o grew up in any other family situation. At age 16, 22 percent of girls from intact families and 44 percent of other girls have had sex at least once. Similarly, teens from intact, two-parent families are less likely to give birth in their teens than girls from other family backgrounds.Do teens wish they had waited to have sex? Yes. A majority of both girls and boys who are sexually active wish they had waited. Eight in ten girls and six in ten boys say they wish they had waited until they were older to have sex.Pregnant teens can have many different emotional reactions: Some may not want their babies Some may want them for idealized and unrealistic ways Others view the creation of child as achievement and not the serious responsibilities Some may keep a child to please another family member Some may want a baby to have someone to love, but not to recognize the amount of care the baby needs Depression is also a common among pregnant teens Many do not anticipate that their adorable baby can also be demanding and sometimes irritating. Some become overwhelming by guilt, anxiety, and fears about the futureThere may be a time when the pregnant teenagers emotional reactions and mental state will require referral to a qualified mental health professional. Babies are born to teenagers are at risk for neglect and abuse because their young mothers are uncertain about their roles and may be frustrated by their constant demands of care taking. Adult parents can help prevent teenage pregnancy through open communication and by providing guidance to their children about sexuality, contraception, and the risks and responsibilities of intimate relationships and pregnancy. Some teenage girls drop out of school to have their babies and never return. In this way, pregnant teens lose their opportunity to learn skills necessary for employment and self-survival as adults. School classes i...
