How Does Teenage Pregnancy Affect Socioeconomic Status

How Does Teenage Pregnancy Affect Socioeconomic Status?

Introduction

Teenage pregnancy is a problem that affects not just the children of adolescent parents, but also their families and communities. Accvording to Byham-Urquhart (2014), in 2010, there were about 409,840 births to teenage mothers in the US (Byham-Urquhart, 2014). That is about 11% of all births in the US. The adolescent birth rate has decreased since the early 1990s, but it is still higher than in other developed countries (Bearak, Popinchalk, Alkema, & Sedgh, 2018). Many negative repercussions result from teenage motherhood. This paper strives to examine the consequences of adolescent pregnancy on one's socioeconomic condition. I will be speaking about how adolescent pregnancy affects education and financial stability/career. My view is that young people who become parents early in life are more likely to be poor socially and economically.

Research Findings

Teenage girls who get pregnant do so for a variety of reasons. Some youngsters are unable to acquire information on sex and contraception. Others may not be able to use birth control because they cannot afford it or their parents refuse. Some females become pregnant as a result of rape, and others are coerced into having sex. According Bearak, Popinchalk, Alkema, & Sedgh (2018), NCPTUP reported that teenage pregnancy rates in the US have been declining since the early 1990s.

It is crucial to remember, however, that most teenagers who become pregnant didn't want to. The best method to prevent adolescent pregnancy, according on Bearak et al. (2018), is to give young people accurate information about sex and contraception and make sure they have access to inexpensive birth control. It is also critical to remember that most adolescent mothers do not intend to get pregnant. It's also worth noting that every adolescent mother is unique, and her story will be different. Some youngsters who conceive will have a healthy and successful pregnancy, while others may face difficulties. Another study published by Ahinkorah et al. (2019) suggests that parental supervision, communication about sex, and a positive relationship with parents can help to lower the risk of adolescent pregnancy. According to the study, girls who felt comfortable discussing sex with their parents had less chances  of becoming pregnant than the ones who did not. Furthermore, the research discovered that youngsters whose parents were engaged in their lives were less prone to pregnancy than those whose Parents didn't care about them.

Sociology Concepts

Sociological ideas and theories are sociologists' attempts to explain how societies work. In this paper, we'll look at the notion of adolescent pregnancy and how it affects a person's socioeconomic status. "Socioeconomic status" is a phrase that refers to a person's position in society based on their economic and social standing. Teenage pregnancy has been related to various negative outcomes, including inferior levels of schooling and employment opportunities. As a result, poverty and financial insecurity can develop. Teen pregnancy rates have been declining in recent years, but it is still an issue that affects many young people. According to the NCPTUP, about 750,000 adolescent girls in the US become pregnant every year (Bridges, 2019). This is a problem since teenage pregnancy is linked to a slew of negative consequences. They are also more vulnerable to economic hardship and poverty. Teenage parents are high likely to have relationship troubles and psychological health issues than other parents. There are several causes for why adolescent pregnancy might have such a detrimental influence on one's social status. Another possible cause is that teenage moms are less probably to complete high school or go to college (Bridges, 2019). This means they are more inclined to select lower-paying jobs with less opportunities for promotion. Furthermore, adolescent parents frequently rely on public assistance programs like food stamps and welfare to meet their financial needs. This may cement them in a cycle of poverty.

Another reason why adolescent pregnancy may have a detrimental effect on a person's socioeconomic status is that it might result in poor health outcomes for mom and child. During pregnancy and delivery, teen moms are more likely to encounter complications. They're also more prone to have premature or underweight babies. These health issues can lead to greater medical expenses and lost workdays. Children of teenage parents are also more prone to illness and developmental delays. The statistics reveal the consequences of teenage childbirth. For example, the dropout rate for teen mothers is nearly twice that of non-teenage moms (Doddihal, 2020). The statistics show that adolescent pregnancy is a problem with significant ramifications for both the mother and the kid.

Relevance Context

The teenage years are an important time for both developing financially and educationally. Unfortunately, getting pregnant may severely disrupt these plans during this period. According to NCPTP, “teen childbearing cost taxpayers at least $9.1 billion annually in 2010 – an increase of $1.6 billion since 2009, when the most recent federal estimates were released.” (Habimana, 2018). In fact, according to NCPTP, “among teen mothers who do finish high school, only about one-third go on to earn a two- or four-year college degree by age 30.” While there are several causes for a teenager's poor socioeconomic status, some of them have to do with adolescent pregnancy. One reason is that teenagers who give birth generally come from low-income families with less education (Wall-Wieler, Lee, Nickel, & Roos, 2019). It is difficult for young parents to achieve educational and professional success. They are also more prone to live in areas with high crime rates and poor education systems, making it tough to get ahead. Finally, teenage mothers frequently have difficulty finding and keeping a job, limiting their capability to support themselves as and their children.

