Consequences of teenage pregnancy

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy and motherhood are public health problems. These events are linked to risky affective-sexual behaviors inadolescents who have not yet reached 19 years of age. In recent years, there has been an increase in relation to the early onset of sexual activity, causing an increase in the incidence of teenage pregnancies. Its prevalence varies nationallyand globally. The teenage pregnancy affects, in a negative way, diferente levels, such as social, economical, biological and psychological.Objectives:To identify risk factors and consequences of teenage pregnancy in order to develop strategies to prevent these situations or to improve the quality of life of these teenagers.Methods:Systematic literature revision, inthe EBSCOhost search engine, in the databases CINAHL (Plus with Full Text), SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library), Cochrane (Plus Collection). Inclusion criteria were: articles published between 2003 and 2009, with the full text. With the respect to case-study, there were no restricitions established. Of the 42 articles found, 9 were chosen.Results:There are several risks and repercussions with the teenage pregnacy. Stress situations, changes to the identity of the pregnant teenage girl with inappropiate emotional behavior which affect their healthy development and also their relationshipwith their future son. Such circumstances require help of health professionals.Conclusion:It is expectedthatthe knowledgeregarding pregnancy in adolescent mothers will be expanded, so that it contributes to future studies and is applied in clinical and academic practice. It is necessary to create differenttypes of sex education programs, with a common objective: To help face and deal with the problemsof these young women.