The Causes And Costs Of Teen Pregnancy

In any given scenario, there is a cause and there is an effect. The subject of teen pregnancy is no different. There are several causes of teenage pregnancy, but ultimately what it comes down to is the couple themselves. These teens made a decision, and they must live with the consequences of their actions. That said, teen pregnancy not only has causes, but costs as well.

At Risk

Anyone is the first to agree that the cause of a teen pregnancy, and any pregnancy for that matter, is sex. However true this may be, there are several factors that put a young couple more at risk for having under age sex and for becoming pregnant. Many of these risk factors have to do with the environment in which the teens grew up. Young girls are more at risk for becoming unwed mothers of they live in poverty, perform poorly in school, being raised in a single-parent home, having a sister who became pregnant at a young age, or having a mother who was a teenage mom.

Other causes of teen pregnancy have nothing to do with the teens themselves. American culture today places emphasis on sex, but ignores responsibility. Images on television and in movies show teens engaging in sexual behavior, but never having to deal with the consequences. Such a message tells teens that they are unconquerable.

The Price You Pay

Teenage pregnancy more often than not has negative results on nearly everyone involved. While television shows and movies often show the teen mother living "happily ever after," this is rarely the case in real life. Having a baby as a teenager puts the teen at a disadvantage. Most do not end up finishing high school, let along college. This makes it difficult to get a job, and in turn results in poor living conditions.

Perhaps what is most sad about this is that the negative consequences of teen pregnancy for the mother and father lead to a recreation of the same environment for the new baby. The poverty caused by the lack of job and education becomes a push factor for the child—and puts him or her just as at risk as his or her parents were.

A Single Step

The causes of teen pregnancy will not go away over night. Teen pregnancy is an intimidating topic because it seems difficult to prevent—and it is. There is no clear cut solution to the problem, but taking many small steps toward a solution will eventually add up. Improving education, access to childbearing alternatives, and a consistent message from the media will help to reduce the causes of teen pregnancies—some day.