Mary, a teenager, had a baby boy. Her child’s father abandoned her and the baby because he did not want to commit to the responsibility. She asked her parents for help but they turned her away. She had no resources, such as money and food. She needed to provide for her and her child. So she became a prostitute in order to survive in the world. Mary’s dilemma is indicative of three major issues confronting African Americans: teenage pregnancy, poverty and prostitution.
In today’s America, teenage pregnancy is increasing because teenagers, ages 13 to 19, are engaging in sexual activity (Christensen & Rosen, 1996). Children at the age of 13 are also engaging in sexual activity. Most teenagers don't plan to get pregnant, but many do. Teen pregnancies carry extra health risks to the mother and the baby. Often, teenagers don't receive timely prenatal care, and they have a higher risk for pregnancy-related high blood pressure and its complications. Risks for the baby include premature birth and a low birthweight (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2006). If you're a pregnant teenager, you can help yourself and your baby by: taking your prenatal vitamins for your health and to prevent some birth defects; avoiding smoking, alcohol and drugs; and using a condom, if you are still having sex, to prevent sexually transmitted diseases that could hurt your baby (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2006). It is the responsibility of caring parents and well-meaning family members and Christian leaders to love, nurture and educate our youths so that they can make wise, intelligent, meaningful and responsible decisions with regard to sexual behavior. Poverty appears to lead to early childbearing because most of the teenagers who have babies live in horrible conditions. Children born to teenage mothers in poverty develop poor health conditions, perform inadequately in school, are neglected and engage in antisocial behavior (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2006)....