Adolescent pregnancies are unplanned random and unexpected. It's a global issue that can affect anyone but it is more pronounced in third-world countries. There are so many situations and circumstances that lead to this point. Most of these factors can be controlled and minimized.

Did you know that each year 10 million unintended pregnancies occur among girls aged 15 to 19 years old in developing regions? And that pregnancy and childbirth complications cost the lives of most of these adolescent girls globally. Around 3.9 million resort to unsafe abortions that would most likely lead to death. A report by UNFPA found that young women and young men alike knew very little about their bodies but nearly all had heard about sex. They were unaware of the risks of unprotected sex or how sexual reproduction worked, barely even the signs of pregnancy.

1IGNORANCE, LACK OF INFORMATION ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

These young girls always find themselves already in the situation. Most of the poorer communities that are highly affected are characterized by a lack of education or any form of reproductive health assistance whatsoever. The extent of education plays a big role in this. Those with minimal education are five times more likely to end up being adolescent mothers than those with higher levels of education.

Education opens up their mind to understand and protect themselves from pregnancies. It's a powerful tool against unplanned pregnancies. Through reproductive health, these girls and even boys can understand the risks associated with early pregnancies, and also give them more information on alternative methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

2DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

This is a common stage for teenagers as they grow up. The peer pressure to engage in drug and substance abuse is real. Going to many parties with fellow teens forces these young minds into alcohol consumption willingly or against their will. Too much drinking makes them less rational and may end up in unplanned unprotected sex which may lead to pregnancies.

3SEXUAL ABUSE

Unfortunately, many cases of teen pregnancies are caused by abuse. Abuse may come from even close family members. They are often threatened and talked into silence and the fear forces them to engage in unprotected, unsafe sexual activity.

Research carried out on ethnic differences in childhood and adolescent sexual abuse and teenage pregnancies, showed that almost 36% of women reported sexual abuse before the age of 18 years old and more than 26% are pregnant before reaching 18 years old. Compared to their non-abused counterparts, twice as many women were coerced into sexual activity or raped and ended up being teenage mothers. This research also showed that minority groups are more likely to be victims than majority groups.

4FORCED MARRIAGES

These marriages are prevalent among poorer societies. These communities are characterized by a lack of or poor education levels, poverty, and instabilities that make young girls more susceptible to factors exposing them to early pregnancies. According to a UNFPA, 19% of girls are married before 18 years and 24% are already with a child by the time they turned 20 years old.

They found out that forced or arranged marriages were the number one cause of early pregnancies. Arranged marriages forced young girls into being teenage mothers. Parents also play a key role in early marriages. They push teenagers into marriages because of teenage relationships among other reasons.

Many young women were also found to be willing to get into early marriages just to escape the situations surrounding them. 90% of adolescent births in low-income countries are girls who are already married or in some form of arranged union.

5LACK OF FAMILY SUPPORT

UQ researcher Emeritus professor Jake Najman said that a 20year study found that family-neglected children had the highest rates of teen pregnancies. They are seven times more likely to end up being teenage mothers than those who were attended to, says a University of Queensland researcher.

Child neglect and emotional abuse lead to higher risks of mental health challenges, truancy, and drug and substance abuse which could provide a conducive environment for unprotected and unplanned sexual activity.

The lack of basic needs and all-around needs of a child; emotional, psychological, and physical support by parents or guardians force children to look for this missing part of themselves elsewhere. Data showed that sexually abused children experience teenage pregnancies and other problems but neglected kids were more severely affected. Childbirth rates of adolescents who were victims of abuse or neglect are more than 20 percent which happens to be 5 times more than the national average of 4 percent in the Us.

6POVERTY

Children who have experienced disadvantaged childhood are at more risk of teenage pregnancy. Poverty is a significant precursor of teenage pregnancies as it forces both parents and children into activities that are not safe to earn a living. A lot of young girls have resorted to being sex workers or persevering through continuous sexual abuse just to get basic needs. Minority groups are also associated with high poverty levels and record more early motherhood than major ethnic groups.

Financial hardships these children to neglect by their parents, leading to school dropouts, mental health challenges, and sexual abuse that contribute to adolescent pregnancies.

Poverty and lack of opportunities are direct contributors to teenage pregnancy and early motherhood. A good percentage of families and ethnic groups are also known to give out daughters for marriage just to receive the bride price from partner families. It's mostly in form of livestock, to relieve them from their poverty. This action sentences teenagers to early pregnancies and marriages just because of poverty in the family.

Other factors that contribute to teenage pregnancies include lack of school fees making both the parents and the girls accept early marriages, or resolving to activities that them at risk of pregnancy. Peer pressure and ignorance of the use of pregnancy protective methods ie contraceptives and condoms, etc lead to teenage pregnancies.

Factors driving teenage pregnancies are complex and multifaceted and need varied interventions. Government and non-governmental organizations and even individuals need to devise ways to curb the root cause of these problems.