This decline is believed to be due to more effective birth control practice , as well as decreased sexual activity among teens. Still, teenage pregnancy rates remain high. In the U.S., approximately 1 million teenage girls become pregnant every year. In order to lower teenage birthrates even further, teens need to be educated about sex and the consequences of pregnancy . There are several reasons, not the least of which are the health risks to the baby .
Children born to teenage mothers are more likely to suffer health, social, and emotional problems.
There is a greater chance for complications such as premature labor during teen pregnancy. And there are socioeconomic consequences as well. Low-birthweight babies are more likely to have organs that aren t fully developed, which can result in any of a number of complications such as bleeding in the brain, respiratory distress syndrome, or intestinal problems. Teenage mothers tend to have poorer eating habits than older mothers and are less likely to take recommended daily multivitamins to maintain adequate nutrition during pregnancy . They are also more likely to smoke, drink, or take drugs during their pregnancy.