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Teenage Pregnancies in California

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Teenage Pregnancies in California

Several negative consequences can be realized from teenage pregnancies.

Understanding the necessary risks associated is vital in the identification and implementation

of protective factors and prevention efforts. This paper identifies and discusses the various

risks factors and precursors to adolescent pregnancy. The study also highlights the rates of

tenancy pregnancy in Florida and support and coping mechanisms to the stressors that

promote teenage pregnancy.

Various Risk and Precursor Factors in Adolescent Pregnancy

The various risk factors that accelerate adolescent pregnancy include having a mother

who gave birth before 20, limited maternal education, and poverty (Cicognani, 2017).

Additional risks include low self-esteem, early use of drugs and alcohol, coming from a home

with frequent family conflicts, early sexual activity and being from s single-parent home.

Community and State Resources to Adolescent Pregnancy

California has a long-standing tradition of exemplary support for teenage pregnancy

programs. There has, however, been drastically reduced funding for teenage pregnancy

programs from the state. The state of California supports sexual, non-sexual and other

programs that help in the slow-down of teen pregnancy rates in the state. The state has

allocated a substantive budget appropriation and the affordable Care Act. More than $75

million is provided by the state for the personal responsibility education program.

The state also appropriates $25 million annually to the Pregnancy Assistance Fund

established through the Affordable Care Act. The Pregnancy assistance provides a network of

support services that help prevent violence towards pregnant teens. The teenagers are

provided to complete their educational degrees and retain access to essential support, family

housing and healthcare.

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Teen Pregnancy Rates in California

Teenage pregnancy and birth rates in California have reduced significantly.

According to the California Department of Health, the teenage birth rate between ages 15-19

has reduced from 31.9 per 1000 females in 2008 to 14.2 per 1000 females in 2016

(Data.chhs.ca.gov, 2021). The table below presents the pregnancy rates in California, as

noted by the Department of health.

Table 1 Pregnancy Rates in California (Data.chhs.ca.gov, 2021)

Indicator Rate Lower Rate Upper Indicator Indicator

Rate Confidence Confidence Count Value Period of
Area Location Value Interval Interval Value Unstable Measure
State California 14.2 14 14.4 19088 No 2016-2018
State California 15.7 15.5 16 No 2015-2017
State California 17.6 17.4 17.8 No 2014-2016
State California 22.7 No 2013
State California 21 20.8 21.2 No 2013-2015
State California 23.4 23.2 23.7 No 2012-2014
State California 25.5 25.2 25.7 No 2011-2013
State California 28.3 28.1 28.6 No 2010-2012
State California 31.5 31.2 31.8 No 2009-2011
State California 31.9 31.7 32.2 No 2008-2010

Common Stressors in Teenagers

There are numerous unavoidable stressors during teenage. Teenagers encounter these

stressors every time they go on their daily activities. Understanding how these stressors

promote teenage pregnancies can help solve the challenge. Two major stressors that

contribute to teenage pregnancies are peer pressure and parental expectations. Teenagers fear

missing out on what is considered cool by those around them (Cicognani, 2017). This fear

lets them indulge in risky behaviours such as unprotected that could result in pregnancy. Low

parental expectations from parents could also lead to teenage pregnancy. Parents should set

high standards for their kids t to maintain responsible behaviour.

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Support or Coping Mechanism

Identifying the factors that effectively guide the planning and implementation of teen

pregnancy prevention program is essential. The requirements of varied and specific needs of

the youth in a particular community form the focus of identifying the stressors. Some of the

coping and support mechanisms identified by the author of this study include encouraging

peer use of such as contraceptives. Parents need to initiate open conversations with their

children on abstinence, sexual health, having one sexual partner, sexually transmitted

diseases and pregnancy.

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References

Cicognani, E. (2017). Coping strategies with minor stressors in adolescence: Relationships

with social support, self‐efficacy, and psychological well‐being. Journal of Applied

social psychology, 41(3), 559-578.

Data.chhs.ca.gov. 2021. Medi-Cal Birth Statistics, by Select Characteristics and California

Resident Hospital Births - California Health and Human Services Open Data Portal.

[online] Available at: <https://data.chhs.ca.gov/dataset/medi-cal-birth-statistics-by-

select-characteristics-california-resident-hospital-births> [Accessed 24 May 2021].