Approximately 1 million teens become pregnant each year in the U. S. This results in approximately 520, 000 births, 405, 000 abortions and 80, 000 miscarriages. More than 10% of this total is in the State of Ca, and 10% of the California total is in Orange County o California has the 2 nd highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. 125 pregnancies per 1000 women aged 15-19 occurred in 1997. The national rate in 97% per 1000 women o Over 40% of adolescents will become pregnant before reaching age 20.
By age 18, 24% will have a pregnancy. o Of the total number of teen pregnancies, approximately half occur with 18 & 19 year olds. o Five to seven billion in state and federal money is spent each year on services related to teen parents. o 46% of single mothers receive public assistance o Of prison inmates between 15&19 years of age, 90% are products of an adolescent pregnancy o Pregnancy is third of the top ten disciplinary problems confronting public school teachers. o 3 of 10 go on welfare within 3 years of the birth of their first child. o 70% of all pregnant adolescents do not receive adequate prenatal care.
o 9% of teen mothers have low birth weight babies, which are 40 times more likely to die in their first month of life than normal weight babies. o Sexually transmitted diseases along with HIV/AIDS are some risk factors that contribute to teen pregnancy. o Pregnant teens often have poor eating habits and may smoke, drink alcohol and take drugs, increasing the risk that their babies will be born with health problems. Also more at risk of pregnancy complications (premature or prolonged labor, anemia and high blood pressure). And are even greater for teens who are less than 15 years old. o 1 in 3 teen mothers drops out of high school.
o 40% of females who give birth by age fifteen don’t complete 8 th grade. o More than 9 in 10 teens who give birth keep their babies. o The younger the birth mother, the greater the age difference between herself and the father. In fact, many of these fathers are guilty of statutory rape, and most states do very little to prosecute. The percentage of the fathers accept the reality of what they have helped create.