Problem Statement
Teen pregnancy is a major problem in the United States that has economic, educational, and health implications all across society. The prevalence of teen pregnancy, or adolescent pregnancy can be defined using teen birth rate. This is defined as “the number of live births to women ages 13-19 per 1000 women (p. 5)” (Hamilton & Ventrua, 2012). Though teen pregnancy rates have declined throughout the 1900’s, the United States has the highest teen pregnancy rates among industrialized countries (Hamilton & Ventrua, 2012). “The United States has two to seven times greater teen pregnancy rates among industrialized nations” (p. 1) (Hoffman, 2006). The highest recorded teen birthrate 96.3 was in 1957. Although teen birthrates have decreased since then, there has been a recent increase in birthrates in 1991 (Azar, 2012). The teen birthrate for all races in 1991 was 61.8 (Hamilton & Ventrua, 2012). If this teen birthrate were continuous at that rate, then there would approximately 3.4 million births to teenage mothers throughout 2010 (Hamilton & Ventrua, 2012). The rate of teenage births varies across the nation depending on geographical location, race, and ethnicity of the mother (Waddell, Orr, Sackoff, & Santelli, 2010). The south and southwest tend the have the highest teen birthrates geographically (Hamilton & Ventrua, 2012). In addition, Hispanics and Blacks tend to have higher teen birthrates than non-Hispanic whites (Hamilton & Ventrua, 2012). For example in 2006, the teen birthrate among non Hispanic Blacks was 36.1, while the teen birthrate was 47.9 for Hispanics. This was four times higher then the birthrate for non-Hispanic whites (Basch, 2011). Hispanic teens overall have higher teen birthrates then all other ethnic groups. (Minnis, et al., 2008)
Teen pregnancy has large economic impacts on society. It is estimated the children born to teenage mothers cost U.S. federal, state, and local taxpayers approximately $10.9 billion in 2008 (Lavin & Cox, 2012). “Between 1991 and 2004, there were 6,776,230 births to teenage mothers which cost tax payers $161 billion (p. 7) (Hoffman, 2006).” The majority of these costs were paid through welfare, Medicaid, and foster care for the infants (Azar, 2012). This has lead to increased costs of healthcare and other public services. In 2004, the U. S. spent $11.6 billion putting approximately 532,000 children of teen mothers in foster care and adoption services (Hoffman, 2006).
Teens who get pregnant and the children who are born to teenage mothers have many educational problems. Only half of the teens that get pregnant obtain a high school diploma or GED (Azar, 2012). Out of the teens that do complete a high school education, only 30% are likely to get a college level education (Basch, 2011). The children who are born to teen mothers have many learning problems. They are more likely to be placed in special education classes and have far greater learning disabilities than children born to older mothers (Gueorguieva, Carter, Ariet, Roth, Mahan, & Resnick, 2001). In addition to learning disabilities, children born to teens also have a more difficult time making friends at school and participating in after school activities (Waddell, Orr, Sackoff, & Santelli, 2010). Teenage mothers also give birth to children who have a larger risk for health problems such as lower birth weights, and reach developmental milestones slower (Gueorguieva, Carter, Ariet, Roth, Mahan, & Resnick, 2001). These children are also less likely to see a doctor to be treated for health problems (Hoffman, 2006).
The problem of teen pregnancy is cyclic in nature because children born to teen mothers are 66% more likely to become teen mothers themselves (Basch, 2011). Working towards reducing teen pregnancy rates will lead to a more educated workforce, less tax burden on payers, and healthier lives for teens and children.
Works Cited Waddell, E., Orr, M., Sackoff, J., & Santelli, J. (2010). Pregnancy Risk among, Black, White, and Hispanic Teen Girls in New York City Public Schools. Journal of Urban Health , 87 (3), 426-439.
Azar, B. (2012, August 16). Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention: Highlights From a Citywide Effort. American Journal of Public Health , 1-5.
Basch, C. (2011). Teen Pregnancy and the Achievement Gap Among Urban Minority Youth. Journal of School Health , 81 (10), 614-618.
Gueorguieva, R., Carter, R., Ariet, M., Roth, J., Mahan, C., & Resnick, M. (2001). Effect of Teenage Pregnancy on Educational Disabilities in Kindergarten. American Journal of Epidemiology , 154 (3), 212-220.
