Teen pregnancy in Warren county, Kentucky Free Essay Example, 1500 words

Most of today’s parents imitate their parents when it comes to matters concerning sex an pregnancy. Most of these parents are uncomfortable and uneducated about sex education thus the stance of avoiding it altogether (Mink, 2012). These parents have the false belief that talking about sex with teenagers is tantamount to encouraging them to think about and engage in sex. Those affected The teenagers are the most affected by the problem in issue. Peer pressure to engage in sex is rife in high school since teenagers at a developmental stage where they are experimenting with their bodies. As sexuality increases with adolescence, teenagers may engage in sex as part of the experimentation process (Hay, Levin, Deterding, & Abzug, 2014). Those who do not experiment are made to feel as though they do not belong or they are left out on something important. Generally more male teenagers engage in sex while in their teenage as compare to the girls. Some even engage in sex before they attain thirteen years (SIECUS, 2010). The experimentation in most cases involves multiple sexual partners since they are seeking pleasure and not serious relationships. We will write a custom essay sample on Teen pregnancy in Warren county, Kentucky or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Certain health behaviors place teenagers at a risk of getting pregnant. Mink (2012) gives an account of one teenage mother, Kelsey Elrod who at the age of seventeen had a one-year son, having become pregnant during her freshman year. Kelsey admits that many teenage girls desire to become pregnant. Most girls do not understand the risks of engaging in early sexual behavior, and much less, the implications of early parenthood. The teenagers do not pay attention to their sex education classes, and some do not get any sex education at home. For most of the teenagers, sex usually occurs in an environment laden with alcohol and drugs, and mostly in parties. Social functions involve consumption of alcohol, cigarettes and other social drugs. While these drugs relax the person, they also lower inhibitions and impair mental judgment. Another health behavior that promotes teenage pregnancy is the early introduction of contraceptives to teenagers by their parents. Some parents have resorted to taking the initiative to try and prevent their teenagers from getting pregnant by putting them on contraceptives. Parents are also affected by the problem since once the teenagers become young parents. These parents in most cases are forced to take care of their now grandchildren as well as their young parents. The advocacy of contraceptive use by parents is misunderstood by some teenagers that sex is alright.