Teenage pregnancy

The rate of teenage pregnancies in Australia has declined significantly over a number of years and has been stable in recent years. Only five per cent of children are now born to women aged 19 years and under. Estimates vary, but it is believed that around one in four sexually active teenage women may become pregnant by mistake. About half of these unwanted pregnancies are terminated. One in six women aged 20 to 29, who are asked about pregnancy, will have experienced a pregnancy as a teenager.

Some pregnant teenagers are so shocked and frightened that they try to cope by ignoring or denying the pregnancy. This means they don’t receive proper antenatal care or miss the safest window of opportunity for abortion. Research indicates that sex education and access to effective contraception are essential in preventing unplanned pregnancy in the teenage population.

Options
An unplanned pregnancy is a traumatic event and a teenage woman needs empathetic support. Pressure from parents, medical staff, friends and partners can exacerbate her stress. Her options include:

Abortion – 16 per cent of Australian women seeking abortion are teenagers. There is no age restriction on abortion as long as the woman has a clear understanding of the purpose, nature, risks, effects and alternatives.
Adoption – relatively few women relinquish their children for adoption anymore, although adoption agencies and the demand for babies still exist.
Foster care – the child lives with a foster family until the teenage mother feels ready to cope as the primary carer.
Parenting – the stigma of single parenthood has passed, which means that keeping the child is more common than in the past.
Complications of teenage pregnancy
Teenage women generally encounter more problems during pregnancy and childbirth than older women. Reasons for the higher complication rate include:
Physical immaturity
Lack of health care knowledge
Cigarette smoking
Alcohol consumption and the use of other social drugs
Poor diet
Inadequate antenatal care
High levels of emotional distress.
The teenage woman’s partner
In nearly 25 per cent of cases, the partner is never told about the pregnancy. Most teenage women believe having a child would have a positive effect on their relationship; however, of those women who choose to keep their baby, twice as many live in hostels than with the father of their child.

Social problems faced by teenage mothers
The social stigma of being a single parent no longer exists in most parts of the Australian community and the availability of pensions means that parenting is a viable option. Many teenagers believe looking after a baby will be the happiest time of their lives. This is true for some, but keeping the child may have unforeseen consequences, such as:
Reduced education and employment opportunities
Alienation from family and friends
Poverty
Increased risk of mental health issues
Increased risk of child abuse and neglect
The child may not receive adequate guidance due to parental life inexperience
The child is more likely to become a teenage parent themselves.
Counselling options
Pregnancy counselling is generally available in all Australian states and territories. Ideally, counselling should support the young woman in making a free and fully informed decision about her options and provide information on abortion, adoption and parenting. Many teenagers feel uncomfortable or unable to talk with family, so professional counselling offers a valuable and much-needed resource.

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