Hamilton, B., & Ventrua, S. (2012, April). Birth Rates for U.S. Teenagers Reach Historic Lows for All Age and Ethnic Groups. National Center for Health Statistics (89).
Hoffman, S. (2006). By the numers: The Public Costs of Teen Chidbearing. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy , pp. 1-50.
Lavin, C., & Cox, J. (2012). Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Current Perspectives. American Journal of Pediatrics , 24 (4), 464-469.
Minnis, A. M., Moore, J. G., Doherty, I. A., Rodas, C., Auerswald, C., Shiboski, S., et al. (2008). Gang Exposure and Pregnancy Incidence among Female Adolescents in San Francisco: Evidence for the Need to Integrate Reproductive Health with Violence Prevention Efforts. American Journal of Epidemiology , 167 (9), 1102-1109.
Teen pregnancy has large economic impacts on society. It is estimated the children born to teenage mothers cost U.S. federal, state, and local taxpayers approximately $10.9 billion in 2008 (Lavin & Cox, 2012). “Between 1991 and 2004, there were 6,776,230 births to teenage mothers which cost tax payers $161 billion (p. 7) (Hoffman, 2006).” The majority of these costs were paid through welfare, Medicaid, and foster care for the infants (Azar, 2012). This has lead to increased costs of healthcare and other public services. In 2004, the U. S. spent $11.6 billion putting approximately 532,000 children of teen mothers in foster care and adoption services (Hoffman, 2006).
Teens who get pregnant and the children who are born to teenage mothers have many educational problems. Only half of the teens that get pregnant obtain a high school diploma or GED (Azar, 2012). Out of the teens that do complete a high school education, only 30% are likely to get a college level education (Basch, 2011). The children who are born to teen mothers have many learning problems. They are more likely to be placed in special education classes and have far greater learning disabilities than children born to older mothers (Gueorguieva, Carter, Ariet, Roth, Mahan, & Resnick, 2001). In addition to learning disabilities, children born to teens also have a more difficult time making friends at school and participating in after school activities (Waddell, Orr, Sackoff, & Santelli, 2010). Teenage mothers also give birth to children who have a larger risk for health problems such as lower birth weights, and reach developmental milestones slower (Gueorguieva, Carter, Ariet, Roth, Mahan, & Resnick, 2001). These children are also less likely to see a doctor to be treated for health problems (Hoffman, 2006).
The problem of teen pregnancy is cyclic in nature because children born to teen mothers are 66% more likely to become teen mothers themselves (Basch, 2011). Working towards reducing teen pregnancy rates will lead to a more educated workforce, less tax burden on payers, and healthier lives for teens and children.
Works Cited Waddell, E., Orr, M., Sackoff, J., & Santelli, J. (2010). Pregnancy Risk among, Black, White, and Hispanic Teen Girls in New York City Public Schools. Journal of Urban Health , 87 (3), 426-439.
Azar, B. (2012, August 16). Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention: Highlights From a Citywide Effort. American Journal of Public Health , 1-5.
Basch, C. (2011). Teen Pregnancy and the Achievement Gap Among Urban Minority Youth. Journal of School Health , 81 (10), 614-618.
Gueorguieva, R., Carter, R., Ariet, M., Roth, J., Mahan, C., & Resnick, M. (2001). Effect of Teenage Pregnancy on Educational Disabilities in Kindergarten. American Journal of Epidemiology , 154 (3), 212-220.
Hamilton, B., & Ventrua, S. (2012, April). Birth Rates for U.S. Teenagers Reach Historic Lows for All Age and Ethnic Groups. National Center for Health Statistics (89).
Hoffman, S. (2006). By the numers: The Public Costs of Teen Chidbearing. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy , pp. 1-50.
Lavin, C., & Cox, J. (2012). Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Current Perspectives. American Journal of Pediatrics , 24 (4), 464-469.
Minnis, A. M., Moore, J. G., Doherty, I. A., Rodas, C., Auerswald, C., Shiboski, S., et al. (2008). Gang Exposure and Pregnancy Incidence among Female Adolescents in San Francisco: Evidence for the Need to Integrate Reproductive Health with Violence Prevention Efforts. American Journal of Epidemiology , 167 (9), 1102-1109.