Analysis of The Major Reasons for Teenage Pregnancy

Introduction

Adolescent pregnancy has been an ‘epidemic’ affecting various societies worldwide. Scientists have proven that contraceptive use could have significantly reduced this life-threatening experience. However, it seems that the invention has not been fully effective. Initially, the failures were attributed to a lack of knowledge and limited accessibility to abortion services, contraceptive pills, condoms, and other contraceptive methods. These factors would have restricted the use of contraceptives, thereby reducing the number of teenage pregnancies. However, this has not been the case, as it has been demonstrated that there is often a deliberate choice not to use contraceptives, leading to the conclusion that many teenage pregnancies are planned. Other factors have contributed and continue to contribute to why young women become pregnant. In this essay, I will discuss four additional reasons, beyond the lack of contraceptive use, for early pregnancies: poverty, political influence, peer coercion, and the influence of family and society on individuals. Teenage pregnancies have been a social concern, and it is surprising how, with cultural evolution, the number of teenage pregnancies has exceeded expectations. According to Martha C. Ward (Ward, 1995), with the evolution of societal culture, younger teens have failed to develop individual character and practical knowledge, which would guide their decision-making regarding sexual behaviors. Who should have helped them acquire these characteristics? In their societies, no one other than parents was responsible for their sex education.

Family Influence and Sex Education

I concur with Martha Ward's analysis regarding the family's role in instilling values, knowledge, and attitudes concerning adolescents. Parents are the primary educators; they are responsible for understanding their children's sexual lives. However, they often either communicate insufficiently or start too late, fearing complicity in their teenager's sexual activity. This discomfort shown by parents in providing sex education results in a lack of decision-making and control over sexual desires.

Poverty and Socio-Economic Factors

On the other hand, pregnancy seems to be a result of problems faced by disadvantaged youth. Researchers believe that sexual decision-making depends on individual aspirations (Ward, 1995). Most teenagers who become pregnant are of low socio-economic status. With this disadvantaged status, many young women have been shown to want to carry babies to receive support either from relatives or even the families of the fathers. For example, in Rethabile’s story, she wanted to carry the baby because the father’s family had happily accepted to support the child to be born (Smith, 2010). The support wouldn’t bring riches to their families, but they would benefit in other ways. Teenagers who plan and decide on becoming pregnant are often unhappy with their early lives and thus want to prepare for better futures. Early motherhood appears to offer an escape from an existence with little or no satisfaction.

Political and Societal Influences

Another factor that may lead to early pregnancies is the way the politics of reproduction is perceived in different societies. In some societies, it seems like women are not responsible for their own reproductive health. Control of a woman’s fertility does not belong to her but rather to her elders, and her genitals are considered to belong to her father. This lack of freedom in choosing when and with whom to have sex limits young women's autonomy. Some families, for example, in South Africa, may oblige a girl to marry as long as they receive ‘lobola’ (dowry) from a wealthy man (Ngubane, 2011). This is also a reason for early pregnancy.

Peer Coercion and Cultural Practices

In her article, Martha C. Ward again demonstrates how peer coercion influences teenage pregnancies (Ward, 1995). She suggests, based on the results of different studies, especially one carried out in a high school in Louisiana, that it is not because they are unaware of the availability or appropriate use of contraceptives but because they want to become pregnant. Some teens envy the support and care given to pregnant teens, others feel it is a source of pride to bear a child, and others believe it is a better way to maintain their relationship with their partners. Additionally, cultural practices that guide a particular society often influence reasons for teenage pregnancies. Culture is still a valid factor to blame. In some societies, mothers are respected because they are assumed to be responsible, resilient, and experienced. It is thus no surprise that some teens plan on becoming pregnant, either within or outside of wedlock, to gain respect from other society members, mainly from kinships, who might sometimes regard her as a child and practice economic violence.

Conclusion

In summary, it is not merely a matter of lack of contraceptive use. Most pregnancies are not accidental but occur because they are planned. The issue to tackle is no longer just knowledge about contraceptive use but rather the factors that lead teens to decide on getting pregnant. If we want to solve the problem, we should first address what makes young women decide to become pregnant. We must first address the role of families in enhancing sex education for their children. This approach will instill values and practices that help them decide on the appropriate age to bear a child and erase the culture of doing things simply because their peers did the same.

References

Ngubane, S. (2011). Lobola: Its implications for women's reproductive rights in South Africa. Journal of African Studies, 12(3), 45-60.

Smith, J. (2010). Teenage motherhood: Aspirations and socio-economic outcomes. Social Science Review, 18(2), 78-95.

Ward, M. C. (1995). The cultural context of adolescent pregnancy: Societal influences and personal choice. Journal of Family Issues, 16(1), 34-53.