Last year, 32 babies were born to girls who were 16 or younger. Expressing concern, Angela Abela, a clinical psychologist and the director of the University’s Centre for Family Studies, emphasised the need to know who such teenage mothers are and what is going on in their lives when they become pregnant.
Her concern must certainly be shared by many, also because in 2009 alone, 277 babies were born to teenage mothers out of the total 4,180 births registered. Moreover, nobody has any idea about how many additional pregnant teenagers may be ending up at the door of some abortion clinic abroad, perhaps even here!
The issue raises many questions. For instance: How many, if any, of the teenage pregnancies are planned, perhaps because the girls in question believe that becoming mothers translates into gaining status as a woman? Is there an association between socioeconomic inequalities and teenage pregnancy? Are there teen mothers who were themselves born to mothers still in their teens? What kind of connection could there be with the family effect of individual behaviour and lifestyle factors?
The family situation of course has a decisive influence on the lifestyle of young people. Children born in certain difficult situations, perhaps growing up without knowing a father figure, may face serious educational problems that have repercussions on their personal maturity. They therefore need special support that will help them in their search for meaning in life and horizons of hope that will enable them to overcome their tough experiences and pull them away from additional vulnerability.
There are also issues related to the ever increasing exposure to messages about sex in the media. One comes face to face with depersonalised and recreational information promoting sex as romantic and exciting; trends to reduce sex, also pre-marital, to something commonplace; and distorted individualistic concepts of freedom, perhaps in an ambience lacking basic values.
On the other hand, encouraging children and young people to have esteem for and to practise self-control and restraint, to live in an orderly way, to make personal sacrifices in a spirit of love, self-respect and generosity towards others, without stifling feelings and tendencies but channelling them into a principled life, has become uncommon.
Much is done or left undone because of modern tendencies. Yet, as Prof. Abela warns, society cannot remain silent in the face of an issue like that of teenage pregnancies “just to appear progressive”.
In the past, very often the family did not provide specific sexual education. However, the general culture was permeated by respect for basic values and, hence, helped to protect and maintain them. Step by step, though, traditional models faced a decline. Many a time, this has left children without consistent and positive guidance while parents find themselves unprepared to provide appropriate answers. Indeed, among the many difficulties parents have today, one surely stands out: giving children an adequate preparation for adult life, particularly with regard to education in the true meaning of sexuality.
Coordinated professional research into the phenomenon of teenage pregnancies may therefore prove to be very precious for those who have the responsibility to ensure the right education at the right time and at the right place, to families and young people. This should also address what Prof. Abela describes as the cycle of intergenerational poverty that such a phenomenon tends to foster.