Adolescent pregnancy revisited
Fielding, J.E.
New England Journal of Medicine 299(16): 893-896
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-4793 PMID: 692585 DOI: 10.1056/nejm197810192991614Document Number: 575276
The proportion of teenage births to the total births in the U.S. has increased in recent years. Births are increasing particularly among the younger teenagers. This trend would be even more marked if it were not for the recent liberalization of legal abortions and the increased availability of contraception to teenagers. Despite wide use of abortion among teenage girls, the U.S. still ranks very high in terms of birthrates among females 15-19 years old in comparison with other Western countries. The following 3 problems are associated with teenage pregnancy: 1) increased health risk to the mother; 2) increased health risk to the baby; and 3) social and economic disadvantages, e.g., lost educational opportunities, unstable marriages, and financial problems. Recent surveys have shown that, while sexual activity among teenagers is increasing, contraceptive use is not. The best strategies for preventing teenage pregnancies include sex education starting early in school, availability of contraception for teenagers, family planning counseling, and education to alert parents to the sexuality of their teenagers. Education must be emphasized.