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Teenage Pregnancy

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Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy is a universal problem that accompanies the beginning of sexual activity at increasingly younger ages. Surprisingly, only one in 5 youth do not have intercourse before the age of 20, and in the United States alone, annually, almost one million teenagers between the ages of 15 – 19 becomes pregnant (Rector, 2007). Sexual activity among adolescents is a major problem confronting the nation and the world. Consequently, this has led to a rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), emotional and psychological conflicts, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. As a result, sex education should be taught at an early age as a preventative measure. Teaching abstinence and sex education at an early age is not only very popular; it also makes sense. Social science data shows that teens who abstain from sex do substantially better on a wide range of outcomes (Rector and Johnson, 2005). For example, teens who abstain from sex are less likely to be depressed and to attempt suicide; to experience sexually transmitted diseases; to have children out-of-wedlock; and to live in poverty as well as become welfare dependents as adults. The earlier children become sexually active the more detrimental it is to the health of the mother and child. Teenage pregnancy is a problem that affects nearly every society -developed and developing alike. In essence, it is a common public health problem worldwide. Finally, those who delay sexual activity are more likely to have stable and enduring marriages as adults. Therefore, there are vitally important efforts aimed at reducing out-of-wedlock childbearing among young adult women, improving children 's well-being, and increasing adult happiness over the long term.
The aims for programs addressing these issues regarding teen pregnancy should be threefold. First, direct the initiative toward delaying the onset of sexual activities and early marriages. Second, direct the plan toward preventing pregnancy for sexually active



References: Bruggink, H. (2007). Miseducation: The Lowdown on Abstinence – Only Sex-Ed Programs. Humanist 67(1). Retrieved on January 13, 2007 from Academic Search Premier Database. Cherry, A.L., Dillon, M.E. and Rugh, D. (2001) Teenage Pregnancy. Connecticut: Greenwood Press Christensen, S. and Rosen, A. (1996). Memorial Health System. Retrieved on February 17, 2006 from http://commuity.michiana.org/fumsonn/teenpreg.html Dangal, G. (2006). An update on Teenage Pregnancy. Internet Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics 5(1). Retrieved on January 13, 2007 from EBSCOhost Database. Dean, A. L. (1997) Teenage Pregnancy. New Jersey: The Analytic Press. Mauldon, J. and Luker, K. (1997). Sex Education Can Prevent Teenage Pregnancy. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Retrieved January 13, 2007 form the Thomson Gale Power Search Database. Moore, K and Sugland, B. (2003). Teenage Pregnancy Is a Serious Problem. Retrieved on January 13, 2007 from Thomson Gale Power Search Database. Rector, R. and Johnson, Ph.D., K.A. (2005). Teenage Sexual Abstinence and Academic Achievement. Retrieved on February 17, 2007 from http://www.heritage.org/Research/Absinence/whitepaper10272005-1.cfm Rector, R. E. (2002). The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among Youth. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved on February 26, 2007 from http://www.heritage.org/research/abstinence/BG1533.cfm

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