Teenage pregnancy is a major social and economic problem in most countries of the world. Menken (2018) asserts that around 16 million adolescents give birth each year, accounting for 11% of all births worldwide. Lack or defect in sex education, ignorance of sexual behavior, socio-economic problems, and other factors contribute to the onset of early sexual relations, which entails unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, teen pregnancy can lead to a deterioration in the physical and psychological health of a teenager, as well as negative socio-economic consequences.
Early pregnancy contributes to the deterioration of the physical health of adolescents. According to Menken (2018), pregnancy, abortion, and childbirth during adolescence are among the leading causes of maternal death worldwide. Most adolescent girls are not yet physically developed enough for safe pregnancy and childbirth. Menken (2018) notes that in early adolescence, anatomical or functional narrowing of the pelvis is observed in 50-66% of girls, as a result of which there is a high probability of disruption of normal labor. Moreover, during pregnancy, nutrient requirements increase, which, in turn, can lead to slower growth of the girl. Pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents often occur with such complications as early and late gestosis, miscarriage, impaired uterine contractility during childbirth, the birth of underweight children, fetal hypoxia during pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, the complicated course of childbirth occurs in most young women in labor, which leads to a deterioration in the physical health of adolescents.
Even if the birth ended without harm to the reproductive and somatic health of the young mother, the psychological consequences can be very unfavorable. According to Müller (2020), early pregnancy has a destructive effect on the formation of a system of value-semantic orientations of an individual, emotional-volitional sphere, parental and sexual behavior. The most vital problems of underage mothers also include difficulties in relationships with others, low self-esteem, and, as a result, self-doubt, the desire for the approval of actions by loved ones, and a strong dependence on their opinions. Adolescents are more likely than adults to develop postpartum depression. Müller (2020) affirms that more than 50% of pregnant minors and 45% of new mothers under the age of 18 suffer from anxiety and depression and require psychological and psychiatric help. Thus, early pregnancy can significantly undermine the psychological health of a teenager.
The social consequences of teenage pregnancy can be very serious. Dropping out of school and a lower educational level in the future not only hinder the development of a person but also limit opportunities for earning a lifetime. Moreover, according to Gorry (2019), teenage pregnancy can be the cause of unplanned marriage. Often people who marry as teenagers are characterized by a lower level of education, social status, and official position. Incomes in such families are low, and the families themselves often break up due to various reasons, including socio-economic ones. Thus, teenage pregnancy contributes to negative social consequences.
Therefore, nowadays, the problem of early pregnancy among adolescents is particularly relevant. The negative aspects of teenage pregnancy are harm to the physical and psychological health of adolescents, as well as negative social consequences for them. Due to the insufficient formation of the body, the girl is not ready to bear a child, which gives rise to several somatic disorders. From a psychological point of view, pregnancy also has a negative impact. In addition to the medical aspect of this problem, there is also a social aspect, taking into account the interruption of education, financial difficulties, and problems with marriage.
References
Gorry, D. (2019). Heterogeneous consequences of teenage childbearing. Demography, 56(6), 2147–2168. Web.
Menken, J. (2018). The health and social consequences of teenage childbearing. In F. Furstenberg, R. Lincoln & J. Menken (Eds.), Teenage sexuality, pregnancy, and childbearing (pp. 163-183). University of Pennsylvania Press. Web.
Müller M. (2020). The consequences of teenage pregnancy – a gendered poverty trap?. In M. Müller (Ed.), Decision-making process around teenage motherhood (pp. 225-252). Springer. Web.