Sexual health is defined as "a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality...requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2013b, para 1). According to the Mayo Clinic, by achieving sexual health it allows for health relationships, planned pregnancies, and avoidance of disease (2012).
According to the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI), U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), teenage pregnancy is defined as pregnancy in girls' age 19 years or younger (2011). Almost half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended (CDC, 2013d). Teens are at highest risk of unplanned pregnancies, with almost 300,000 births among teenagers aged 15-19 years (CDC, 2013c). Almost one in every five teen births is a repeat birth—two or more pregnancies before age 20 (CDC, 2013a). Although teen pregnancy rates have dropped over the last 20 years, over 365,000 teenagers between ages 15 and 19 gave birth in 2010, and of these births "66,800 were repeat teen births—57,200 were second births, 8,400 were third births, and 1,200 were fourth or higher births" (CDC, 2013a, para 1).
There are multiple complications associated with teenage pregnancy. Higher rates of illness and death for both mother and child are associated with teenage pregnancy (NCBI, NLM, 2011). The younger a teenage mother is below the age of 20, the higher the risk of her child dying during their first year of life (NCBI, NLM, 2011). Teenage mothers are more likely to have unhealthy lifestyle habits, and because of this it places their child at higher risk for low birth weight, developmental problems, inadequate growth, infection, or chemical dependence (NCBI, NLM, 2011). The second leading cause of death during pregnancy for teenagers is violence, and is higher in teens than any other group (NCBI, NLM, 2011). It is unfortunate that "girls born to teen mothers are more likely to become teenage mothers themselves, and boys born to teen mothers have a higher than average rate of being arrested and jailed" (NCBI, NLM, 2011, para 15).
Teenage pregnancy can carry high health, emotional, social, and financial costs for the teenager and their child (CDC, 2013a). Despite the declines in teenage pregnancy, considerable disparities continue in teen birth rates, and teen pregnancy and childbearing persist to bear substantial social and economic costs (CDC, 2012a). In 2008, $11 billion per year in costs to taxpayers was accounted for teenage pregnancy and childbirth for "increased health care and foster care, increased incarceration rates among children of teen parents, and lost tax revenue because of lower educational attainment and income among teen mothers" (CDC, 2012a, para 5).
Teenage mothers are about 2 years behind their age group in completing their education (NCBI, NLM, 2011). According to the CDC, teenage pregnancy is a significant factor that contributes to high school dropout rates among girls; "only about 50% of teenage mothers received a high school diploma by 22 years of age versus approximately 90% of women who had not given birth during adolescence" (2012a, para 4). Children of teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of high school and have lower school achievement, have more health problems, be incarcerated during teenage years, face unemployment as a young adult, and give birth as a teenager (CDC, 2012a).
Although teenage pregnancy has declined over the years, Texas is ranked 4th in the United States in teen birth rate per 1,000 (Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF], 2013). In 2010, 52.2 out of every 1,000 teenage girls between the age of 15 and 19 become pregnant (KFF, 2013). If we can continue to reduce teenage pregnancy, the rates of abortion will also decrease. Pregnancy planning and increased contraception use can reduce the number of abortions and the rates of teenage pregnancy. In 2011, 51.6% of Texas high school students were sexually active, and 46.2% of those sexually active high school students did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse (CDC, 2011a).
The two best strategies to avoid pregnancy are to delay sex or use contraception. There are several different kinds of teenage pregnancy prevention programs available, and it will take individuals and organizations from all levels to play a role in reducing teenage pregnancy. As health educators, it is extremely important to educate young men and women about all aspects of sexual health to reduce unintended pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, and abortions, while having a better understanding of sexual health by increasing contraception use, family planning, and promoting health.
Resources about Teenage Pregnancy:
www.stayteen.org/teen-pregnancy
http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/about-us/default.aspx
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