What Is It?
According to various sources, adolescent pregnancy is a pregnancy that happens under the age of 20, usually between ages 13-19, where teenagers aren’t emotionally or financially, and physically ready. Almost 16 million girls between 15-19 years old gets pregnant in developing countries. It is usually unplanned and unintended, which causes it to end with an abortion or miscarriage. Adolescent pregnancies are more likely to happen in developing countries due to the lack of education. However unfortunately, in most developed countries it is normalized.
“1.2 billion children face the highest risk of new H.I.V. infection, death in childbirth, botched abortion and sexual abuse.” - Young, Pregnant and Neglected
What Causes Adolescent Pregnancies?
Adolescent pregnancies are caused by numerous different factors. They include lack of education and information, economic factors, social and cultural beliefs, along with sexual violence and premarital sex. According to the survey that we made, other factors that causes adolescent pregnancies include lust, unsafe sex, bad choices, lack of parental control, curiosity, promiscuity and the lack of religious education.
Different Cultural Perspectives on Adolescent Pregnancies
Different cultures have different perspectives on adolescent pregnancies and how they handle it. Back in the day adolescent pregnancies are socially desired and considered as the norm. However, nowadays adolescent pregnancies are viewed as something negative and unsightly especially if they are caused by premarital sex.
In Indonesia adolescent pregnancy and even sex education is still considered taboo. Pregnancy from premarital sex is seen in negative light. Teenagers who go through adolescent pregnancies are usually shunned and excommunicated from society. Some parents even go as far as to hide their child at home throughout the course of the pregnancy.
In America adolescent pregnancies are considered normal and are mainly caused by their culture of free sex/premarital sex. Adolescent pregnancy usually happens in low-income households where there is a lack of education. Nowadays though most parents are more supportive and accepting; those who have adolescent pregnancies in America may even receive help from different organizations and government programs.
In Uganda adolescent pregnancies that are caused by premarital marriage and are considered as a negative action that causes many girls to be disowned, sometimes girls trade sex to receive their basic needs which may cause adolescent pregnancies, the lack of education and contraceptives method also doesn’t help this problem. There’s even a tradition in Uganda where parents pressure and force their children to marry early due to the ‘curse’ that will be set on their family if their daughters aren’t married by 16, which further encourages this problem.
In the Irish travelling communities, girls who have adolescent pregnancies from premarital sex are treated poorly and are seen to bring shame to the family. The lack of education, sex education, and patriarchal dominance also doesn’t help with this problem.
Even though adolescent pregnancies is a global problem. Adolescent pregnancy is seen in a more negative light in developing countries where culture and customs run deep. As in western countries adolescent pregnancies is considered as a normal thing that happens.
Social Impact
According to the book, What Can Be Done About Teen-Age Pregnancy, adolescent pregnancies are morally, medically, emotionally, and socially wrong. Adolescent pregnancies cause many mental and physical issues in teens. Adolescent pregnancy causes a higher fertility rate and population growth; girls who give birth at under 14 years of age are most likely to die compared to those who are in their 20s.
FAMILY:
Adolescent pregnancies would result in a big range of reaction from parents, some are happy about it and are willing to support their child unconditionally and provide financial support as their child finishes school, where others might be shocked and disapprove of the pregnancy which would cause children to be disowned and kicked out of their own families. In some countries like Indonesia, the rejection is caused by the strong religious beliefs. However in other countries like Uganda, adolescent pregnancy is considered as a blessing due to their culture.
SOCIAL:
Most of the time adolescent pregnancies would cause teens to drop out of school to take care of their child and which would deeply hurt their future careers. In some countries and cultures they may be isolated from their peers or shunned away and excluded by society, they may even face harsh stigma from many people. Even if parents are supportive sometimes they would rather keep their child cooped up at home during the time of pregnancy to decrease the shame they get from their communities. However, there are many instances where friends would be non-judgemental and support their friends instead.
Abortion vs Adoption
Millions of women decide to get an abortion every year. Even though the reasons may vary, they are usually caused by financial restraints, lack of support from their partners, and the understanding of the responsibilities of parenthood. However, a small portion of abortions are caused by medical conditions or medical problems that occur to the mother or child. While abortion is more common than adoptions in the US, CDC estimates that there are more than 600,000 abortions performance each year and less than 15,000 adoptions are chosen each year.
As we can see from the data above the amount of recorded abortion rate has receded by a lot throughout the years. This means that more and more people decide to keep their babies despite knowing the various health risks and social consequences. Even if they don’t want a child there is a very small chance that they would rather put their child for adoption rather than having an abortion, since putting children for adoption may lead to long term psychological effects and may leave the child growing up feeling unwanted.
Theological Perspective
A Fair Warning!
We acknowledge and aware that not everyone is a firm believer in Christ.
And it's okay! We just hope that this section will give you a religious insight about this topic.
According to the biblical teaching, the right way of having an offspring is through marriage. So, as long as marriage of two people of an opposite gender is legally held, then it is safe and right to have a child. God doesn’t allow and agree with adolescent pregnancies from premarital sex. He said do not have sex or what referred as build a covenant before marriage. In the theologists perspective according to the book of Journal of HDRP, it can be forgiven and there’s nothing you can do that He will not forgive.
What we can do is to be wise at choosing our decision. Even if we don’t agree with their actions we shouldn’t push away people who need the most help, instead we should be supporting them and encouraging them through whatever it is they are going through. God teaches us to forgive each other and love each other just like how He forgives and loves us.
In 1 Corinthians 6 :19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” This means that we have to take care of our bodies because our body is the temple of God. as from all the information given, adolescents pregnancy carries higher risk of death and complication which will both harm the mothers and the baby. So it is best for us to wait the right time for our body to be fully ready.