IndexIntroductionCauses of Teen PregnancyComplications of Teen PregnancyPrevention Measures for Teen PregnancyConclusionReferencesIntroductionIn recent decades, the number of teen pregnancies has drastically reduced in the United States of America due to measures put in place act established by the American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) to prevent teenage pregnancies. However, in other countries like Kenya it is still a serious issue that still needs to be discussed as it involves many social, economic, emotional, financial and mental issues. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has identified teen pregnancy as a significant public health problem especially in developing countries. Teen pregnancy affects many sectors such as education, family, healthcare, youth and government. According to the Demographic Health Survey, nearly three hundred thousand adolescent girls in Kenya between the ages of 10 and 19 become pregnant every year, with a prevalence rate of 18%. Teenage pregnancies prevent Kenya from achieving its sustainable development goals as most teenage girls drop out of school after becoming pregnant, making it difficult for them to escape poverty. Causes of Teen Pregnancy Most cases of teen pregnancy occur due to sexual activity, whether voluntary or involuntary. Most children in Kenya are sexually active by the age of fifteen. Furthermore, most of them neglect the use of protection and contraceptives. Since the adolescent enjoys the social life of separation and the use of drugs and alcohol, intoxication leads to poor judgment which leads to involvement in sexual activities. Child marriage is also a common factor contributing to teenage pregnancies in Kenya as most marriages are informal and unregistered. Sexual abuse and harassment also lead to early teenage pregnancies. Peer pressure and media influence have also contributed to teen pregnancies. Most teenagers get involved in sexual activities due to pressure from their friends. They feel left out because their friends have already had sex. The media also influences them when they watch adult content by making them desire and experience the pleasure of having sex which leads to pregnancy. Complications of Teenage Pregnancy The baby is likely to be born prematurely if the mother is not strong enough to get through the birth trimesters. It can also lead to the birth of an underweight baby. These problems could cause defects in the child such as cerebral palsy, baldness, chronic breathing problems, deafness, hyperactivity, dyslexia and mental retardation. The child is also prone to being affected by a genetic disease since gene splicing is very important in young people, facilitating gene transfer from mother to child. Examples of genetic diseases include sickle cell anemia, leukemia, hemophilia, thalassemia, Down syndrome, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The environment in which the mother lives during the pregnancy period also has a significant effect during childbirth. If the environment is toxic, there is a high probability that the mother will give birth to a child with genetic complications due to genetic alterations, for example with autism. It can also lead to miscarriage or premature birth. The child may also be affected by cephalopelvic disproportion: the head is largerof the pelvic opening. Such complications increase the chances of infant death. Pregnancy induces hypertension, poor maternal weight gain, anemia, and urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases to the mother. It gives the mother sleepless nights making her undergo mental changes. It can also lead to death during childbirth or baby blues after giving birth. They can be affected by postpartum depression: after giving birth, about 10-15% of women suffer from postpartum depression due to the consequences of childbirth and pregnancy. It leads to a reduction in the mother-child bond. It is caused by a rapid decrease in certain hormones during childbirth, complications during childbirth, family history of mood disorders, high level of stress during pregnancy, and previous depressive episodes. Other pregnant teen mothers tend to face suicidal thoughts due to peer pressure and experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Teenage pregnancy causes the mother to put her education on hold and take care of the child. This led to academic delays or dropping out of school. During the pregnancy period, if the mother is still enrolled in school, it can lead to poor academic performance as she is torn between her condition and school. Pregnant teen mothers tend to be unhappy if their families don't support them. Finding a job is not an easy task for pregnant teen mothers as most workers assume that they will require paid leave very soon, which will lead to the company making a loss. Most teen mothers end up doing odd jobs to make ends meet. Some are afraid to talk to their parents about the pregnancy because of their severity which pushes them to run away from home to support themselves. It leads to the loss of government revenue due to welfare plans put in place to care for teenage mothers and their children. In addition to that, a teenage mother is exempt from paying taxes. “Nationally, teen pregnancy costs taxpayers at least $7 billion each year in direct costs associated with health care, foster care, criminal justice, public assistance and lost tax revenue.” Teenage mothers are always uncertain about the future and this makes them too worried about how they will take care of the baby. They believed that the child had turned their lives upside down by helping them realize the dreams they had planned. They have limited professional opportunities that allow them to stabilize financially. Most are neglected by the child's father, forcing him to exert emotional stress on the child by causing him to abandon him or neglecting to give him the required attention. They are always exhausted and denied the space to have a social life. Their social life ends up getting ruined leading to emotional trauma. Due to emotional trauma, most mothers choose to depend on substance abuse to suppress the pain. Teen Pregnancy Prevention Measures Abstinence is the best way to prevent teen pregnancy, although some people consider it old-fashioned. It will allow them to reconsider their sexual option and prepare them to be ready when the right time comes. With this at home teenagers will have a lot of information about sex and its consequences. Communication - Parents should be clear about sexual values ​​and attitudes and their position. This will help their children have a better understanding of sex and will know how to approach the issue. They won't be surprised by sexual activities that push them to experiment with things. The federal government should also include programs in plans that offer a family plan/.