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Rudo Kazembe
Teenage pregnancy is a controversial issue which has affected quite a number of teenagers in our society. Besides having to drop out of school, teenage pregnancy can affect the young mothers physically and mentally since they are not prepared to cope with being pregnant, as well as being parents. The effects can be long-term on short-term depending on the mother’s situation.

According to the World Health Organisation,”About 16 million adolescent girls give birth every year – most in low – and middle-income countries.” Teenage fathers are also affected negatively, and the unborn child is also at risk.

Risks to the teenage mother
Unplanned teenage pregnancies often result in the young mother-to-be having to drop out of school. Dropping out of school means that the pregnant teenager cannot complete her basic education or it can mean that completion will be delayed. This will cause her to miss opportunities that come with a good education and the possibility of a bright future.

Pregnant teenagers are often shunned in the community, sometimes even by friends and family members. Being shunned may lead to social isolation. The teenager is likely to feel anxious, rejected and embarrassed. Some teenagers get so severely depressed that they may consider suicide. Severe depression can also affect the pregnancy negatively.

Including mental health issues, pregnant teenagers are at a high risk of getting other medical problems such as placenta praevia , anaemia , pregnancy-induced hypertension and toxaemia.

Once the baby is born, the teenager may not be able to cope with physical and emotional demands of motherhood. Depending on her circumstances, she may also experience financial problems. She may not be able to mix with her friends who are still in school. It is possible that society will continue to shun her. All this can lead to continuation of the cycle of anxiety and depression.

Health risks to the baby
The unborn child has a higher risk of being born prematurely. Premature babies are more likely to suffer from breathing problems. The long term-effects of being born prematurely include intellectual and physical development problems.

The babies often have low birth weight. In comparison to babies with normal weight, babies with low weight are more likely to suffer from mental retardation and brain injury during childbirth .

Poor academic performance in the children of teenage mothers has also been noted, with many of them being more likely than average to fail to graduate from secondary school, be held back a grade level, or score lower on standardized tests. Daughters born to adolescent parents are more likely to become teen mothers themselves. A son born to a young woman in her teens is three times more likely to serve time in prison.

Teenage Fathers
Being a teenage father may also come with problems such as social isolation, interruption of education, financial problems as well as anxiety and depression.
Avoiding Teenage Pregnancy
It is best for teenagers to avoid sex and to focus on their education, sports and other activities which help them to gain useful skills. Some sexual health education programmes advise use of condoms and other forms of contraception. For teenagers, this is a controversial issue in our society. Abstinence is best recommended.
Teenagers should report sexual abuse and get help medical help urgently. Rape and sexual abuse may lead to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. If emergency medical treatment is given early, both pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases as well as HIV may be prevented in such cases.

Dealing with Teenage Pregnancy
Teenagers who find themselves in this situation should seek help. Help and support can come from family, friends and organisations, including the church. In situations where a pregnant teenager is being told to leave home by disappointed parents, a trusted adult can be approached to help by talking to the family on the girl’s behalf. Giving the baby up for adoption may be considered as well.

Affected teenagers should not focus on the mistake, but they should look forward to the future. They should try to get help and support so that they can resume their education or learn useful skills which will help them earn a living. There are many people in society who were able to overcome problems related to teenage pregnancy and are now living meaningful lives

www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premature-birth/basics/complications