Factors that Lead to Teen Pregnancy Essay -- Teen Pregnant Pregnancy E

Factors that Lead to Teen Pregnancy Although the over totally rate of puerile pregnancy has been declining, the rates have remained high for jejunes that argon most vulnerable. The wide majority of Ameri locoweeds believe that teen pregnancies are a serious study problem, indeed a problem that is the major component of what is thought to be national moral decline. However, what causes these teens to become gravid at such a young age? A large body of research has determine a number of factores that underlie teen inner and contraceptive behavior, pregnancy, and childbearing. on that point exists a three part framework of the factors underlying teen pregnancy. on that point are biological antecedents, including gender, age, testosterone level, and timing of puberty. These factors are causally related to teen sexual and contraceptive behavior and pregnancy. A second group of antecedents can be viewed as manifestations of social disorganization or advantage (Kirby, 199 7). These hold factors in the community and the family such as violent crime, impoverishment, unemployment, family marital disruption, parents lack of education, poor child rearing practice, lack of maternal(p) erect, and inappropriate sexual pressure or abuse. The second group excessively implys factors in the somebody teen such as lack of religious affiliation, drug and alcoholic drink use, engaging in risk behaviors and deviance, delinquency, poor educational performance, and low expectations for the future. A third group of antecedents are attitudes and beliefs about sexual behavior and pregnancy. These include beliefs, personal values, and perceived norms. Among the galore(postnominal) factors which may lead to teen pregnancy, the iv that are most predictive of untimelyish pregnancy are poverty, early behavioral problems, family problems, and a low self esteem. There are some(prenominal) theories about the reasons why so many young women in poverty become pregnan t and carry to full term. Faced with an unintended pregnancy, many teens living in poverty are apparent to view early childbearing as a positive, desirable choice. These teens feel that becoming pregnant may in fact improve their lives. Economics may also be responsible for the lower percentage of poor teens who terminate their pregnancies, since Medicaid policies in most states do non comport for abortions, but do pay for services related to childbirth. In addition, some re... ...hildren who are slight likely to have early intercourse. Early childhood experiences can make all the difference. Higher levels of parent to teen communication have been related to less permissive sexual attitudes, whereas poor communication with parents and lack of parental support has been linked to earlier initiation of sexual activity. Both high levels of parental supervision and close relationships between adolescents and their parents were related to later timing of teen sexual activity. In add ition, parental marital disruption and living with a single parent is associated with the early onset of sexual behavior. This finding in all likelihood reflects such factors as lower family incomes, less partental supervision, and parental modeling. The large, complicated, and interrelated accrual of factors suggest that the course that leads to adolescent sexual activity and pregnancy is complex. Kirby states that not merely one or two, but a multitude of antecedents are related to one or more sexual behaviors and pregnancy, including characteristics of the teens themselves, their peers and sexual partners, their families and their communities and states (Kirby, 1997).