Adolescent Pregnancy in America: Causes and Responses
By Desirae M. Domenico, Ph.D. and Karen H. Jones, Ed.D.
The Journal for
Special Needs Education Vol 30 Number 1, 2007
Adolescent
pregnancy has occurred throughout America’s history. Only in recent years has
it been
deemed an urgent crisis, as more young adolescent mothers give birth outside of
marriage. At risk circumstances associated with adolescent pregnancy include
medical and health complications, less schooling and higher dropout rates,
lower career aspirations, and a life encircled by poverty. While legislation
for career and technical education has focused attention on special needs
populations, the definition has been broadened to include single parents. This
article encompasses a brief history of adolescent pregnancy in America, factors
influencing adolescent pregnancy, and the consequences associated with
adolescent pregnancy. The conclusion includes implications for educators,
researchers, and practitioners.
This
article details factors influencing adolescent pregnancy such as family
structures; age at which first sexual encounters begin; future expectations and
employment opportunities; and sexual abuse. Further discussion pertains to the consequences
of adolescence pregnancy stating that it ‘imposes difficult long-term outcomes and
have adverse effects not only on the young mother, but also on her child’ (p.6).
The article states that ‘pregnant secondary students have been found to possess
lower career aspirations, attain less prestigious occupations, and experience
less satisfaction with career progress, feel their future job choices are
limited when compared to their non-pregnant peers. They were less likely to get
a job or attend college (p.6). As a result, adolescent mothers often
experienced a lack of meaningful and equal career opportunities, leading to a
high rate of teen unemployment. According to the article, responses to
adolescent pregnancy in recent years have included schools, communities, and
government agencies working diligently to help combat adolescent pregnancy. And
while adolescent pregnancy prevention programs offer countless support services
to pregnant and parenting adolescents, not all support services are
consistently available throughout the country (p.8).
Recommendations for practice
include increasing adolescent females’ self-efficacy by schools incorporating
curriculum that nurtures a sense of self-worth and productivity that can lend
itself to the workforce thereby encouraging girls to aspire to professional
employment; students from impoverished backgrounds should be afforded
opportunities to participate in post secondary education; sex education
curriculum prior to high school entry should clearly define the decision-
making process for a sexual relationship, the outcomes of a sexual
relationship, and the choice to abstain from sex without a sense of guilt; and
finally because families are often a support group for pregnant and parenting
adolescents, there is a greater need for community outreach programs to assist
families of these adolescents in teaching them to become independent,
self-sufficient adults (p. 9). Governments need to relook at their policies
regarding adolescent pregnancy and single parents. The author of the article
recommends more funding is needed to address the establishment of a more
comprehensive educational curriculum with regard to sex education, making good
and informed sexual and relationship decisions, encouraging positive
self-esteem programs especially for girls and those from lower economic
families; and outcomes of poor choices both for the teen parent and the child.
The author concludes by stating that “society must assume the responsibility of
educating teens about sex, adolescent pregnancy, and the negative effects of
early motherhood on young females” (p.10).
New
Learning: (relate)
The article provided confirmation that adversities such as poverty, discrimination, stress, and lack of
gender-role modelling affects both the teen mother and her child (Specific expectation E1.6). It
also summarized the negative outcomes for teen mothers which include future
career opportunities (or the lack of careers), poverty, and lower educational
outcomes (Specific expectations E1.1. and
E.1.6). The article states “Poverty is an additional consequence of adolescent
pregnancy, often leading to poorer outcomes for adolescent mothers” (p.8). In
fact, many poverty-stricken adolescents accepted their pregnancy and viewed it
as a means of improving their lives (p.8). There are many articles providing
similar evidence that teen mothers (parents) face adversity. Many teen parents are shunned
by their peers or family members; many are impoverished and other than the
financial support of their parents (if they have them) they would not be able
to feed themselves or their baby. It is important that students have
proper education regarding making healthy choices, sex education, self-esteem
building, financial background, coping skills and how to balance work and
family responsibilities. This article has a lot of information about all of the
expectations regarding Addressing Social Challenges in our chosen course HPC3O.
Despite
the fact that this article has an American focus, many of the research
findings, arguments and conclusions concerning adolescent pregnancy could be
applied to Canada as well. This particular article has a very
clear description of what a typical teen mother could expect in most cases. As
teachers we must provide our students with the tools they require to make
informed choices. Promoting self-esteem with our students will help to improve
their academic outcomes; break the cycle of poverty and abuse; and give the
students the skills to move forward in a positive way and become a productive
member of society. According to the article, programs that connect behaviors
with outcomes and programs that promote the importance of higher education
afford adolescent females the skills to develop realistic strategies for
meeting life goals. Guidance programs that include career education and
exploration opportunities have been found to provide exposure to postsecondary
education and training options (p. 10). Our secondary schools are providing
career counselling through our guidance and student services departments.
Ontario curriculum offers a mandatory Careers course for grade 10 students.
Should we be starting these kinds of courses in the earlier grades in an
attempt to educate students regarding making better and informed choices about
sexual activity and the outcomes of teen pregnancy? How young is too young to
start these discussions? The grade 9 Health and Physical Education
curriculum does address these issues however, perhaps starting in the elementary
schools would be better. The FS courses speak to these concerns however, they
are optional. Should the parenting course be mandatory such as the
Civics/Careers course? How do we as a society reach these young people? How do
we challenge young females to break the cycle of low self-esteem and thinking
that having a baby will make their lives better?
http://www.lessoncorner.com/Social_Studies/Current_Issues/Teen_Pregnancy
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