Teen Pregnancy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Teen Pregnancy - Research Paper Example The United States has the highest number of teen pregnancy in the world with recent statistics revealing that nearly 46% of teenagers in the ages of 15-19 have indulged in sex (Teen pregnancy statistics). In order to reduce this growing rate of teenage pregnancy, abstinence from sex is widely recommended for teenagers by many conservative politicians and health personal by educating teenagers about the effects of pre-marital sexual practices. However, many pediatricians and health counselors have expressed that mere teaching of sexual abstinence would not be sufficient and have recommended that teenagers should have access to birth control and emergency contraceptive options which would be helpful, especially in cases where the teenager was forced in to sex. (Teen pregnancy statistics). Hence, despite the various views expressed teenage pregnancy can be effectively controlled and managed through adequate knowledge about sexual practices and access to birth control measures in additio n to sexual abstinence. At a younger age the sexual intercourse is mostly non-voluntary or unwanted (Teen pregnancy statistics; Facts on American; Tanne, 2005). And such unprotected, unwanted sex increases the risk of pregnancy or being affected with sexually transmitted diseases (Facts on American). Teen pregnancy not only affects the physical and mental strength of the teenagers, the children born to such teenagers also suffer from problems such as low-birth weight and tend to perform less well in school compared to children born to adult mothers (Teen pregnancy statistics). People, who believe that sexual abstinence is the only best way to reduce the occurrence of teenage pregnancy, stress that it is better not to teach teenagers more than what is required about sex as it would only result in an increased involvement towards sexual practices. Rearing a teenager with the right family values will definitely help to alleviate unnecessary thoughts about sex and sexual activities at a