Perceptions of teen pregnancy have changed across generations

Carol Johnson, The Times-Mail
·4 min read

FRENCH LICK — Stigmatized but celebrated. Accepted but the negative social and economic outcomes make it unacceptable. Teen pregnancy in rural Indiana is all too common with birth rates to teenagers much higher than other parts of the state and above the national rate.

A survey by Indiana University School of Public Health of attitudes and outcomes of teen pregnancy showed an issue that is disjointed in how it is perceived in communities and families vs. the reality of young parenthood. Teen moms often experience judgment, then acceptance with the baby arrives. They may be showered with support initially, then left to fend for themselves or rely on a patchwork of family members to raise the child.

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In 2021, the teen birth rate in Lawrence County was 30 per 1,000 females ages 15-19 compared to 18.7 per 1,000 females in the state of Indiana, according to the latest health rankings from the Centers for Disease Control. In Orange County, the rate is 38 per 1,000.

The IU Center for Rural Engagement is working with Lawrence and Orange counties to address teen pregnancy and develop a prevention program. On Thursday, the results of a survey were presented during the IU Rural Conference at the French Lick Resort Conference Center.

A team from the IU School of Public Health conducted more than 120 interviews about teen pregnancy and parenthood in Lawrence and Orange counties. Participants included current and former teen parents, parents of teenagers, social service and healthcare providers, school officials and community stakeholders.

IU doctoral students Dechen Sangmo and Frederica Jackson said the emerging theme from the data was that perceptions of teen pregnancy and parenthood have shifted across generations and become contradictory.

For example, participants described how teen pregnancy has become more accepted within their communities but remains a highly stigmatized experience for the teens themselves.

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One teen mom who was surveyed said she was subject to a lot of unwelcome judgment when she became pregnant: "While I understand (becoming pregnant) is not the best move for a lot of people, it is nothing to judge somebody over because no matter what if you bring a child into this world they should be loved."

But as the researchers pointed out, teen pregnancy in rural communities continues to have serious ramifications for the child and the parents. For example:

  • Babies born to teen moms are at higher risk for poor health outcomes such as low birth weight and pre-term birth

  • 50% of teen moms don't graduate from high school

  • Teen dads have a lower rate of high school completion

  • Teen parents are 2.2 times more likely to have a child placed in foster care after birth

Cultural norms also play a role in teen pregnancy. The survey found that teenagers whose mothers were teen moms are more likely to become teen moms, indicating an inter-generational acceptance of early parenthood.

Nationally, the teen birth rate declined from 1990 to 2010. The national rate for rural communities dropped from 62.8 per 1,000 teens 15-19 to 36.7. And the rate for metro cities has dropped from 70.4 to 35.3. Better access to contraception and fewer teens engaging in sex were cited as reasons for the decline.

But Jackson and Sangmo said the rural prevalence continues to be an issue.

Kim Burgess
Kim Burgess

For communities dealing with the problem, Jackson said one of the goals should be reducing the stigma and the tendency to view teen moms not as a problem to be fixed but as young women who are deserving of support to succeed.

Lawrence County's Teen Pregnancy Coalition stopped meeting once the pandemic took hold but Kim Burgess, executive director of United Way of South Central Indiana, said the group is looking to re-form and continuing to work with IU on prevention.

"The survey didn't tell us anything we didn't already know," Burgess said. "We need prevention efforts but does what does that look like and how will we direct prevention efforts going forward?"

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Burgess was part of a teen pregnancy prevention program in Broward County, Florida, when she lived there.

"What I'd like to see is actual interviews with the girls. Find out why is this happening and who is it happening to?" she said.

Through United Way, Burgess has started a mentoring program for teen girls to help them see the importance of setting goals, staying on track to graduate from high school and educating them on healthy relationships.

"There is more out there for these girls," she said.

Contact Times-Mail Staff Writer Carol Johnson at cjohnson@tmnews.com or 812-277-7252.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Perceptions of teen pregnancy have changed across generations