Choose for me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Choose for me - Essay Example According to the annual report 1997-98 presented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there was a decline in the birth rate for teenagers between the age of 15-19 between 1991 and 1996 in all states. During this period, the overall U.S. teen birth rate fell by 12 percent, by 12 percent or more in 28 states, by 16 percent or more in 13 states, whereas, decline in 4 states exceeded 20 percent. Although the figures show that there has been an improvement in teen birth rate but it’s still an issue which is creating a lot of problems for the young mothers, the government as well as the society. Teenage childbearing is associated with serious health risks. Adolescent mothers, especially who are less than 15 years of age have a higher rate of birth complications including anemia, hypertension, prolonged or premature labor, pregnancy related infections and abnormal bleeding etc. There are greater chances of having a low birth weight and neonatal death rate, which means that the infant dies within 28 days of the birth, as compared to adult pregnant women. Other medical problems associated with teenage mothers are poor maternal weight gain, premature birth and they are also more prone to contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Poor diet is another factor associated with negative pregnancy and so is the use of drugs, alcohol and smoking. The teenage mothers not only suffer from ill health and medical risks, but also face psychological problems which include school interruption, limited vocational opportunities, persistent poverty, separation from the child’s father and at times repeated pregnancies. In some cases if the school is not interrupted, it results in poor academic performance. â€Å"Teen mothers are in psychological jeopardy because they experience higher levels of stress, despair, feeling of helplessness, low self-esteem, a sense of personal