Effects & Consequences of Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage Pregnancy in Malaysia
Teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy of a young woman aged between 10 and 19 years. In addition to the problems and complications faced during any pregnancy, there are many consequences of becoming pregnant as a teen which includes mental problems, social and financial problems and also risk of death. In Malaysia, teenage pregnancy had become a serious health concern since 1969s. In 2009 and 2011, over 19,000 of teenage mothers were found in Malaysia. In 2015, about 45 adolescents gave birth every day, and 35 % of teenage girls believe they would not get pregnant when they had their first sex (Kaler, 2018). The latest research has shown about 18,000 adolescents get pregnant every year in Malaysia (Said, 2019). Most of the teenagers were give birth out of wedlock.
Mental Health Conditions in Teen Moms
Teen moms might face a number of mental health conditions related to childbirth and being a new mom. Examples of these conditions include:
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Baby blues: The “baby blues” are when a woman experiences symptoms for one to two weeks after giving birth. These symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, sadness, overwhelm, difficulty concentrating, trouble eating, and difficulty sleeping.
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Depression: Being a teen mom is a risk factor for depression. If a mom has a baby before 37 weeks or experiences complications, depression risks can increase.
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Postpartum depression: Postpartum depression involves more severe and significant symptoms than baby blues. Teen moms are twice as likely to experience postpartum depression as their adult counterparts. Women sometimes mistake postpartum depression for the baby blues. Baby blues symptoms will go away after a few weeks. Depression symptoms won’t.
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Additional symptoms of postpartum depression include:
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difficulty bonding with your baby
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overwhelming fatigue
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feeling worthless
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anxiety
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panic attacks
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thinking of harming yourself or your baby
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difficulty enjoying activities you once did
Risk factors for mental health concerns
Teenage mothers are more likely to fall in demographic categories that make the risk of mental illness higher. These risk factors include:
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having parents with low education levels
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a history of child abuse
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limited social networks
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living in chaotic and unstable home environments
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living in low-income communities
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In addition to these factors, teenage mothers are more likely to experience significant levels of stress that can increase risk for mental health disorders.
But some factors can reduce the likelihood that a teenage mom will have psychiatric issues. If a teen mom has a supportive relationship with her mother and/or the baby’s father, her risks are reduced.
Other factors
While teen pregnancy can have a significant effect on a young mother’s mental health, it impacts other aspects of her life too. It’s important to consider these factors:​
Finance
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teenage parents often don’t complete higher levels of education. They often have more restricted economic opportunities than older parents.
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While there are certainly exceptions, high school completion and higher education is typically associated with a greater ability to earn more income over the course of a lifetime.
Physical health
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teenage mothers had the poorest physical health of all categories of women studied.
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Teenage mothers may neglect their physical health while caring for their babies.
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There's a higher risk of preeclampsia, anaemia, contracting STDs, premature delivery and delivering at low birth weight
Impact to the child
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children born to adolescent parents face greater challenges throughout their lives. These challenges include getting less education and worse behavioral and physical health outcomes.
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other effects to a child of a teenage mother include greater risk for lower birth weight and infant mortality, are more likely to drop out of high school, are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed as a young adult, rely more heavily on publicly funded health care.
Where to seek help
Teenager who are pregnant should seek help from trusted adult or care provider such as:
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Parent or supportive family members
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School counsellor or teacher
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Health care provider
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NGOs such as Sekolah Harapan in Malacca, BEFRIENDERS, Woman Crisis Center, Raudathus Sakinah and etc.
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Teenager can also get help from hotline such as:
Talian Nur : 15999 (24 hours service)
Child Helpline : 15999 (24 hours service)