Teenage Pregnancy
Alternate Names : Adolescent Pregnancy
What can be done to prevent the condition?
Programs that delay attempts at sexual intercourse are the
first line of defense. Parents can have open, honest, and educational talks
at home. Professionals can
help parents obtain educational materials. They can also give advice to
teenagers about how to prevent pregnancies.
Prevention may include easy access to birth control.
Emergency contraception may be discussed with all sexually
active teenagers.
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
The long-term effects of teenage pregnancy are far reaching. Single motherhood
is associated with the following:
additional unwanted pregnancies
child behavioral problems
continued poverty and welfare dependency
depression
exposure to domestic violence
limited job opportunities
low level of education
medical problems, such as
pelvic inflammatory disease
social isolation
substance abuse
It can be overwhelming when an infant is born prematurely. The needs of
the infant may be too difficult for the teen to deal with.
What are the risks to others?
Infants born to teenage mothers are at higher risk of the following:
accidental injury and poisoning
behavior problems
complications of
prematurity
developmental delays and
learning disabilities
exposure to domestic violence
lack of immunization or vaccinations
minor acute infections
poverty
premature birth
sudden infant death
syndrome, or SIDS
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