevention of teen pregnancy is one of the CDC’s top priorities. They're committed to finding evidence based solutions which include: sex education programs, youth development programs, abstinence programs, and clinic based programs. Its also important for teens to have access to contraceptive and reproductive health services.
Adoption is the least chosen alternative for a pregnant teen. Only 2 percent of pregnant women place their child up for adoption. In the 21st century being pregnant isn't looked upon as poorly as it was in the past, leading to more women wanting to keep their babies. If a teen mom wants to consider adoption, she can choose a closed adoption or an open adoption. Adoption is much more complicated than a person might think. A teen mom needs to understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with adoption.
The major advantage of adoption is an improved quality of life; for the birth parents, the adoptive family, and the child. Many birth parents don't believe that they’re capable of providing for the baby at that point in their lives. By choosing adoption they believe that the child is more likely to grow up in a home that has more to offer like a better education, more money, just a better chance to become what they want to be. Teens that choose adoption are more likely to graduate high school, go to college, and not live in poverty. Studies have shown that teen mothers who choose adoption are as satisfied with their decision as those who choose to parent their child. And for adoptive parents adoption can be an answer to their prayers, especially if they're unable to have children of their own.
Open adoption is where teen parents choose the family that the their child is going to, and that family has to stay in contact with the parents, letting them know how the child is growing up. It’s possible that both of them could come to an agreement on the role the birth parents would have in the life of the child.
Closed adoption is where the birth parents just give the child to an adoption agency and that agency chooses who the child goes to. The birth parents will have no contact with the child at all unless the child wants to know who their biological parents are when they turns 18.
Both open and closed adoptions are full of potential problems. Open adoption is all about the relationship between the birth mom and the child. Like all relationships they can be good or bad but the can never be easy. Both parties have to trust each other, not be judgemental, communicate consistently, respect each other, and always believe the best about each other. It takes an amazing amount of maturity from both families to make an open adoption work. If problems arise, the victim will be the child. The child might end up feeling rejected by their birth mom, manipulate and play the two families against each other, or may struggle with their identity.
Birth moms can really struggle with a closed adoption. They have to deal with the grief and guilt of giving up their child as well as the feeling that they also abandoned their child. A closed adoption can also torture the birth mother by not knowing where their child is or how the child is doing. Conversely, the adoptive parents can live in fear that the birth mother will fight to have the child returned. Identity issues can also be significant for the adopted child; never knowing anything about their birth family, family tree, what makes them, them, and the reasons why they were adopted.
Abortion is the complete termination of a pregnancy by removing the fetus from the pregnant mom. There are many reasons as to why a teen mom would want to choose abortion; rape, incest, fear of their parents reactions, and many others. Spontaneous abortion is when the pregnancy is terminated by natural causes, such as maternal disease, problems with the pregnancy or the fetus. Induced abortion is a voluntary action, most often from the birth mom not wanting the baby but also due to rape and incest.
Abortion is legal in the United States. In 2010, 34 states had laws requiring girls under 18 to inform their parents before having an abortion. In 2006 the CDC reported 27% of pregnancies in girls 15 to 19 ended in abortion.
Abortion is a legitimate option. It gives the woman a choice as to whether she wants to have the baby or not. Abortion is a very safe medical procedure. It's 10 times more possible to die in childbirth than it is to die having an abortion. One third of all abortions are performed on teenagers and women over the age of 35, those groups being at highest risks for either medical or social impacts. Abortion is an option for women suffering with severe illness or disease, diseases than might be passed onto their children. Abortion also allows women to consider higher education, careers, and the privilege of planning their families and their futures.
There are risks associated with abortion. With one abortion, you're twice as likely to get cervical, liver, or ovarian cancer than a woman who has not had an abortion. With additional abortions, there is a 5 times higher risk. There are a number of complications that can occur from an abortion including uterine damage, and cervical lacerations. These complications can lead to serious medical problems with later pregnancies, such as: placenta previa, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and endometriosis. Studies have found that with multiple abortions these complications and risks increase dramatically. This is important because 45% of all abortions are repeated abortions. Its also significant to know that teenagers, who are 30% of all abortions, are at an even higher risk of these complications. One risk, not often talked about are the psychological and emotional problems associated with the termination of a pregnancy. Teen moms who decide on abortion can struggle with grief, guilt, and depression. Research on doctor visits for psychosocial reasons increased a 180% from the year prior to the abortion.
Over half of teen pregnancies lead to the young woman deciding teen parenting is the best option for her. Teen mothers are not as likely to complete high school or even get to college than women that waited to have kids until they were at least twenty. 25% of all teen moms have another child within two years after their first child's birth. Sons of teen moms are 3 times more likely to go to prison than those who are born of women over the age of twenty. Almost 80% of teen moms are unmarried, have dropped out of high school, and can’t find a good enough paying job to support their family. Being a parent is maybe the hardest job in the world, its a tremendous responsibility because you not only have to take care of yourself but also a tiny, innocent, vulnerable human being. A teen mom must create a plan her family's future and have a large support system surrounding her.
It's not all bad news being a teen parent. Small children have a lot of energy and most teenagers have more than enough energy to keep up with their children, unlike most older parents. Having a baby could be the best thing that will ever happen to a teen mom. She could be heading down a horrible path but having a baby might turn her life around. Teen moms might try to stay away from drugs and partying, get a job, or even go to college. Teen moms must mature more quickly than other teenage girls and take on the responsibilities of motherhood, planning and organizing their lives and future. Having kids at such a young age means that they can have grandchildren and great grandchildren before the age of 60.
The statistics on teen pregnancy makes the future look very positive. Teen pregnancy rates have dropped to an all time low in the United States. Over 41% of teen birth rates have dropped from 2006 to 2014. Hispanics have shown the greatest drop at 51%, the African Americans dropped 44%, and whites dropped 35%.
As a senior in high school and having dated a teen mom, I can see the benefits to each and every one of these choices. Being a teenage girl and becoming pregnant would be extremely hard and if my daughter got pregnant at the age of 15 or 17 or any age I would probably push her towards open adoption. I would be there to take care of her every step of the way. I would respect any choice she made. If she chose to have an abortion and it was early enough in the pregnancy then I would respect her choice and help her through it. The girlfriend I mentioned who kept her baby, is doing amazing! She works as a retail manager, will graduate this spring and attend college in the fall.
References
· www.livestrong.org/artice/125702-options-pregnant-teens/
· www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm
· www.livestrong.org/article/204487-the-pros-cons-of-putting-a-baby-up-for-adoption
· www.prcswok.org/benefits_adoption.htm
· Americanpregnancy.org/adoption/open-advantages/
· Americanpregnancy.org/adoption/closed-adoption-disadvantages/
· www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/articles/civilize.html#us
· Afterabortion.org/1999/abortion-risks-a-list-of-major-physical-complications-related-to-abortion/
· www.pamf.org/teen/sex/pregnancy/parenthood.html
· www.livestrong.org/article/562347-pros-and-cons-of-teenage-parenting/
· Abcnews.go.org/us/teen-pregnancy-hit-historic-lows-cdc-finds/story?id=38739305