Adolescent pregnancy is viewed as a high-risk situation because it poses serious health risks for the mother and the baby. Describe various risk factors or precursors to adolescent pregnancy. Research community and state resources devoted in adolescent pregnancy and describe at least two of these resources. Research the teen pregnancy rates for the last 10 years for your state and community. Has this rate increased or decreased? Discuss possible reasons for an increase or decrease. Topic 3: Health Assessment During the Adolescent and Prenatal Periods
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Topic 3 DQ 1
Several risk factors are associated with adolescent pregnancy, including socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity. The home environment can also put adolescents at risk for teen pregnancy. For example, children growing up in single-parent homes or living in a house with many conflicts (CDC, 2020). If teens are involved in early sexual activity or illicit drug use, it can also put them at risk for getting pregnant during adolescence (CDC, 2020). It is essential to understand these risk factors and how to prevent teen pregnancy because babies born to teen mothers are at higher risk for health problems, incarceration, and unemployment (Falkner, 2018).
There are a lot of resources to help young women if they become pregnant as a teenager. A national resource is the WIC Works Resource Program, which the US Department of Agriculture (n.d.). This program helps ensure that pregnant women have access to proper nutrition during pregnancy and after the child is born (USDA, n.d.). Specifically, for teenage mothers, there are opportunities for financial assistance and other resources. In Orange County, CA, a local resource called Fritters invites pregnant teens into a community of other women who have experienced similar struggles. Young women can receive support and guidance on topics like completing high school and attending college, life skills, healthy relationships, and parenting (Fritters, n.d.). Overall, organizations like this offer pregnant teens hope and motivation to lead healthy lives as young mothers. Topic 3: Health Assessment During the Adolescent and Prenatal Periods
According to the California Department of Public Health, adolescent birth rates have significantly declined in California over the past ten years (2019). In 2000, for girls aged 15-19, there were almost 50 births for every 1,0000 women (CADPH, 2019). This number has slowly declined until the most recent statistic in 2017, where there were only 13.9 births for every 1,000 women (CADPH, 2019). This decline in rates could be attributed to higher education and more awareness of risks associated with early sexual activity and increased safe sex practices and contraception access. Topic 3: Health Assessment During the Adolescent and Prenatal Periods
References:
California Department of Public Health. (2019). Adolescent birth rate. Retrieved from https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/DMCAH/Pages/Data/Adolescent-Birth-Rate.aspx
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). About teen pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm
Falkner, A. (2018). Adolescent assessment. In Grand Canyon University (Eds). Health Assessment: Foundations for Effective Practice. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs434vn/health-assessment-foundations-for-effective-practice/v1.1/#/chapter/3
Fristers. (n.d.). Our programs. Retrieved from https://fristers.org/teen-parenting-programs/
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Adolescent pregnancy. Retrieved from https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/resources/adolescent-pregnancy
Topic 3 DQ 2
There are countless stressors that adolescents confront in their lifetime. These stressors are both internal and external. While it is easier to deal with internal stressors, external stressors may be hard to confront. These may leave the youths exposed and vulnerable to manipulation and prone to abuse. For example, facing the demands of peer pressure and family demands may be a considerable burden to overcome.
According to Erick Erickson’s identity vs. role confusion, teens may find themselves wading into unknown and uncharted waters in the search for self-identity. Coping with peer pressure and the need for independence are some of the stressors that an adolescent must confront daily. The stressors that come with peer pressure and the need for independence from parents may not be limited to experimenting with drugs, alcohol, or sex; stressors that come with the need for independence may result in frequent conflict with family members, not getting involved in after-school activities, living a reserved life, or disengaging from other family obligations (Dyszlewski, (2014). Topic 3: Health Assessment During the Adolescent and Prenatal Periods
When faced with these challenges, youths need to have a support system that allows coping strategies such as: how to discuss and venting frustrations; teaching and modeling good emotional responses; learning relaxation techniques such as perform progressive muscle relaxation-repeatedly tensing and relaxing large muscles of the body, and bringing awareness of the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol before experimentation begins (Dyszlewski, (2014).
Reference:
Dyszlewski, M. (2014, April). Teens, Stress and How Parents Can Help. Https://Www.Lifespan.Org/. https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/teens-stress-and-how-parents-can-help Topic 3: Health Assessment During the Adolescent and Prenatal Periods