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Teen Pregnancy Essay

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Each year approximately 750,000 adolescents (ages 15-19) in the United States will become pregnant and about 400,000 of those adolescents will give birth. Out of all the developed nations in the world, the United States has the highest incidence of teen pregnancy. Although there has been a decline in the number of pregnancies among adolescents, teen pregnancy is still a serious health concern that needs continued intervention. It is widely agreed upon that becoming pregnant at a young age has negative effects on both mother and baby in many different aspects. What are the reasons for the increased rate of teen pregnancies in the United States despite the health risks, and how can we lower it? There is no doubt that becoming pregnant at a …show more content…

Inadequate zinc intake can lead to congenital abnormalities and fetal growth retardation. Low iron intake can also lead to fetal growth retardation. Low levels of vitamin D can cause rickets and low levels of calcium can cause poor skeletal development in the fetus. There are many more complications that can occur later in life as well due to malnutrition during pregnancy. (Nnam, 2015) Pregnancy can be a stressful time, much more so in a teenager who isn’t developmentally at the age to have child or be a mother. There is a great number of teenage mothers who use alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs while pregnant. Just as diet plays an important part in the health of the mother and baby, abstinence from chemicals is of upmost importance. The most widely used chemical during pregnancy is alcohol. There is no known safe amount of alcohol that is allowed during pregnancy, so complete abstinence is recommended. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the blood stream and crosses the placenta, into the fetus, because the liver is not fully functional, the fetus is exposed to high levels. Alcohol use during pregnancy can increase the risk of stillbirth or miscarriage. Alcohol usage is also linked to low birth weight and learning disabilities. The most serious complications from alcohol use during pregnancy collectively fall

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