Facts on Teenage Pregnancy

Babies born to teen mothers have a higher chance of repeating the cycle.

Teenage pregnancy is a hard reality for some and can cause a crushing blow to unsuspecting youths. Understanding some facts on teenage pregnancy may be able to help reduce the instances among today's teenage generation.

Incidences

Statistics show that before the age of 20, 34 out of every 100 young women will become pregnant, and 80 percent of these pregnancies will be unintended.

Race and Teenage Pregnancy

The highest rate of teenage pregnancies occurs in the Hispanic race. Both African American teens and Hispanic teens have a higher teenage pregnancy rate than any other race.

Consequences

Almost 80 percent of unwed teenage mothers end up on governmental support, including welfare, and only one-third complete their high-school diploma. Less than 2 percent complete a college degree before the age of 30.

Cost

According to Family First Aid, the incidences of teenage pregnancy cost the United States around $7 billion every year.

Risks

Children born to teenage mothers tend to have lower birth weights and higher incidences of poor performance in school. Boys born to teenage mothers have a higher chance of ending up in prison (13 percent higher), while girls have a 22 percent higher chance of repeating the teen mother cycle.

References

• Family First Aid: Teen Pregnancy Statistics and Teen Pregnancy Facts