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. It can be dangerous for both the mother and the unborn child. Its implications fall into four groups: health, unsafe abortion, socio-economic, and emotional.

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, social, economic and emotional implications of teenage pregnancy;
4. state the causes of birth defects and name some common birth defects.

What is teenage pregnancy?

Teenage pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy in a young woman who has not reached her 20th birthday when the pregnancy ends, regardless of whether the woman is married or is legally an adult. Worldwide, rates of teenage pregnancy range from 143 per 1000 in some sub-Saharan African countries to 2.9 per 1000 in South Korea.

Pregnant teenagers face many of the obstetric issues faced by women in their 20s and 30s. However, there are additional medical concerns for mothers aged 14 or younger, especially if they live in a developing country. For mothers between 15 and 19, risks are associated more with socio-economic factors than with the biological effects of age.

What causes teenage pregnancy?

Many factors cause teenage pregnancy. These include:

1. Social belief: In some societies, early marriage and traditional gender roles are important factors in the rate of teenage pregnancy. For example, in some sub-Saharan African countries, early marriage is often seen as a blessing because it is proof of the young woman’s fertility. In the Indian sub-continent, early marriage and pregnancy are more common in traditional rural communities than in cities.
2. Lack of sex education: The lack of education on safe sex, whether from parents, school or elsewhere, is a cause of teenage pregnancy. Many teenagers are not taught about methods of birth control and how to deal with peers who pressure them into having sex before they are ready.
3. Lack of use of contraceptive methods: Not using contraception, or using a method with a high failure rate, is a factor in teenage pregnancy.
4. Use of drugs and alcohol: Drug and alcohol use may lead to unintended sexual activity. Teenagers who use drugs are more likely to engage in sex. The drugs with the strongest evidence linking them to teenage pregnancy are cannabis, alcohol, and amphetamines, including “ecstasy”.
5. Poverty: Poverty is associated with increased rates of teenage pregnancy. Economically poor countries have far more teenage mothers than economically rich countries.

What are the consequences of teenage pregnancy?

Adolescent pregnancy refers to pregnancy in a girl between the ages of 10 and 19. Adolescent pregnancy is usually unwanted and unintended. It can be dangerous for both the mother and the unborn child.

The consequences of adolescent pregnancy and delivery include the following:

1. It can lead to pregnancy-induced hypertension, which can cause heart failure and death of both the mother and the child.
2. It can also lead to premature labour and spontaneous abortion.
3. Health risks include infection, incomplete abortion, injuries to genital organs, etc.
4. Termination of education.
5. Life plans and career goals are disrupted.
6. Feeling of loss of childhood and adapting to adulthood.
7. Poverty.
8. Forced marriage.

What are the implications of teenage pregnancy?

The implications of teenage pregnancy can be put into four groups:

1. Health implication
2. Unsafe abortion
3. Socio-economic implication
4. Emotional implication

Health implication

Teenage pregnancy could result in a lot of health risks. Some of these include:

• Pregnancy-induced hypertension, which can cause heart failure and death of both the mother and child
• Premature labour or spontaneous abortion
• Iron deficiency anaemia, which reduces the chances of surviving excessive bleeding
• Incomplete abortions
• Infections and injuries to genital organs

Unsafe abortion

Adolescents are the most likely to seek abortions from untrained and unqualified healthcare providers. They may also attempt induced abortion. Unsafe abortion can also lead to several health risks and loss of life.

Socio-economic implications

• Termination of education
• Disruption of life plan and career goals
• Early and forced marriage due to pregnancy
• Stigmatisation and isolation from peers
• Low self-esteem
• Few job opportunities, low income and poverty

Emotional or psychological implication

Some of these are:

• Loneliness and depression
• Feeling of guilt and fear
• Feelings of insecurity
• Emotional or psychological imbalance as a result of loss of childhood and adapting to adulthood

What are the causes and consequences of birth defects?

A birth defect is a problem that occurs when a baby is developing in the uterus (womb). Birth defects can be minor or severe.

Causes of birth defects

1. Genetics: These are abnormalities passed by parents to their children. Genetic birth defects happen at conception and often cannot be prevented.
2. Non-genetic causes: These are caused by harmful habits or dangerous exposures of pregnant mothers. Some of these habits or dangerous exposures are:
   • Smoking
   • Using illegal drugs
   • Taking alcohol
   • Exposure to toxic chemicals
   • Untreated bacterial or viral infections

Common birth defects

The most common types of functional or developmental birth defects include:

• Down syndrome: causes delay in physical and mental development
• Sickle cell disease
• 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.

Assignment

1. State three non-genetic causes of birth defects.
2. Name two common birth defects.