Implication of Teenage Pregnancy – JSS1 Basic Science Lesson Note (Third Term)

Teenage pregnancy is a pregnancy in a young woman who has not reached her 20th birthday when the pregnancy ends, whether or not she is married.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain what teenage pregnancy is;
2. state the causes of teenage pregnancy;
3. list the health, unsafe abortion, socio-economic and emotional implications of teenage pregnancy;
4. state ways of preventing teenage pregnancy;
5. state the causes of birth defects and name some common birth defects.

What is teenage pregnancy?

Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy in a young woman under 20 years of age at the end of the pregnancy, whether or not she is married or legally an adult.

• Adolescent pregnancy: pregnancy in a girl between the ages of 10 and 19.
• Usually unplanned: adolescent pregnancy is usually unwanted and unintended.
• Danger to mother and child: it can be dangerous for both the mother and the unborn child.
• Mothers aged 14 or younger: they face extra medical concerns, especially in a developing country.
• Mothers aged 15 to 19: their risks are linked more to socio-economic factors than to the biological effects of age.

Key terms

• Teenager: a person aged 13 to 19 years.
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension: high blood pressure that develops because of pregnancy.
• Premature labour: labour that starts before the baby is fully developed.
• Spontaneous abortion: loss of a pregnancy without anyone causing it, also called miscarriage.
• Induced abortion: the deliberate ending of a pregnancy.
• Stigmatisation: treating a person with shame or disrespect because of her situation.

What causes teenage pregnancy?

There are five main causes of teenage pregnancy: social belief, lack of sex education, lack of contraception, use of drugs and alcohol, and poverty.

1. Social belief: in some societies, early marriage and traditional gender roles raise the rate of teenage pregnancy.
2. Lack of sex education: many teenagers are not taught about safe sex or birth control by parents or school.
3. Peer pressure: teenagers who are not taught how to handle friends who push them into sex may give in before they are ready.
4. Lack of use of contraceptive methods: not using contraception, or using a method with a high failure rate, can lead to pregnancy.
5. Use of drugs and alcohol: drugs and alcohol can lead to unintended sexual activity.
6. Poverty: poverty is linked to higher rates of teenage pregnancy.

What are the implications of teenage pregnancy?

The implications of teenage pregnancy fall into four groups: health, unsafe abortion, socio-economic and emotional.

What are the health implications?

Health implications are the risks to the body of the teenage mother and her baby.

• Pregnancy-induced hypertension: can cause heart failure and the death of both mother and child.
• Premature labour: the baby may be born too early.
• Spontaneous abortion: the pregnancy may be lost on its own.
• Iron deficiency anaemia: lowers the mother’s chance of surviving heavy bleeding.
• Incomplete abortion: part of the pregnancy remains in the womb and can cause serious illness.
• Infections and injuries: the genital organs may be infected or injured.

What are the implications of unsafe abortion?

Unsafe abortion is the ending of a pregnancy by an untrained person or in an unsafe way.

• Untrained providers: adolescents are the most likely to seek abortion from unqualified healthcare providers.
• Induced abortion attempts: some girls try to end the pregnancy themselves.
• Health risks: infection, injury and incomplete abortion can follow.
• Loss of life: unsafe abortion can lead to death.

What are the socio-economic implications?

Socio-economic implications are the effects of pregnancy on a girl’s education, income and place in society.

• Termination of education: the girl may have to leave school.
• Disrupted life plans: career goals may be delayed or lost.
• Early and forced marriage: some girls are made to marry because of the pregnancy.
• Stigmatisation and isolation: friends and others may avoid or shame her.
• Low self-esteem: she may feel less worthy than her mates.
• Poverty: few job opportunities lead to low income and poverty.

What are the emotional implications?

Emotional or psychological implications are the effects of pregnancy on a girl’s feelings and mind.

• Loneliness and depression: she may feel sad and cut off from others.
• Guilt and fear: she may fear her parents, school and community.
• Insecurity: she may be unsure about her future and who will support her.
• Emotional imbalance: she loses her childhood and must adapt to adult duties too early.

How can teenage pregnancy be prevented?

Teenage pregnancy can be prevented by education, abstinence, parental guidance and staying in school.

• Sex education: teach teenagers about their bodies, risks and how to say no.
• Abstinence: staying away from sex until old enough and ready is the surest way to avoid pregnancy.
• Parental guidance: parents should talk openly with their children and know their friends.
• Avoiding drugs and alcohol: these reduce good judgement.
• Staying in school: education gives girls and boys goals and better choices.
• Seeking help: a teenager under pressure should talk to a trusted adult, teacher or health worker.

What are birth defects?

A birth defect is a problem that occurs while a baby is developing in the uterus (womb).

• Minor defects: have small effects on the child.
• Severe defects: have serious effects on health and growth.

What are the causes of birth defects?

Birth defects have two kinds of causes: genetic and non-genetic.

1. Genetic causes: abnormalities passed from parents to children. They happen at conception and often cannot be prevented.
2. Non-genetic causes: harmful habits or dangerous exposures of the pregnant mother, such as:
   • Smoking
   • Using illegal drugs
   • Taking alcohol
   • Exposure to toxic chemicals
   • Untreated bacterial or viral infections

What are some common birth defects?

Common birth defects include Down syndrome, sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis.

• Down syndrome: causes delay in physical and mental development.
• Sickle cell disease: an inherited blood disorder.
• Cystic fibrosis: damages the lungs and the digestive system.

Evaluation

1. Explain “teenage pregnancy” in your own words.
2. Enumerate four major causes of teenage pregnancy.
3. State two health implications of teenage pregnancy.
4. List two socio-economic implications and two emotional implications of teenage pregnancy.
5. Give two ways of preventing teenage pregnancy.

Assignment

State three non-genetic causes of birth defects and name two common birth defects.