In San Antonio and many other communities, people are concerned when they see children having children. We worry that mothers (and fathers) who are so young will not be able to enjoy being a teen, get a good education, or achieve their full potential. We worry that teen parents may not be prepared to take good care of their babies.
Many young parents try hard and do a good job. Many teen moms, teen dads, and their families work hard and sacrifice to provide for the baby and its future. The point is not to shame young mothers or young fathers. They deserve respect and support to do the best they can for their children. But young people should know that it is much healthier for mom, baby, and dad to wait to have children.
Adolescent moms, especially those under age 18, have higher risks of some things than do mothers who give birth at age 20 or 21. They have higher risks of:
- Not finishing high school
- Going on welfare
- Having an abortion
- Being a single parent
- Having more children
- Having late prenatal care (which means a riskier pregnancy).
The babies born to adolescent mothers under 18 are at higher risk for many things:
- Low birth weight
- Dying before they reach 1 year old
- Being abused or neglected
- Having poor health
- Doing poorly in school and dropping out
- Having behavior problems
- Running away from home
- Becoming teen parents themselves (females)
- Being incarcerated (males)
- Becoming a foster child
The risks are higher for teen fathers, too. They have higher risks of:
- Delinquent behavior
- Alcohol use
- Dealing drugs
- Dropping out of school
And even if they are not teens themselves, the fathers of babies born to school-age women are also at higher risk of:
References:
- Having less education
- Lower income
Robin Hood Foundation. Kids Having Kids, 1998.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Bulletin, 2/3/00.
