teen pregnancy Anthony Evans

Table of Contents Topic Introduction Reflection Page Research Articles Charts and Tables Reflection page II Work Cited

introduction Teen Pregnancy is a social problem that has changed drastically over the past fifty years. This powerpoint is going to look at the trends and possible causes of teen pregnancy with American society.

Reflection Page I used to work at the behavior health unit a hospital in Utah. I worked with children of all ages. They were all exhibiting some type of social problem. Although I have seen a lot of different problems, my focus has always been on the individual. I would teach coping skills and work with them one on one or in groups to help give them skills that will help them in the real world. I know that a lot of the skill I taught them would assist with the social problems they may be having. I have never taken the time to look into the source of the problem. This class titled Social Problems, as part of a sociology curriculum will hopefully help me see these problems from a different perspective. I hope to learn the societal causes of these problems, specifically with the younger generation. I hope to learn the history of many social problems because I think that will help me better understand the direction our society is heading. The study of society in other countries is also something that I think is very vital and important to our own research and analysis. I hope this class will give me insight into the social problems in the United States in terms of sociology.

research articles In 2006, 750,000 women younger than 20 became pregnant. The pregnancy rate was 71.5 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15–19, and pregnancies occurred among about 7% of women in this age-group. In 2005, the U.S. teenage pregnancy rate reached its lowest point in more than 30 years (69.5), down 41% since its peak in 1990 (116.9). However, in 2006, the rate increased for the first time in more than a decade, rising 3%. The pregnancy rate among sexually experienced teenagers (those who had ever had intercourse) was pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15–19, reflecting the fact that the overall teenage pregnancy rate includes a substantial proportion of young people who are not sexually active. The pregnancy rate among sexually experienced teenagers also increased for the first time in over a decade, rising 3% from 2005 to 2006 The teenage birthrate in 2006 was 41.9 births per 1,000 women. This was 32% lower than the peak rate of 61.8, reached in 1991, but 4% higher than in Between 1988 and 2000, teenage pregnancy rates declined in every state, and between 2000 and 2005, they fell in every state except North Dakota. (State data are not yet available for 2006.) In 2005, teenage birthrates were highest in Texas (62 per 1,000), New Mexico, Mississippi, Arkansas and Arizona. The states with the lowest teenage birthrates were New Hampshire (18 per 1,000), Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey.

research articles Pregnancy rates among teenagers and young women in the United States rose steadily from the early 1970s to the early 1990s By 1990 or 1991, the pregnancy rate among teenagers and young women had begun a steady and consistent decline. For the first time since the early 1990s, overall rates of pregnancy and birth—and, to a lesser extent, rates of abortion—among teenagers and young women increased from 2005 to 2006.

research articles MORE QUICK FACTS About 1 million teenage girls in the U.S. (which is about 10% of the girls age 15-19) become pregnant each year. It is estimated that approximately 1/3 of pregnant teens have abortions, 14% have miscarriages, and 52% give birth. About 72% of teens who give birth are not married. About 75% of teens who give birth are first-time mothers. Over 175,000 of the teens who give birth each year are under the age of 18. Eighty percent of young teenage moms end up in poverty and on welfare. The sons of young teenage moms are 2.7 times more likely to end up in prison than sons born to girls who did not bear children until they were at least 20. If teenage girls would delay childbearing until the age of 20.5, the incarceration rate across the U.S would decrease by 3.5%. This would amount to a long-range savings of one billion dollars in correctional costs and three billion dollars in law enforcement costs. If teenage girls delayed childbearing until after the age of 21, the rate and costs would be reduced even further. In addition, if less of these young men are incarcerated, then they are able to better contribute to the support of their own children. A study in Illinois found that children of teenage mothers are twice as likely to be abused and neglected than are children of 20 or 21 year old mothers. It is estimated that as many as 5% of foster-care placements would not be needed if teenage childbearing were eliminated.

tables and charts

reflection page II I learned a lot from this research assignment. The teen pregnancy problem also opened up a lot of other interesting facts including abortion rates. I had no idea that half of teen pregnancies in some states result in abortions. When it comes to teen pregnancy I learned that it is still a problem. However, it has continued to get better over the past twenty years. Generally the states with the largest teen population had the largest number of teen pregnancy rates. There was not a lot of research on the causes of the rates, however birth control and the legalization of abortion have been contributing factors. There does not seem to be a lot of current statistics that were readily available for teen pregnancy. In terms of sociology, it shows the rates through changes in society. As laws and cultural acceptance changes, so does the rates of teen pregnancy.

work cited Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention — Fact Sheet #50, Jan. 1997, Adolescent Motherhood: Implications for the Juvenile Justice System by Rebecca A. Maynard, Ph.D., and Eileen M. GarryAdolescent Motherhood: Implications for the Juvenile Justice System FILM_ACTIVITIES.html