Breaking the Repeat Teen Pregnancy Cycle

Abstract

In recent years the U.S. teen birth rate has begun to rise again and is now the highest among developed nations. This article provides study results and data to better understand the scope and implications of the teen pregnancy rate in addition to presenting an overview of interventions to reduce teen pregnancy and a discussion of the efficacy of abstinence and contraceptive strategies. Theories commonly used to explain the problem of teen pregnancy include social-cognitive-ecological theories resilience theory and developmental theories. However the main focus of the article is to introduce and explain the development of the Resilience-Recoil-Rebound Theory of Teen Pregnancy Prevention (RRRTTPP). The RRRTTPP is composed of four focal concepts (the at-risk teen repeat pregnancy recoil-rebound interactions and resilience) and five external spheres of influence (family peer group school church and community). The article also emphasizes the pivotal role that nurses play in the prevention and control of teen pregnancies as they are often the first providers in the health care system to interact with pregnant teens. Certified nurse midwives clinical nurse specialists nurse practitioners and school nurses can play a major role in providing education on safer sex practices and prevention of STIs as well as in providing prenatal care screening for STIs and counseling on planned parenthood and how to prevent a subsequent pregnancy. Several school-based and home-based interventions have been implemented to reduce rates of teen pregnancy with some resulting in substantial positive outcomes. However current rates of teen pregnancies remain a major societal concern triggering further development of innovative intervention programs. The proposed RRRTTPP theory provides a new perspective for examining the phenomenon of repeat teen pregnancy. There is an urgent need for research to identify the factors affecting the recent increased rates of teen births.