Introduction

● Good morning everyone. My name is Irene Yacinthe and today I will

be discussing how The Culture of Teen Pregnancy in Low-income
Families Adversely Affects Teen Girls. The American Pregnancy
Association describes teen pregnancy as when a woman under 20
gets pregnant and although not teenagers, girls aged 12 or under
also fall into this category. However, the term usually refers to girls
ages 15-19.

● People have a general idea of the negative implications of teen

pregnancy but I find that it's still prevalent, especially within
low-income households. I believe we need to examine the effects we
already know to see how damaging teen pregnancy truly is.

Abandonment of Studies
● Imagine sitting in a classroom. You’re pregnant and experiencing
different side effects like nausea, backaches, and fatigue. You would
want to go home right?
● A 2022 article by Sobngwi-Tambekou et al., with research conducted
in Cameroon, shows that 41.6% of the 18,791 single mothers studied
discontinued school due to pregnancy.
● We already mentioned the physical aspect which will impede her
ability to focus and execute assignments
● Medical costs such as ultrasounds, treatment for any symptoms
(preeclampsia), and delivering the baby will take a toll on the family’s
 finances. If there are little to no resources she may have to get a job
which will become an obstacle to her academic advancement.
● Moreover, society generally frowns upon young mothers and having
children out of wedlock. Therefore, a pregnant teen is bound to
experience high levels of ostracization (for example by her peers)
stigma, and shame.

Perpetuation of Generational Poverty

● Furthermore, lack of formal education results in low income which

can create a cycle of generational poverty. Research conducted by

Christie et al. states “While it has long been recognized that the education of men

is important, it is becoming increasingly clear that when women are deprived of

education, everyone pays an enormous price.” How is this so?

● Little to no qualifications = no job/low wages Despite hands-on

experience being in demand…

● In some cases, when the child is older, the mother will take on two

jobs, as they are now able to somewhat take care of themselves…As

expected…

● The children can take part-time jobs to reduce the financial strain.

However, in a case where they are forced to work full-time jobs

immediately following graduation, they are unable to pursue

 professional development and their lack of education will cause the

cycle to continue.

Psychological Deterioration

● Becoming a parent during the adolescent years makes her more

liable to experience psychological deterioration. Hormonal

imbalances, which are common during and after pregnancy, can

contribute to the development of depression in pregnant women and

mothers. An article from The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds highlights

that adolescent mothers are more likely to experience depression during

pregnancy when compared to older mothers and non-pregnant women. A

staggering 16%-44% for depression in pregnant and post-partum teens was

recorded in comparison to the estimated 10%-15% for older mothers.

● A wide array of factors can be attributed to this disparity. The shame

and ostracization to be faced can create high levels of stress and

anxiety. (e.g. from friends at school, community members and even

family members). Combined with the fact that she is not physically,

mentally or emotionally mature enough to handle this, it is likely that

she will experience higher levels of depression compared to her

 older, more mature counterparts. Especially if she lacks emotional

and financial support.

Conclusion

Ultimately, teen pregnancy is not as light a matter as people perceive it to

be. To combat this dilemma, society can strive to educate youth about its

physical, psychological, and economic effects. We can also build

wholesome, reliable communities and programmes for the youth, and

provide resources, especially for those living in unfavorable conditions.