TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy in a girl between the ages of 10-19. Teenage pregnancy is usually unintended and unwanted. The fact that you are at pubertal age and can get pregnant physically does not mean that you are really mature to be pregnant socially, emotionally, educationally even financially.

Teenage pregnancy can be dangerous for both the mother and the unborn child. Complication at child birth, and unsafe abortion, usually result from teenage pregnancy.

 

CONSEQUENCES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY

The following are some of the consequences of a girl who got pregnant at the unripe age of teens.

1. Health Risks: Pregnancy induced hypertension, which can cause heart failure and death of both mother and the child. This type of pregnancy can lead to a condition whereby the girl’s pelvic opening is too small to allow the infants head to pass during delivery. This may cause tear between the vagina and the urinary tract (vesico vagina fistula) or rectum(recto vagina fistula). Caesarian section (C.S) may result because the hips are not widened enough for the baby to come through the pelvis.
2. Unsafe Abortion: Since teenage pregnancy is unwanted, they are likely to seek abortion from untrained health care providers or can go on self-medication for self-induced abortion.
3. Socio-economic:
   1. Termination of education.
   2. Stigmatization

• Life span and career goals are disrupted

1. Early marriage due to pregnancy
2. Isolation from peers and low self esteem
3. Low income and economic dependence

• Force marriage
• Poverty

1. Emotional feeling of guilt and fear
2. Loose of childhood and adopting to adulthood.

 

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT PREGNANCY

1. Myth: Girls should not use contraceptives.

Fact: Girls should abstain from sexual intercourse so as to prevent themselves using contraceptives but if they have sexual intercourse and use contraceptive, it is safe and can prevent teenage pregnancy.Thus contraceptives are not for bad girls.

 

2. Myth: The contraceptives causes the following:
   1. It destroys the womb.
   2. It makes one infertile for life.
   3. It makes one thin.
   4. It reduces one’s breast size.

Fact: Only a few contraceptive may cause delay in fertility. Contraceptives do not damage the womb but drug overdose or abuse and unsafe abortion may damage the womb.

 

3. Myth: The condom reduces sensitivity during sexual intercourse.

Fact: There are very thin latex condoms and textured condoms that favour sensitivity in sexual relation.

 

4. Myth: A woman can get pregnant as a result of kiss.

Fact: Spermatozoa must penetrate the vagina for fertilization to take place somewhere in fallopian tube.

 

5. Myth: It is better for a woman to have children while still young as she can see them grow.

Fact: The ideal age for pregnancy is between 25 and 35.

 

6. Myth: For a woman to obtain the love of a man, she must have child for him.

Fact: Pregnancy does not guarantee a good relationship. A partner can leave even after there is a child in the relationship.

 

See also

Water and Chemical Pollution

Air and Noise Pollution

Environmental Health

Classes of food

NUTRITION