Teen Pregnancy and Its Impact


   


   Teen pregnancy has steadily decreased the past few years, but it is still a serious concern. There are so many girls who end up in the worst circumstances because they did not get the tender love and care that they needed through their pregnancy journey. Their children also end up entangled in the mess and it can only lead to worse things down the road. If we can help the soon-to-be mothers early, we could prevent so much hurt and heartache. Being a pregnant teenager is hard enough, but with no support system and nowhere to go, it could seem impossible, and they could feel pressured into making the wrong decision.

    The U.S. has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the western industrialized world. In 2015, 229,715 babies were born in the United States from women aged 15-19. This dropped the birth rate to 8% which is a record low, but could still be helped in many ways. Sadly, teen pregnancies are associated with increase rates of alcohol and substance abuse, lower educational level, and reduced earning potential in teen fathers. Teen mothers are also more likely to drop out of high school. Only one-third of teen moms obtain their high school diploma. Teenage births are also associated with lower annual income for the mother. The child from a teen mother is more likely to not finish high school, have more health problems, and give birth as a teenager themselves.

    This is what Grow in Grace is trying to help prevent. We are trying to keep teen moms in school so they can finish their education and still take care of their child. We try to instill in them that no matter what circumstance they are in, they can still create a life for themselves and their family.  We also try to help teach them life skills like meal planning, budgeting, use of credit, housekeeping and parenting skills. If these young ladies have someone supporting and teaching them, they could prosper beyond their wildest dreams.

    These young ladies should not be condemned for their actions. They should be loved and supported because they are children of God and deserve a chance to conquer the world. Let’s come together and show support for these girls and their little ones, so we can build a strong and loving community. Let’s create a safe, stable environment for teen mothers, because everyone deserves grace.


Sources: 
https://www.medinstitute.org/faqs/what-is-the-impact-of-nonmarital-teenage-pregnancy/
https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm
http://www.healthcommunities.com/teen-pregnancy/children/overview-of-teen-pregnancy.shtml
Photo by Joey Thompson on Unsplash

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