Each young woman who gets pregnant has a unique set of circumstances that contributed to the situation. Some teenage girls become pregnant while involved in long-term dating relationships. Other girls become pregnant after hooking up. And, some girls may become pregnant as a result of a rape situation.
All teenage pregnancies are the result of sexual activity, whether voluntary or involuntary. No matter what measures are taken for birth control, the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy is abstinence from all sexual activity. Only abstinence is guaranteed not to cause teen pregnancy.
Birth control methods can fail even when used correctly. However, studies show that teens are more likely to use birth control methods improperly, leading to a higher likelihood that they may fail and cause a teen pregnancy to occur.
There are several factors that contribute to teen pregnancy. They are:
- Need for Effective Sex Education: Knowledge, Practical Skills, and Free Contraception: Surveys were done and identified that there is a lack of effective sex education and access to contraception as two of the most important contributors to Canada's high teen pregnancy rate (A framework for action to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy in Canada, 2000). Sex education is also inconsistently provided across Canada.
- No Reason Not to Get Pregnant: Reports show that the lack of opportunity and hope for the future is a driving force behind high rates of teen pregnancy in Canada (Poverty and teen pregnancy, 2006). Throughout the developed world, teenage pregnancy is more common among young people who have been disadvantaged in childhood and have low expectations of education or the job market. The literature shows that youth living in poverty have a teen pregnancy rate which is five times the average. Socio-economic circumstances seem to play a major role in rates of teen pregnancy (A framework for action, 2000).
- Desire to "Re-Create" the Family: Trends in risk-taking behaviour among youth, suggests that alienation among young women is a key contributor to risk of pregnancy - and other risky behaviours such as tobacco use and substance abuse(A framework for action, 2000).
- Mixed Messages: Media images and messages are full of seduction and place high value on sexual attraction and activity. At the same time, parents and school officials tend to be embarrassed or silent, keeping their fingers crossed that young people will be responsible. However, the net result of silence is not less sex, but less protected sex (A framework for action, 2000).
Facing an unplanned teen pregnancy can be hard. The effects of teenage pregnancy are not limited to having to decide whether or not to keep the baby, how to cope with motherhood or whether to make an adoption plan. One of the most immediate effects of teen pregnancy is how the growing baby changes a teenager's body as well as their lifestyle.
Because a teen's body immediately begins the process of carrying a child and preparing for childbirth, a teenager needs to consider the effect that her physical activities may have on her developing baby. A variety of activities common to teens may have a negative effect on a developing baby:
- Drinking alcoholic beverages
- Smoking cigarettes or marijuana
- Lack of sleep
- Unhealthy eating patterns
Emotional Effects
Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy can be scary and confusing. Some of the emotions that you may encounter when facing an unplanned pregnancy are:
- Initial excitement
- Confusion
- Fear
- Resentment
- Frustration
Causes and effects of teen pregnancy. (n.d.). Option line. Retrieved March 16, 2007 from http://www.pregnancycenters.org/cause-teen-pregnancy.asp
A framework for action to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy in Canada. (2000). Public health agency of Canada. Retrieved March 16, 2007 from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dca-ea/publications/reduce_teen_pregnancy_section_1_e.html#factors
Poverty and teen pregnancy. (2006). Gender and poverty. Retrieved March 16, 2007 from http://www.genderandhealth.ca/en/modules/poverty/poverty-teen-pregnancy-01.jsp
