Question

Health problem:   Teenage pregnancy in rural areas

Definition of health problem

• What is the issue
• Who is impacted (Overall prevalence of the problem, what segment of the US population is mostly affected)?
• Why this issue has become a major health/ political issue and concern

Please explain in detail and please answer all question

Please answer as soon as possible Thank You

Answer 1

Definition of Health Problem: a condition of suffering or distress due to ill health. harm, hurt, injury, trauma. any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc. softness, unfitness. poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury)

Teen pregnancy is an important issue for several reasons. For example, there are health risks for the baby and children born to teenage mothers are more likely to suffer health, social, and emotional problems than children born to older mothers. ... In Caucasian teens, the repeat birth rate is 14.8 percent

Teen pregnancy is bad and it can affect your life negatively. Teen pregnancy is unsatisfactory because sometimes mothers have to give away their children because they can't take care of them. Girls that have an unwanted pregnancy might have to go through a painful abortion that can turn their life up-side-down.

In addition to higher rates of postpartum depression, teenage mothers have higher rates of depression. They also have higher rates of suicidal ideation than their peers who aren't mothers. Teen mothers are more likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other teenage women, as well

Teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school. Only about one-third of teen mothers obtain a high school diploma. Teenage pregnancies are associated with increased rates of alcohol abuse and substance abuse, lower educational level, and reduced earning potential in teen fathers.

Additionally, adolescent mothers are more likely to have low birth weight babies who are at risk of malnourishment and poor development. Infant and child mortality is also highest among children born to adolescent mothers. Adolescent pregnancy is a serious medical and public health problem

Maintaining your social life during a teen pregnancy

No matter how young or old you are, relationships are always extremely important, and most people find it necessary to stay active socially. Whether these are relationships with your friends, family, or a boyfriend, they are no doubt important to you. Teen pregnancy can cause a lot of changes, such as mood swings, fatigue, and a change in what you can or cannot do.

Friends & Family

For example, you may be more tired during your pregnancy, meaning that you spend more time sleeping than seeing friends, family, or your boyfriend. To help with this, try to plan things ahead of time and budget your time. Plan short group events so that you can catch up with multiple people at the same time. You may not be able to spend as much time with each person as before, but at least you will have some time with everyone. Mood swings can cause tension in any relationship, and it’s made worse when you feel that you can’t control it! This emotional rollercoaster is fairly normal during any teen pregnancy, but your friends and boyfriend may never have been close to someone who was pregnant; they may not know what to expect. It might be a good idea to have conversations with your friends, family, and/or boyfriend and let them know that these mood swings may happen occasionally, and give them tips on how to bring you back to normal. Also, find some activities that help keep you even-tempered. Some examples include a warm bath with music, meditation, slow breathing exercises, going for a walk, etc. Teen pregnancy is hard enough, you need time to think, rejuvenate, and plan.

Boyfriend

Going through a teen pregnancy with your boyfriend can get tricky, especially if the pregnancy was not planned. It’s likely both his and your first experience with pregnancy, and if you are early/new in your relationship, you may not already have a solid foundation to fall back on. If you’re still learning basic things about each other, pregnancy can make all of that more confusing. Plus, there may be added pressure on the relationship from thoughts like, is he going to be a good father? Or will he really stay with me? Or are we going to get married? Instead of keeping these thoughts inside and allowing them to grow and bother you, talk to someone you trust, and after taking the time to think things through, talk to your boyfriend. When talking to your boyfriend, try not to sound like you’re accusing him of anything; that will just put him on defense! Teen pregnancy is challenging whether you work together or not. Don’t judge him on his first reactions. It will be helpful to plan on multiple conversations. This will give both of you a better time to adjust to things and think through all the teen pregnancy and personal challenges you might experience.

Parents

Coexisting with your parents can be a struggle during your pregnancy as well. You may find that you’ve lost their trust, and this can put an extra strain on your relationship. Do what you can to earn their trust back in little ways during your pregnancy. Keep track of your vitamins, doctor’s appointments, and parenting classes so that your parents don’t have to remind you. Do something extra around the house to let them know you are thinking of them. And above all else, be truthful with them! It’s easier to lose trust than to build it back up. On the flip side, your parents may feel overbearing because they want to make sure you and the baby are okay. Speak up calmly if you feel the need, but know that they are doing this because they care. Some discover that during a teen pregnancy, their parents speak out against the pregnancy and look not to continue it, and some may even kick you out of the house. If this is the case, know that there is help out there for you. Call us at 1-800-672-2296 to find a local pregnancy center or maternity home for assistance.

High school or college with a teen pregnancy

High School

If you are in high school, you probably have a lot of questions about how your life will look now and after you have the baby. Right now, you may have to miss school here and there for doctor’s appointments and check-ups. Maybe you have a lot of symptoms (like morning sickness) that cause you to be tardy or have to run out of class. Perhaps you’re scared that you might have to drop your favorite sport or activity. Or, you’re wondering what in the world you’re supposed to do when your due date approaches; can you deliver your baby and still keep up on schoolwork? This will take a lot of communication between you, your parents, your school leadership, your teachers, and your doctor. You may need doctor’s notes to excuse you from class or to have special bathroom priveledges. Your doctor may tell you that your sport is not safe during pregnancy. If your due date is during the school year, you may need to make up time in summer school or do extra work ahead of time. It’s possible that your school already has a plan for those with teen pregnancy, so the first thing to do is ask. Talk to your counselor, your principal, and then your teachers. If things don’t work out with your current school, you may want to look into schools specifically designed for those with teen pregnancy. This way the curriculum and timing are made just for you and you can still finish high school. If your pregnancy is high-risk or you do not feel that you can handle schoolwork, you may want to look into classes towards earning your GED on your own time. Once you’ve graduated, you can look into applying to colleges. If you choose adoption, you will be relatively back to normal again after 9 months and able to continue, perhaps, as planned. If you decide to parent your child, you’ll want to think about how much time you can devote to school, a job, and being with your child. Many colleges offer some type of child care program, and if you go to a school nearby, you may be able to work childcare out with your parents (if they are willing).

College

If you are in college already, you will want to plan ahead. Do you need to take a semester off? What kind of childcare does the college offer? Can you keep up a job along with classes? How will you pay for classes/will your parents continue to pay for your schooling? If you’re pregnant and already into a semester, try adding a job and see how you can manage your time and to see if you can earn enough money to provide for a child. If you plan to stay with your partner, he will need to figure out some earning possibilities too. Talk to your college about options for pregnant students/students with children. Ask questions early; the more you know, the more possibilities are open to you. It will not be easy, especially when you are dealing with being pregnant and the symptoms that come with it, or after pregnancy when you have a newborn. However, there are ways that you can stay in college classes and graduate. Women like you do it every day!