Effects of teenage pregnancy

Evaluative Research Essay
I. Introduction
A. Current Problem:
Teenage pregnancy affects the society in many ways. The effects of teenage pregnancy especially for the young mother in poor countries such as Jamaica include lower educational levels, higher rates of poverty, and malnourished children.
B. Population/Area of Focus: 15-24 year olds

C. Key Terms: teenage pregnancy, sex education, sexual health services
Thesis Statement: Does sex education compulsory or otherwise and better sexual health services reduce teenage pregnancy rates?
II. Background
A. Teenage pregnancy Overview: In our country Jamaica, teenage pregnancy seems to be prevalent factor of the society because it affects many young women every year. The figures for teenage pregnancy in Jamaica are startling. Data from the Registrar’s General Department show that in 2008: mothers below the age of 15 gave birth for the first time to 225 children, and an additional three were recorded as a second birth for mothers under 15 years old. Of the 42,161 babies born in Jamaica, 6,138 were the firstborn for teenagers aged 15-19 years. For the same age group, 1178 were recorded as second births, 121 as third births, 10 as fourth birth and one each for fifth and sixth birth . In other words, adolescents aged 15 to 24 years old account for the 44.75 per cent of all births in Jamaica for 2008 (Watson, 2011).

B . Link between teenage pregnancy, educational levels and opportunities, higher rates of Poverty, and malnourished children: Increasingly, young mothers are isolated, have little or no educational opportunities and are trapped in long-term poverty. In addition to this, pregnancy-related deaths are the leading cause of mortality for girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide. Although poor health care is a factor, physical immaturity increases the risks. Girls under twenty have twice the maternal mortality risk of older women; girls under fifteen have five times the risk. Infant mortality is also higher among young mothers. Each year, 1 million children born to teen mothers will die before their first birthday (UNICEF).

C. Gaps in the Research: Little information exists exploring implications of offering compulsory pregnancy prevention programs in schools and its impact on minimizing either the level of sexual involvement of teenagers or preventing teenage pregnancies. Teenage pregnancies impact the social fabric of a nation.
III. Major Point 1: Teenage pregnancy affects educational levels and opportunities
A. Minor Point 1: Early childbearing often ends a young woman’s education, limiting her future job prospects, and thus her own and her child’s economic well-being (National Family Planning Board, 2014).
B. Minor Point 2: Children of teen mothers do worse in school than those born to older parents (National Family Planning Board, 2014).
IV. Major Point 2: Teenage or young mothers are often trapped in long term poverty
A. Minor Point 1: Employment in a low-skilled position is highly correlated with young mothers who drop out of school (Furstenberg, 2008).
B. Minor Point 2: Living in economically-depressed neighborhoods is highly correlated with teenage pregnancy (Furstenberg, 2008).
V. Major Point 3: Physical immaturity, infant mortality and mental health correlate directly with one another.
A. Minor Point 1: Physical immaturity increases the risks of historical teenage pregnancy overview both maternal and infant mortality.

B. Minor Point 2: Poverty is a major predictor of teenage depression (Denny, Clark, Fleming, & Wall, 2004).
VI. Major Point 4: People with little educational opportunities or low educational levels have more financial problems and experience higher rates of poverty over the long term.(Watson, 2011)
A. Minor Point 1: Many high-school dropouts face financial problems. (Watson, 2011)
B. Minor Point 2: Financial problems are often correlated with low educational levels (Watson, 2011).
VII. Conclusion
A. Restatement of Thesis:
Evidence suggests that sex education and better sexual health services do not reduce teenage pregnancy rates.

B. Next Steps
The implications of this are clear. Oftentimes, the teenage mother is excluded from school and thus professional opportunities to provide for themselves and the babies. Since the mothers are not in a position to care for themselves and their children, the burden of care rests with civil society and the government. It also speaks to the present gaps in parenting, child rearing, sexual and reproductive health education and the financial burden the country faces. Policy makers, academics and the media should help to bring awareness to the choices available the various risks/drawbacks associated in teenage pregnancy.

References

Agarwal, A. Teenage Pregnancy In Jamaica – The Reasons Behind This Problem retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Teenage-Pregnancy-In-Jamaica—The-Reasons-Behind-This-Problem&id=930799.
Furstenberg, F. (2008) Teen pregnancy and poverty: 30-year-study confirms that living in economically-depressed neighborhoods, not teen motherhood, perpetuates poverty. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved from <http://www.contemporaryfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2008_Briefing_Furstenberg_Teen-pregnancy-and-poverty.pdf>
Harden, A. (2009).Teenage pregnancy and social disadvantage: systematic review integrating controlled trials and qualitative studies. Retrieved from http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b4254
Little-White, H. (2010, September 12). Compulsory sex education in schools? The Gleaner. Retrieved from http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100912/out/out7.html.
National Family Planning Board. (2014) Ministry of Education. Adolescent Reproductive Health Issues retrieved from http://www.jnfpb.org/adolescentbackgroung.htm
“Teenage birth rate by country”, UNICEF. Retrieved from http://www.NationMaster.com/graph/peo_tee_bir_rat-people-teenage-birth-rate
Watson, P. (2011, November 23). Teenage pregnancy – A public-health issue in Jamaica. The Gleaner. Retrieved from http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111123/news/news4.html.
Why it matters: The National Campaign to prevent teen pregnancy. Retrieved from http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/why-it-matters/pdf/education.pdf
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