Australia reportedly had the sixth-largest rate of teenage pregnancy among developed nations in 2003. Australia lagged behind the United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom in teenage pregnancy rates that year. According to data collected in 2004, teenage pregnancy in Australia stood at a rate of 16.3 babies per 1000 women.
According to Australian statistics, 5% of babies are born to teenage girls. Legally induced abortions are the second most common reason for hospital admissions among girls aged 12 to 20. Studies have further revealed that teenaged girls comprise the largest segment of society to use emergency contraception methods provided by family planning clinics. Unfortunately, around 45% of high school students who led actively sexual lives forgot to use condoms regularly.
A study in 2010 compared teenage pregnancy rates in economically advanced areas like Queensland and slum areas. The teenage pregnancy rate was found to be 67.8 births per 1000 women in slum areas, compared to only 21.7 births per 1000 women in Queensland. This means that poor teenagers are nearly three times as likely to get pregnant as those in economically advanced areas.
There are many reasons why teenagers become pregnant, and these reasons are not unique to Australia. Some of the most common factors are poor self-esteem, unfavorable domestic conditions, poor financial status, and a family history of teenage pregnancies. However, there are also many teenagers who become pregnant despite having none of these risk factors. This just goes to show that there is no one single cause of teenage pregnancy.
If a teenager girl becomes pregnant, she will have to face three different potential outcomes. The first outcome is that she could have an abortion. The second outcome is that she could keep the baby and raise it herself. The third outcome is that she could put the baby up for adoption. All of these outcomes have their own pros and cons that the teenage girl will have to weigh out before making a decision.
Abortion
Most abortions in Australia are performed on unwanted pregnancies. Around half of all these procedures are done on teenagers. Abortion rates have been declining in recent years, but the procedure is still quite common.
In Australia, abortion laws vary by region. For example, in Queensland, abortion is legal if the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman’s mental or physical health. A woman can also abort a 20-week fetus; however, most unwanted pregnancies are terminated by abortion when the fetus is only 12 weeks old.
Approximately 200–300 dollars is the average cost of an abortion during the 12th week of pregnancy. Some women who cannot afford this may be able to get financial assistance from the government. The price of an abortion increases as the pregnancy progresses.
Put the Baby for Adoption
If a teenager is averse to the idea of abortion, she can have her baby and put it up for adoption. Even though this option is not popular among teenage girls and adult women, it is still a choice that they can make.
Nowadays, society is more accepting of single parenthood than in the past. Additionally, the free availability of contraceptives and access to abortions has reduced both teenage pregnancy and the practice of putting children up for adoption. In Queensland, for example, only around 80 babies are adopted per year.
Place the Baby in Foster Care
There are several options available to teenage mothers who are not ready to take care of their baby. They can choose to place their baby with foster parents, or put the child up for adoption. Additionally, some states have safe haven laws, which allow parents to anonymously drop off their newborn at a safe location, such as a hospital or fire station, without fear of legal repercussions.
There was a time when being a single parent was considered a social taboo. Nowadays, the government provides a lot of help to single parents. As a result, an increasing number of teenage mothers are choosing to raise their children by themselves. Single parenting can be a challenge, but it can also be very rewarding. If you’re a single parent, know that you’re not alone.
There are counselling services available to help with problems related to teenage pregnancy in Australia. These services can provide support and advice on a range of issues, including contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and parenting. Counselling can also help to address any emotional or psychological issues that may be affecting a teenager who is pregnant or considering pregnancy.