Power Structures and Worldviews

There are a few different angles from which to evaluate the connection among adolescent pregnancy and economic status. One method is to consider how power structures may differ in each scenario. In many countries, women are not seen as equals to men and may be expected to follow certain gender norms. This can frequently imply that they are unable to complete their studies or pursue their chosen vocations. They may be more likely to enter lower-paying occupations and have less economic stability as a result. In addition, there are often different expectations for teenage mothers based on their social class. Teens from affluent families, for example, may be able to rely on their parents for financial assistance, while teens from low-income families may not have such a safety net available. (Poudel, Upadhaya, Khatri, & Ghimire, 2018). These circumstances may put teenagers who are pregnant and/or parenting at a disadvantage when it comes to finishing their schooling and securing permanent employment. The challenges faced by adolescent mothers from varied financial backgrounds might be quite different.

Assumptions

There are several assumptions linked with adolescent parenthood. Some people may believe that all teenage moms come from broken homes and have no support system. Others might believe that only children who are irresponsible use protection. Even so, there are some who believe that “teenage pregnancy” is more normal in low-income families. All of these assumptions have a degree of truth behind them. NCPTUP reported that approximately 60% of teen moms live in low-income homes (Nyariro, 2021). Girls who come from families with little parental regulation are likely to get involved in hazardous behavior, such as having unplanned sex. However, it's essential to remember that these are merely assumptions. Many adolescent females become pregnant in stable, loving households and take precautions when using birth control (Tabaac et al., 2022). While lower-income girls are prone to become young mothers, young mothers can come from any background. According to research, among young females who became pregnant, those from higher-income families were more likely to tell that they had not used birth control since they thought they could not get pregnant (Tabaac et al., 2022). This demonstrates that being a young parent is a genuine possibility, regardless of your financial situation.

Self-Awareness and Comparison with Others

I believe that teenage pregnancy has a significant influence on one's economic status. I've had my own experience with how tough it is to keep up with school, work, and a kid all at the same time. I also realize that many adolescent parents do not have adequate financial means to raise a child properly. Teens are still children, and they may not be prepared to accept the responsibility of raising another person. They might also have difficulties completing school or keeping a job since they must look after their youngster. Because they have to leave school or work fewer hours to care for their kid, teens who get pregnant may end up with a lower socioeconomic status than their peers (Ochen, Chi, & Lawoko, 2019). Some studies suggest that adolescent pregnancy affects future earnings and chances. According to some research, teenage motherhood has an impact on one's socioeconomic status. Researchers in the UK discovered that teen moms are prone to be poor more than their contemporaries who don’t have children.

Conclusion

According to the study, teenage pregnancy has a detrimental influence on one's socioeconomic status. Pregnancy among teenagers is associated with a decreased probability of completing school or obtaining a good job, which may limit their earning potential and prospects in the future. This is crucial to consider while designing teenage pregnancy prevention strategies. Programs that provide contraception or sex education can help to lower the number of teen pregnancies and improve socio-economic outcomes for those who become pregnant. The study findings imply that teenage pregnancy is not simply a personal problem, but it may have widespread implications for society. Public health officials and lawmakers should prioritize reducing the number of adolescent pregnancies. 

References

Ahinkorah, B. O., Hagan Jr, J. E., Seidu, A. A., Mintah, J. K., Sambah, F., Schack, T., & Hormenu, T. (2019). Examining pregnancy related socio-cultural factors among adolescent girls in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem municipality in the central region of Ghana: a case-control study. Frontiers in public health, 7, 93.

Bearak, J., Popinchalk, A., Alkema, L., & Sedgh, G. (2018). Global, regional, and subregional trends in unintended pregnancy and its outcomes from 1990 to 2014: estimates from a Bayesian hierarchical model. The Lancet Global Health, 6(4), e380-e389.

Bridges, E. (2019). 4Viewpoint. Reproductive Rights, 145.

Byham-Urquhart, M. L. (2014). What adolescent mothers who successfully complete high school and avoid additional unplanned pregnancy perceive as factors in their success (Doctoral dissertation, Capella University).

Doddihal, C. (2020). Adolescent pregnancy-children having children.

Habimana, C. (2018). Factors Associated With Teenage Pregnancy In Gatsibo District, Rwanda (Doctoral Dissertation).

Nyariro, M. (2021). Using photovoice to explore barriers to school continuation and re-entry for pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers living in low-income urban contexts in Kenya.

Ochen, A. M., Chi, P. C., & Lawoko, S. (2019). Predictors of teenage pregnancy among girls aged 13–19 years in Uganda: a community based case-control study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 19(1), 1-14.

Poudel, S., Upadhaya, N., Khatri, R. B., & Ghimire, P. R. (2018). Trends and factors associated with pregnancies among adolescent women in Nepal: Pooled analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (2006, 2011 and 2016). PloS one, 13(8), e0202107.

Tabaac, A. R., Godwin, E. G., Jonestrask, C., Charlton, B. M., & Katz-Wise, S. L. (2022). Healthcare providers’ perspectives on pregnancy experiences among sexual and gender minority youth. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 32, 100702.

Wall-Wieler, E., Lee, J. B., Nickel, N., & Roos, L. L. (2019). The multigenerational effects of adolescent motherhood on school readiness: A population-based retrospective cohort study. PloS one, 14(2), e0211284.