Adolescent or teen pregnancy is a compelling health concern both in the United States and the rest of the world. The effects of teen pregnancy such as increased infant mortality, social stigma, and increased risk of admission to a health institution among others imply that there is a dire need for the establishment of measures of preventing teen pregnancies (Langille, 2007).
The precursors of teen pregnancies are diverse and incline towards low socioeconomic status. However other causative factors include low levels of education, single parenting, risky and early sexual behavior, disrupted family structures, sexual abuse, and weak or no parental connection, just to mention a few (Papri et al., 2016).
Teen pregnancy being one of the most critical areas of public health continues to receive undivided attention from community, state, and national programs initiatives. The first resource worth mentioning is the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP) which is an HHS's multi-organizational nationwide program aimed at preventing teenage pregnancies.
The TPP involves numerous organizations and institutions at the national, state, and community level to curb teen pregnancies such as providing funding and evidence-based knowledge resources. Another resource is Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) which stems from the Affordable Care Act. Under PREP, teens access comprehensive education on abstinence and contraception as well as adulthood preparation topics to help them make responsible choices (Youth.Gov, n.d.).
The rate of births per 1000 teenagers aged between 15 and 19 years has been on a steady decline in the last decade from the 40s to the 20s (roughly 50% reduction). The first possible explanation for the falling rates is economic dynamics. Fluctuations in the economic growth rate and employment rates could have "discouraged" teen pregnancy rates.
Other plausible explanations are access to information, increase use of birth control methods notably contraceptives, and the heightened vigor of teenage prevention programs at the community level. The latter is probable given the number of grassroots programs engaging families on the issue of adolescent pregnancy (Patten & Livingston, 2016).
References
"Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative." Youth.Gov.
Langille, D. B. (2007). Teenage pregnancy: trends, contributing factors and the physician's role. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 176(11), 1601-1602.
Papri, F. S., Khanam, Z., Ara, S., & Panna, M. B. (2016). Adolescent Pregnancy: Risk Factors, Outcome and Prevention. Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College Journal, 15(1), 53-56.
Patten, E. & Livingston, G. (2016, April 29). Why is the teen birth rate falling?