Analysis of the Health Issue
Teen pregnancy is an issue that has economic principles and indicators at play. For instance, the costs associated with teen pregnancy are estimated to be an average of $21,000 per birth (Mohr et al., 2019). This figure includes prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care, as well as potential costs associated with health complications for the mother and child, such as premature delivery, low birth weight, and medical complications. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that rearing a child from birth to 18 costs an average of $233,610, including food, housing, and other basic needs (Mohr et al., 2019). The economic impact of teen pregnancy is further compounded by the fact that many teen mothers cannot finish their education and secure adequate employment due to the demands of motherhood. As a result, many teen mothers and their families cannot escape poverty, creating a cycle of economic hardship often passed down to future generations.
There are several economic impacts caused by high rates of teen pregnancies, both in terms of direct costs and lost economic potential. For example, the direct costs of prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care, as well as the indirect costs associated with lost wages, lower educational attainment, and reduced job opportunities (Mohr et al., 2019). The economic costs of teen pregnancy can be seen in the form of increased public assistance, such as food stamps and Medicaid, and increased rates of poverty, crime, and incarceration. Teen pregnancy is a complex issue, often the product of larger socioeconomic factors. For example, poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, and inadequate sex education can contribute to higher teen pregnancy rates. Additionally, gender inequality, cultural norms, and lack of access to contraception can contribute to higher teen pregnancy rates.
Evaluation of Policy
The economic and legal landscape related to teen pregnancy has positively and negatively impacted the American healthcare system. On the positive side, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has expanded access to health care for some teens and provided contraception subsidies. In addition, the ACA has eliminated the gender gap in coverage, meaning insurers are no longer allowed to charge women higher premiums than men. On the negative side, many states have implemented restrictive policies that make it more difficult for teens to access reproductive health care (Charlton et al., 2020). These include laws such as parental consent or notification requirements, waiting periods, and funding restrictions for certain services. Furthermore, the Trump administration has implemented policies that make it more difficult for teens to access sexual health care services.
My proposed policy is to reduce the economic and legal barriers to accessing reproductive health services for teens. Specific operational strategies for implementing this policy include providing more comprehensive sex education, increasing access to affordable birth control, and expanding access to safe abortion services (Niemeyer Hultstrand et al., 2019). To improve access to affordable contraception, the government could provide subsidies for certain contraception methods, provide free contraception at school-based health centers, and make contraception available over the counter (Charlton et al., 2020). Moreover, the government could remove restrictions on abortion services and fund abortion services in states that are not currently available in an attempt to expand access to safe abortion services.
The major healthcare organizations have a crucial role in implementing this policy. The American Medical Association (AMA) could guide healthcare providers on the best practices for providing reproductive health care to teens. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) could develop educational resources for schools and families to help foster conversations about healthy relationships and sexual health (Kantor et al., 2019). In addition, healthcare systems and insurance providers could prioritize providing reproductive health services to teens. Lastly, advocacy organizations such as Planned Parenthood could continue to provide education, contraception, and abortion services to teens and raise awareness about the importance of access to reproductive health care.
The proposed policy supports the claim that access to contraception and abortion can improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. For example, research has shown that access to contraception can reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies and improve maternal and infant health outcomes (Kantor et al., 2019). Additionally, research has shown that access to abortion can reduce the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity, decrease the rate of unintended pregnancies, and reduce healthcare costs.
In terms of healthcare quality and accessibility, the proposed policy would improve access to reproductive health services for teens, which can lead to improved health outcomes. The policy would also increase access to contraception and abortion, which can reduce unintended pregnancies and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Furthermore, the policy would lower healthcare costs by decreasing the rate of unintended pregnancies and improving maternal and infant health outcomes (Kantor et al., 2019). Concerning socioeconomic factors, the policy would address the disparities in access to reproductive health services in many communities, particularly those that are low-income and have high teen pregnancy rates (Niemeyer Hultstrand et al., 2019). Furthermore, the policy would address the systemic inequalities that contribute to higher teen pregnancy rates in these communities, such as lack of access to education and healthcare, poverty, and racism (Kantor et al., 2019). By addressing these issues, the policy would reduce the economic and legal barriers to accessing reproductive health services for the young people.
Implementation
Potential socioeconomic barriers to policy change include stigma, lack of access to education, and a lack of economic resources. Stigma can lead to teens not seeking information or services for fear of judgment or humiliation. A lack of access to education can limit teens’ understanding of reproductive health and prevent them from making informed decisions (Kantor et al., 2019). Finally, poor reach to economic resources can mean that teens cannot access contraception or abortion services even if they are willing and able to do so.
Policy change socioeconomic support techniques include increasing access to comprehensive sex education, expanding access to contraception, and expanding access to safe abortion services. Comprehensive sex education should be provided in schools to help teens understand their reproductive health and make informed decisions. Access to contraception should be increased by offering subsidies for certain contraception methods, providing free contraception at school-based health centers, and making contraception available over the counter (Charlton et al., 2020). Safe abortion services should be expanded by removing restrictions on abortion services and funding abortion services in states that are not currently available.
Healthcare organizations would benefit from this policy change by providing teens with access to contraception and safe abortion services, thus reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and improving overall health outcomes (Kantor et al., 2019). To mobilize healthcare organizations to support the policy change, it is important to emphasize the potential health benefits of increased access to reproductive health services and to build relationships between the organizations and relevant stakeholders (Charlton et al., 2020). Additionally, healthcare organizations should be engaged in policy development to ensure their concerns are considered.
Now is the time to take action and ensure teens have access to the reproductive health services they need. Everyone must recognize that teen pregnancy is a public health issue and take steps to reduce the economic and legal barriers to accessing reproductive health services for teens. People should provide comprehensive sex education and increase access to affordable contraception and safe abortion services. Only through collaboration between healthcare organizations, the government, and other stakeholders can we ensure teens have the resources they need to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
References
Charlton, B. M., Reynolds, C. A., Tabaac, A. R., Godwin, E. G., Porsch, L. M., Agénor, M., Grimstad, F. W., & Katz-Wise, S. L. (2020). Unintended and teen pregnancy experiences of trans masculine people living in the United States. International Journal of Transgender Health, 22(1-2), 65–76. Web.
Kantor, L., Levitz, N., & Holstrom, A. (2019). Support for sex education and teenage pregnancy prevention programs in the USA: Results from a national survey of likely voters. Sex Education, 20(3), 239–251. Web.
Mohr, R., Carbajal, J., & Sharma, B. B. (2019). The influence of educational attainment on teenage pregnancy in low-income countries: A systematic literature review. Journal of Social Work in the Global Community, 4(1). Web.
Niemeyer Hultstrand, J., Tydén, T., Jonsson, M., & Målqvist, M. (2019). Contraception use and unplanned pregnancies in a peri-urban area of Eswatini (Swaziland). Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 20, 1–6. Web.