Teenage pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy is defined as females under the age of 19 becoming pregnant. In developing countries, teenage pregnancy is common since many women are married and bear children whilst teenagers. However, in industrialized societies, teenage pregnancy is now considered a social problem.

Related Topics:
Pregnant - Developing countries - Industrialized societies

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There are several perceived problems with teenage pregnancies in industrialised societies:

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• teenagers are not thought to be ready, either emotionally or financially, to raise children, even if they are able to do so physiologically.
• adults generally feel that teenagers should not be engaging in sexual activity.
• teenaged mothers (and their families) are frequently treated as social pariahs, leading to problems accessing education and other services that might help them to provide a secure future.
• teenage pregnancy often leads to later poverty and to poor life outcomes (for example, educational underachievement) for the children of teenage mothers.
 
Teenage pregnancy: Teenage pregnancy rates around the world ►