Teenage pregnancy

[pretty_snowdrop]

I was just wondering in this day and age why teenage unwanted pregnancy rates are so high.
Nowadays contraceptives are very easy to get hold of and the old excuse of 'whoops i forgot my pill' surely can't be used because there are injections and contraceptive implants amongst other devices.
I realise accidents do happen but is it a matter of young girls wanting a baby as a pay cheque or that they simply don't know how the babies got there?

Is it a moral problem or an educational problem? What are you thoughts?

[dave50]

I have always wondered why many teenage girls suddenly announce 'and I discovered I was pregnant' in such a casual manner. Discovered? What about taking precautions? Dont they bother? You can avoid pregancy if you really want to. When i was a teenager, getting a girl pregant would have been the ultimate disaster so it was avoided at all costs, it was top priority.

[cazzz1975]

there is also the problem that a lot of teenage girls want to have a baby for a myriad of reasons, they will stop taking precautions in a deliberate attempt to concieve a child. where I used to live it was rife.

[Sqad]

pretty..that has amazed me too........as you say with the pill, with the after night pill....I am baffled.
Education re birth control is started at an early age and one cannot do more.

Morals? I think that is the problem....binge drinking, going out to get "laid" and extramarital intercourse is a pregnancy trap that is easily filled.

I honestly do not know the answer.

[sophie_1003]

I may be wrong but is it a possibility that teenage pregnancy rates from a few years back are distorted by the fact that they were kept more underwraps than they are now with e.g. forced adoptions and abortions?

[craft1948]

I think a lot of young girls, for a variety of reasons, just want something of their own to love....................

[Sqad]

sophie...that is a factor, but even taking that into consideration we have still got the title.."the teenaged pregnancy capital of Europe"

[jackthehat]

Perhaps it is something to do with the boys and their sense of entitlement without responsibility ?

<<Hands up any man who hasn't inserted into his OH private parts after he or she has said "No i don't feel like it?">>

[sophie_1003]

Wasn't denying that Sqad; though making comparisons with the rest of Europe often doesn't do much good; people assume that in Holland for example; the reason their teenage pregnancy rate is so low is because education on it at home and school is started so early when in fact their entire attitude and approach to sex, relationships and families differs so widely from our society's that a comparison can't really be made.

[andy-hughes]

I think it's a complex social issue with a variety of causes and effects.

One major problem with society is that we now have a generation of parents - and i'm talking the 30 - 40 age-group here, who have no real parenting skills. The solidarity of the extended family has broken down and a lot of couples are isolated and unable to cope with adult life, never mind with babies and children.

I believe that sex education in all its forms is woefully underfunded in schools, and virtually non-existant in homes and families, so yes, a large number of young people are totally ignorant of the concept of conception, or its prevention.

We have a generation of young people to whom 'things happen' because they are never taught motivation, self belief, self reliance, ambition, or any of the building blocks of an aspirational culture.

They sit around, bored, discover sex as a diversion from tjhat boredom, and create thildren they neither want, or can care for.

The answer?

A good start would be for the government to upend its education policy.

Instead of its on-going obsession that fifty per cent of the population want to go to university (they don't!) put that mountain of money into nursery and child care.

Start employing nursery nurses who are trained and motivated, not teenagers on minimum wages who fall into nursery jobs because they don;t know what else is there and have a vague notion that they quite like babies.

Build a society of respect and caring from the ground up - from babies, to toddlers, to little ones, to teenagers,to adults, and let that thread of self-worth stop the rot in our culture.

Wil it happen? Not in my life time!!!

[sophie_1003]

Wish it would andy; quality early childhood and care would save money in lots of areas too!

[ummmm]

Hands up....I had a baby when I was a teenager. Yes, I forgot to take the pill. We weren't offered the morning after pill...injections or implants...back in the olden days

She certainly wasn't a pay cheque...and Jackthehat can vouch for the fact that I worked.

[andy-hughes]

Me too - but the government are hell-bent on their 'university for all' programme which is a total nonsense.

Society's future lies in its children. Teach them to love themsevles and each other, and we are making a start.

Who will fund that?

I know who won't!!!

[sophie_1003]

I know!! Best bit is that the three major reviews that have been conducted into early years since the coalition government came to power all state that an effective early start in life improves outcomes later on; they agree with the findings yet they're pulling money out of SureStart centres an goodness knows what's going to happen to the curricula and initatives that Labour introduced! Bloody Gove!
And agree; 'everyone at university' idea is nonsense; especially as many won't be able to afford it now they've raised cap on tuition fees! I was told by a "Careers Advisor" that without a degree I would only get warehouse or retail work? At least with extortionate tuition fees it might force colleges to offer correct advice about alternatives to university!

[whiskeryron]

jackthehat


<<Hands up any man who hasn't inserted into his OH private parts after he or she has said "No i don't feel like it?">>

Both my hands are up jack.When my dear wife had our daughter in 1953 she suffered so badly & nearly died that I took the decision that no way did I want to put her in that position ever again so we adjusted our love life to leave out actual insertion. When she sadly passed away in 2008 I was extremely grateful that we had made the decision & had 58 wonderful years together. Ron.

[jackthehat]

Your answer was very candid, Ron.
The quote I used was from another ABer who, it seems, is happy to put his own requirements before those of the woman with whom he is 'dallying'....

[whiskeryron]

My answer was very candid for the simple reason unlike a lot of men one hears about I loved my wife very much & I detest these macho types with notches on bedposts.Ron.