Ways to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy Essay

Introduction

Teenage pregnancy is a very common term that we hear almost on a daily basis. The term refers to a condition of girls whose ages are between 13 years to 17 years become pregnant. For quite a long time, teenage pregnancies have been like a thorn in a boil causing very much havoc to the lives of young girls in the society. The dangers associated with the teenage pregnancies do not only affect the girls in question only but the society at large. The effects are very much dangerous considering the fact that some of these affected girls risks their lives to abort without putting into consideration the looming danger of losing their lives and future complications in getting pregnant. It remains the responsibility of everybody including the men and boys who lure the girls into unsafe sexual practices to stand up and say enough is enough as they receive full support from the government, society and other stakeholders.

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Teenage pregnancies could be prevented by improving safe sex education, explaining potential consequences, and offering courses pertaining to self-worth. However, there are several methods which when fully utilized, we shall achieve the mission of preventing the teenage pregnancies or reduce them considerably to manageable levels. These ways, however, require a very comprehensive collaboration and support from different bodies and well wishes. Some of the ways used to prevent the teenage pregnancies are discussed below;

Comprehensive understanding of abstinence

As a measure of preventing teenage pregnancies, abstinence plays a central role. The government and the society in collaboration with the parents and the guardians must come out to have the sex talk with their daughters and sons and intensively enlighten them on abstinence. When the youths are told the benefits of abstaining, it will help prevent the unsafe sexual practices which contribute to teenage pregnancies (Bradley, et al. 9). From the biblical point of view, the children must be taught how holly their bodies should be kept so that they remain clean before the creator. As a way of making them understand it deeply, the youth must be made aware of the consequences of engaging premarital sexual acts which is forbidden by the holy book. Abstinence is the only sure practice that can be used to eliminate teenage pregnancy 100% without any danger attached to it. Although some people may mislead the youth with the mirth that an individual can get astray if they stay without sex, the mothers and guardians must come up with a strategy of assuring the teenagers that sex is not a necessity and hence one can live comfortably without having it.

Contraceptive techniques

Another way of preventing teenage pregnancy by the use of contraceptives. Contraceptives come in various ways which an individual then chooses the best contraceptive to use. However, before the teenage girls are subjected to contraceptives, a doctor's advice is very much necessary so that the method chosen does not harm the user. Some of the best contraceptive used in this case includes; use of condoms when having sex. The use of a condom is one of the safest contraceptives which the teenagers can be advised to use. However, most people dispute the condom usage due to its nature of preventing the direct contact of the opposite sexual organs hence making the sexual experience unpleasant. Nevertheless, the use of condoms remains to be the safest contraceptive that the teenagers can use without much side effects. Secondly, the teenagers can be subjected to the long-term use of the contraceptive peels or injections. These peels and injections are, however, not good since they have side effects which involve abnormal growth of cells in the body which could result in cancer, overweight or underweight. Their usage is also not a guarantee that there won't be pregnancy hence should be used with a lot of caution (Roper 23).

Comprehensive sex education

Sex education involves subjecting the teenage girls and boys to a comprehensive education program where they are taught life in totality and sex life. They must be told of the consequences that accrue with engaging in premarital sex such as risks of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STI) as noted by (Jemmott, et al. 42) as well as the kind of suffering that these pregnancies come with. For example, the teenagers must be warned that engaging in teenage sex may result in pregnancies which will make them drop out of school and lead very miserable lives to full off sufferings (Fonda 63). During these educational talks, the boys and girls must be educated separately since they are affected differently by the vices. The teenagers must be taught about safe sex and respect to their bodies which will make them understand how important it is to engage in safe sex. The comprehensive public education acts an important aspect of preventing teenage pregnancy since it's very cost effective and when the matters discussed are adopted, they are very safe. They have no consequence attached to them. All they need is to listen and implement.

Public education on teenage pregnancies

According to Farber & Wilson, the general public should also be subjected to series of educational seminars which seek to enlighten them on the importance of respecting the teenage girls. The public education will make the society to take responsibility for ensuring that their teenage girls are safe and protected from the hungry boys who are out to mess up their lives. It is important to encourage public education since most of the time, the girls stay in the society and are messed by the same society either ignorantly or willingly. Once the public is made aware of the consequences of such actions, they will greatly help in restoring sanity and discipline among the teenagers (Moore, et al. 21)

Putting stringent penalties on the offenders

The government should put very strict and stiff punishments on the individuals who are charged guilty of committing the crimes. The judiciary must ensure that the penalties are very paramount to discourage men from sexually engaging with the teenage girls. The few who are found guilty must be made to serve as an example to discourage those who could be having similar intentions.

Conclusion

Most countries have been seriously struggling to eradicate teenage pregnancies. The struggles have proved to be fruitless in many cases with about 40% of the teenagers getting pregnant every year hence leading to school dropout noted (Preventing Teen Pregnancy Among Latinos: Recommendations from Research, Evaluation, and Practitioner Experience 6). The woes have been fueled by the development of technology and use of the social platforms such as the Facebook and Twitter where the teenagers meet strangers and are lure into unlawful contents. As a result of this, it has proved to be a very hard mission to accomplish unless there is goodwill from the stakeholders. It is then in the interest of everybody that the best way of controlling teenage pregnancy is only abstinence since it depends on the willingness of an individual. Once the teenagers chose to abstain, all the cases of teenage pregnancies shall be long gone and forgotten.

Works Cited

Bradley, Ed, et al. The Pledge.

Farber, Seymour M, and Roger H. L. Wilson. Sex Education and the Teen-Ager: A Symposium. Diablo P, 1967.

Fonda, Jane. You, Your Body, Your Life: Everything a Teen Needs to Know About Sex, Love, Relationships, Identity, and More. 2014.

Healthy Teen Relationships: Using Values & Choices to Teach Sex Education. Search Institute P, 2012.

Jemmott, Loretta S, et al. Making Proud Choices: A Safer-Sex Approach to Hiv/stds and Teen Pregnancy Prevention. Select Media, Inc, 2005.

Moore, Kristin A, et al. Not Just for Girls: The Roles of Boys and Men in Teen Pregnancy Prevention. National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 1997.

Preventing Teen Pregnancy Among Latinos: Recommendations from Research, Evaluation, and Practitioner Experience. Child Trends, 2014.

Roper, Martha. Healthy Teen Relationships: Using Values & Choices to Teach Sex Education. Search Institute P, 2012.