Sample Essay On Cause And Effect: The Causes Of Teenage Pregnancy

Following the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines

Pregnancy; it is often a joyous milestone in a couple’s life. However, sometimes it is an unfortunate and unwelcome reality that many teens face all over the world. Teenagers are typically aware of their inadequacies when it comes to raising a child. They are not emotionally or financially stable, nor do they have the time and patience to devote toward raising an infant or a toddler. Most importantly, teens know that having a baby would undoubtedly put an end to most, if not all, of their social activities until the child is at least of school age. So why, with all of these things in mind, do teenage pregnancies continue to occur in such rapid numbers? The causes are alarming, but relatively simple. Teenagers remain uneducated about effective birth control practices, may become pregnant as a result of underage drinking, or may not have time to prepare properly, having succumb to peer pressure.
It is an unfortunate fact in the United States, as well as several other countries around the world, that effective birth control methods are not taught in schools. According to Kathrin Stranger-Hall and David W. Hall’s, “Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S.,” less than 50% of teens in the United States are taught comprehensive birth control methods while in school . Most schools attempt to teach that abstinence, or no sex, is the best policy. This method is unreasiltic, as figures have shown. Teenagers grow and will experiment whether they understand how to do it safely. Only teaching them abstinence does not teach them how to protect themselves against pregnancy, as well as sexual transmitted diseases . Schools assume if children are going to experiment with sexual activities they will ask their parents or a trusted adult in an effort to procure effective birth control methods. Converse studies show only 20% of teens feel comfortable talking with a trusted adult about birth control before having sex for the first time .
Inadequate education is not the only cause of teenage pregnancy. Unfortunately, sex is only one of many potentially dangerous action many teenagers experiment with; others experiment with substance abuse. Drugs and alcohol are common. Wendy Luttrell’s novel, “Pregnant Bodies, Fertile Minds: Gender, Race, and the Schooling of Pregnant Teens,” states that many teen pregnancies could have been avoided if substance abuse had also been circumvented . In fact, an estimated 40% of unplanned teenage pregnancies occur while one or both parties have been experimenting with alcohol, drugs, or both. In some instances, the female is unable to remember having sexual intercourse the night before due to the experimentation. These instances make almost entirely eliminating the possibility of her demanding the use of protection . Unless the male partner uses a condom, the two may become pregnant. Many of these cases, unsurprisingly, end in teenage pregnancy because one or both parties are too inebriated to remember to use protection, or they simply do not care to do so. Many teenagers operate under the psychogical “personal fable” wherein it does not matter how many of their friends get pregnant, or how many stories they hear of teens getting pregnant, their inner monologue is always, “It won’t happen to me .” In the most unfortunate events involving substance experimentation, female parties are raped; rapists often do not use protection and the teen is sometimes left pregnant. While experimenting with drugs and alcohol may appear to be fun while one is a teen, the consequences can potentially follow one for the rest of their lives.
The misfortunte of a poor education, or experimentation with drugs and alcohol are two of the biggest causes for teenage pregnancy. However, peer pressure is also a high contributing cause to this problem. Teens who fall victim to peer pressure, and have sex because somebody compels them to, possibly before they are ready, may also become pregnant or impregnate somebody. These teens may be educated on all of the proper, up-to-date birth control methods, but being peer pressured into having sexual intercourse may leave the individual without the option of procuring such contraceptives . Essentially, they may be caught unprepared. Peer pressure can happen at a moment’s notice; it is difficult to plan for psychologically while also remembering to bring proper birth control. Many teens are not psychologically ready to say, “No,” the first time they are harassed, and probably will not have everything they need if the peer pressure leads to sex. Unless one of the parties is able to procur the Plan B pill, the instance may lead to a pregnancy. Similar to a good education, peer pressure may have nothing to do with experimenting with drugs or alcohol. The simplest and most unfortunate cause for teen pregnancy is sometimes that one person pressures another and they are unable to say no even though they want to.
In sum, though there are many things that cause teen pregnancy, three of the most prominent are a lck of education, experimentation with substances, and peer pressure. Not understanding how to protect one’s self, or believing one’s child will never experiment with sex are both faulty. Teenagers will experiment and to prevent pregnancy should be taught how to protect their bodies. Substance abuse can lead to poor decisions, and even rape. Both unfortunate circumstances could be avoided but too often are not. Finally, in many instances peer pressure is the cause of pregnancy. Though the couple may understand how to use birth control, and may not be under the influence, they may be pressured to have sex too soon and without the proper precautions in place. As a result, they may become pregnant too toung.

References

Luttrell, W. (2011). Pregnant Bodies, Fertile Minds: Gender, Race, and the Schooling of Pregnant Teens. London: Routledge.
Stranger-Hall, K. F., & Hall, D. W. (2011). Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S. Public Journal of Medicine, 201-205.