The significant increase in teenage girls becoming mothers at an early age is one of the most challenging issues facing the world currently. Another critical aspect is how parents or guardians handle a victim, as this determines her life during and after the occurrence.
According to the National Library of Science, research indicates that about 20% of homeless young women become pregnant. These pregnant and homeless teens lack financial resources and adequate health care, resulting in an increased risk of low birth weight babies and high infant mortality. It's important to understand how parents treat a pregnant teen, as this will impact the future and destiny of the pregnant teenager.
1. Blame and undisciplined behavior
One multicity study found that approximately 48% of youth
who predominantly lived on the streets and 33% of youth living in emergency
shelters reported at least one pregnancy during their lifetime, which is
significantly higher than the less than 10% rate found among youth in the
general population. Many parents label their children as irresponsible for
becoming pregnant as teenagers without considering whether they may have
contributed to or been a part of the factors that led the child to such actions.
Linda was just 15 years old when she had a child of 3 years
and worked hard as a mother on the streets to provide food, clothing, and
education for her little boy. She had three brothers, and she was the third
born. She attended God's Genesis Model College from age 9 until she became
pregnant at 13. She was an extreme introvert who rarely interacted with anyone
at school. She was a victim of molestation and lived with parents who didn't
understand her or what she was going through. Her mom thought that being strict
with her would make her come out of her shell.
On a fateful day, Linda walked across the school library,
and a group of boys called out to her. She was a beautiful girl with a fair
complexion, the right curves, striking black eyes, and slim, and tall. She
didn't respond because she had a strong aversion to guys for reasons that
couldn't be explained.
Five days later, she walked through a quiet and bushy path,
thinking about what awaited her at home. An unexpected incident occurred -
three guys, their faces covered and wearing black trousers and tops, attacked
and raped her until she became weak.
The next day, she was found on the path, unconscious. After
a month, she discovered she was pregnant. Her mom was the choir director, and
her dad was the assistant pastor. Her parents couldn't bear the shock, as they
had invested heavily in a cocoa business with over 15 stores in just 6 states.
She had dreamt of becoming a medical doctor but lost that dream due to
impatient parents.
The initial reaction of parents is often a sense of betrayal
when a girl becomes pregnant, without considering the reasons behind her
actions.
2. Impulsivity and a lack of future goals
Due to societal rejection, approximately 55% of pregnant
teenage girls' decisions are influenced by the views of their environment.
Every teenage girl aspires to achieve greatness and make a positive impact on
society.
As of 2019, adolescents aged (15–19) years in low- and
middle-income countries (LMICs) had an estimated 21 million pregnancies each
year, approximately 50% of which were unintended and resulted in an estimated
12 million births.
While most of these girls are future-oriented, some are not. Telling a girl she lacks future orientation can damage her self-esteem and diminish her self-worth. Over 70% of girls aged 15 to 17 avoid normal daily activities, such as attending school when they feel bad about their appearance.
Parents may believe that by being strict, they can motivate
a teenage girl to take the necessary steps for growth, unknowingly harming her
self-esteem.
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