Social implications of teenage childbearing.

The evidence in the literature on the social consequences of teenage childbearing for adolescent parents their children and members of their family of origin is examined. Focus is on teenage childbearing as a social issue research on early childbearing the etiology of early childbearing the consequences of teenage childbearing in terms of schooling and occupational and economic achievement early childbearing and marriage teenage childbearing and subsequent fertility long-term consequences for the children of early childbearers teenage childbearing and family support (the Baltimore data on family support and long-term consequences for kin) and consequences of teenage childbearing implications for social programs. When absolute numbers are considered and if teenagers are equated with adolescents adolescent childbearing has declined significantly since the late 1960s but this decline in adolescent fertility both absolute and relative has been restricted to married teenagers. Whether justified or not the births of unmarried adolescents invariably generate more concern about the well-being of the mother and child. It is shown at a later point in the discussion that there is just as much need for concern about marital as nonmarital teenage fertility. Good evidence on patterns of sexual behavior among the young have been lacking prior to the past few years but it is safe to assume that youth has never even approached the ideal of premarital chastity. Most health and social service programs have been tailored to suit the convenience of professionals. Teenagers looking for contraceptive information and services have had to seek out professionals often against considerable obstacles. Family planning programs have begun to lower barriers and to make service programs more accommodating to the adolescent life style.