Problems faced by teen parents

TEENAGE pregnancy is a serious social problem. About three in 10 teenage girls become pregnant before the age of 20. While many of these pregnancies end in abortion or adoption, teen girls who do decide to keep their babies face many challenges.

Teenage pregnancy is a serious social problem. Although less is known about teen fathers, research indicates that they, too, face problems associated with being parents.

Health Issues

Pregnant teens are more likely to suffer complications during pregnancy. Their babies are more likely to experience premature birth, low birth weight or other serious health problems. These issues put babies at a greater risk of suffering newborn health problems, disability or death.

Schooling

Teen parents often find that caring for a child makes it difficult for them to continue their schooling. It is estimated that more than half of teen mothers never graduate from high school, and fewer than 2% have graduated from college by the time they are 30. This problem is not confined to teen mothers: as teen fathers also do not receive as much education as their peers. Economic issues

Lack of schooling makes it more difficult for teen mothers to find and keep well-paying jobs. More than 75% of unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within five years of having their first baby.

Relationships

Pregnancy and parenting can strain the relationships between teen parents. Eight out of 10 teen fathers do not marry the mother of their first child. Becoming a teen parent also seems to have long-term implications for marriage: in comparison to people who did not have babies as teens, teen parents are significantly less likely to be married by the age of 35.

Depression

Depression is common among pregnant teens. Teen parents may feel guilty or anxious about the future. Teen parents are also more likely to subject their children to abuse and neglect because they feel overwhelmed by their unfamiliar, ever-demanding roles as parents.

Children’s success

Teen parents also face problems in regards to the success of their children. Children born to teen parents earn lower standardised test scores and are more likely to drop out of high school. Daughters born to teen mothers are three times as likely to also become teen mothers, while sons are twice as likely to go to prison.