Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage pregnancies in developed countries are mostly unplanned and occur due to unprotected sex. The highest teenage pregnancy rate in the developed world is in the USA.
If you are a teenager yourself and having unprotected sex, you are very likely to become pregnant. In the UK, you can see a GP or family planning clinic to discuss contraception without your family finding out. If you have a good relationship with a family member, such as your mother, consider discussing this with them. They are likely to want to offer support and may have some valuable advice.
In developing countries, teenage marriage is not uncommon. Worldwide, about 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 and almost 1 million girls under 15 give birth every year, with 95% of these births in low- and middle-income countries.
In general, teenage pregnancies are much more risky for the young mother and her child. Teenage girls may not receive adequate prenatal care and advice early on, and this can lead to problems during the pregnancy or after the birth. Complications during pregnancy and labor are the second highest cause of death for 15-19 year-old girls.
Babies born to mothers under 20 years of age in low- and middle-income countries face a 50% higher risk of being stillborn or dying in the first few weeks versus those born to mothers aged 20-29.
Teenage pregnancies are more likely in poor, uneducated and rural communities. In most of the world, motherhood during the teen years is one of the leading causes for a girl leaving school.
Links
- http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs364/en/
- http://populationgrowth.org/the-plunge-in-teen-pregnancy-rates/
- https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-teen-pregnancy
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teenagepregnancy.html
- http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/People/Teenage-birth-rate
