How Does Teenage Pregnancy Affect Society?
Teenage pregnancy affects society in many ways, especially in the form of greater public expenses. Some examples of these expenses are foster care, social welfare programs and health expenses.
Teenage pregnancy affects the family of the teen and baby, but its effects on society are those that affect the public. Pregnant teenagers do not have a life built up to support a baby, so they often need the help of those around them. This help comes in the form of informal community support, such as babysitting or hand-me-down baby essentials. These parents also usually need help from the local, state or federal government agencies in the form of food stamps or housing assistance.
Long-term effects include lack of education of both the parents and child. Teen parents tend to leave school or not attend college, which limits their potential contributions to society and prospects for career advancement. The children of teenage parents, especially those from working class families, often face many of the same challenges as their parents. This puts a continuing cycle of strain on society, especially social welfare programs. Increased health care costs for both teen parents and their children costs the public a large amount of money, as well.
