Teen sex and pregnancy has become a major cause of concern for parents in recent years. In fact, it has been estimated that 60% of teens are sexually active between the ages of 15-19. Also there has been a 3% increase in the pregnancy rate of teens since 2006.
Dangers Involved in Teen Sex and Pregnancy:
The most major negative effect is that their education gets affected. Due to various reasons involved, a teenage mother usually drops out of school and never goes to college. And as you may know, raising a child is not only a tough job, but also an expensive one. So as a result this mom may need to take any small job she can with typically low pay.
Statistics show that babies born to teenage mothers tend to be underweight and are more prone to suffer from health issues in future. Also a teenage mother has a higher chance of facing many female issues in the future.
The most damage that teen sex and pregnancy causes is the emotional toll it has on the teenage parents and their families. The decisions made at this time affect the lives of all involved for many years to come.
Reasons for Teen Sex and Pregnancy:
It is a heavy burden to be a teenager. It is the stage in life where they feel that they need to belong somewhere. They have the urge to be accepted by their peers. And if their friends have sex, then they too do it as they want to be accepted by others.
Teenagers, who do not have a smooth relationship with their parents, often feel that they are unloved. They see having sex as a way to find love in their life. In certain cases teenagers welcome pregnancy, as they feel that taking care of their baby will provide them with the love, that they feel, is not shown by their family.
It has been shown that teenage boys are the ones initiating sex the majority of the time though not always. Another major reason for the rise in pregnancy in teenagers is ignorance. They live in the moment and dont stop to think about the consequences of their behavior and the affect it may have on their future.
Prevent Teen Sex and Pregnancy:
The teen years are a very challenging time in the life of a person. It is the time where they mature from children to responsible adults. It doesnt always progress easily as there are times when both the adult and the child are in the same body and you dont know which one will make a decision. It is the responsibility of the parents to educate their child and guide them so that they dont go astray.
This is a time when children are curious to try out new things and the urge to rebel against anything that is said to them. This makes it important to explain your decisions and rules. Without the understanding, the result may be the opposite of what a parent has intended.
Parents have to talk with their children about sex, and not run away from the issue. An open discussion about the topic will instill better moral judgement. They will listen if the teen sex and pregnancy issues are presented in an understanding and non-threatening way.
Get involved in your childrens lives by helping them look into the future and plan their success.
Though teen sex and pregnancy is increasing at an alarming rate, it can be avoided by just sitting and having an open discussion with your children. After all it is the job of the parents to be supportive and provide the necessary moral support to their kids.
