Saving Our Children from Children: Conquering Teen Pregnancy Challenges for Our Youngest Mothers

Abstract

Many reasons have been forwarded to explain the high adolescent pregnancy rate found in the US. Studies have shown that 75% of girls who have engaged in sexual intercourse at or before age 14 were sexually abused or raped that two-thirds of the fathers of babies born to adolescent mothers are at least 4 years older than the girls and that the age gap is widest for the youngest girls. When a young minor becomes pregnant nurses have a responsibility to report the statutory rape that occurred. The age of consent is 14 in 2 states 15 in 2 states and 16-18 in the others. Rape conviction criteria usually include finding that the couple has an age difference of 2-3 years. Policy-makers have recently strengthened statutory rape laws in response to increased awareness of the impact of older men on teenage pregnancy rates. A study commissioned by a popular teenage girls magazine showed that most girls engage in sexual intercourse under pressure from boys. More than 80% of the girls and 60% of the boys who had experienced sexual intercourse regretted not waiting until they were older. Nurses must educate their communities about sexual victimization and statutory rape and must report these crimes to the proper authorities.