Teen Pregnancy Statistics, Facts, Prevention and Information
Teen Pregnancy Statistics, Facts, Prevention and Information
It is therefore important to recognize that pregnancy does not occur in just one group of teens from a certain ethnic background or socioeconomic status (SES), but as the number of risk factors increases and the protective factors decrease, the chances of an adolescent becoming pregnant increases. (Kirby, 2002) Teen pregnancy is a public health concern that poses risks to both the mother and the child. These risks include being forced to go on welfare, leaving school, missing out on employment opportunities, divorce, and health risks. (Holden, Nelson, Valasquez, & Ritchie, 1993)
In Kirby’s review of the literature on teen pregnancy, more than 100 antecedents were identified between the research studies. These describe the psychosocial and the biological aspects of the adolescent as well as their relationship with people and institutions in their environment, such as peers and school.
Few of these antecedents are highly related to behavior that results in pregnancy, partly because there are so many of them. Most are moderately or weakly related to behavior and some are likely to be causally related. The numerous antecedents and resulting theories highlight that teen pregnancy is a complex subject that cannot be exclusively viewed from one theoretical perspective. (Kirby, 2002) This paper will look at models of teen pregnancy, as well as environmental and individual antecedents, which sometimes may overlap.
