The uncomfortable truth about teen pregnancy
The scope of the problem: According to the World Health Organization, every year an estimated 21 million girls aged 15–19 in developing regions.
What is teen pregnancy: Teen pregnancy refers to pregnancy in a female under the age of 20.
Social and cultural pressure: Indeed, many girls in the developing world face considerable pressure to marry early.
Lack of information: According to Plan International, lack of information about sexual and reproductive health.
Traditional customs: Family, community, and social pressure to marry and inadequate access to services tailored to young people.
Cause and consequence: The prevalence rate of child and forced marriage in many societies serves as another cause.
Low educational attainment: Similarly, low educational attainment is both a cause and a consequence of teenage pregnancy.
Sexual abuse: Sexual violence and abuse is a very unfortunate factor in adolescent pregnancy and child maltreatment.
Teen pregnancy in the developed world: Many of the causes attributed to teen pregnancy in the developing world.
Teen pregnancy rates in the United States: The United States has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the developed world.
Worrying figures: In fact, every year in the US about 750,000 teenage pregnancies occur.
Consequences of teen pregnancies: Teen pregnancy has immediate and long-term consequences for both teen parents.
Mental health issues: Teen moms are twice as likely to experience postpartum depression as their adult counterparts.