Contributing Factors Studies indicate an increase in sexual activity among American teenagers. Little & Rankin (2001) stated nearly two-thirds (64%) of teens are sexually active. When teens are sexually active, they are at risk of developing other problems, such as pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, include AIDS. Thirty-four percent of teenage girls become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 18, about 820,000 per year (D’Angelo et al., 2004,). Eight in 10 of those pregnancies are unintended, and 79% are to unmarried teens (D'Angelo et al., 2004). In seven of 10 adolescent pregnancies, no method of contraception was in use (D'Angelo et al., 2004). In the 1990s, the teen birth rate began to decrease and by the year 2004 it had decreased significantly to a rate of 41.1 per 1,000 teenage girls. Hamilton, Martin and Ventura (2007) reported that 435,427 births occurred to mothers aged 15 through19 years during 2004. This represented a rate of 41.9 per 1,000 adolescent women. However, according to Brace (2008), in 2006 the teenage birth rate rose, which was the first recorded increase in the teen birth rate in 15 years. However, a possible confound is that it is not known whether the rate of pregnancy termination (abortion) among teenagers was accounted for. In other words, if the data reported above count only live births to teenage mothers, it is possible that adding the number of abortions by teenage girls would show that teenage pregnancy had not declined at all. The state of Georgia (the location of the pregnancy prevention program included in the present study) in comparison experienced a 39.4 percent rate during the same year of 2004. Similar to the United States as a whole, Georgia experienced an increase in teen 22 births during 2006. Specifically, the rate nationally was 41.9 per 1,000, while in Georgia the rate was 54.1 per 1,000 teenagers (Brace, 2008). When teenagers become unintentionally pregnant they face several difficult choices. Almost equal proportions of pregnant adolescents have unintended births at 37% or induced abortions at 35%. Smaller percentages of adolescent pregnancies, approximately 14%, end in miscarriages or intended births (D’Angelo et al., 2004). Studies confirm parents, especially mothers, have significant influences on what pregnant adolescents decide to do. To a lesser degree, friends and sexual partners also influence the adolescent’s decision. Abortion is a more likely outcome when a pregnant adolescent has a poor relationship with the male who impregnated her. Research findings are inconsistent about whether the decision to place the baby for adoption is influenced by the mother’s relationship with the baby’s father. Although data on adoption among teens was minimal, information on unmarried women of all ages who gave birth showed adoption is a relatively uncommon outcome. Currently, only two percent of premarital births are relinquished for adoption (D’Angelo et al., 2004). STDs are also a significant concern for sexually active teens. Of the more than 15 million new STD infections each year, two-thirds will occur in people under 25 years old, and one in four will occur in teenagers. Every year approximately 10 billion dollars are spent on treating STDs and their complications, and all Americans share the cost. Over 80% of teens with STDs show no symptoms and therefore never get medical attention, leading them to infect others and leaving themselves exposed to the risk of serious complications as they grow older. The problem of teenage pregnancy is further exacerbated by poor socialization, in 23 that the mothers’ lack of parenting skills may result in children who may find it difficult to live in mainstream society or do well in school. Furthermore, new social problems such as HIV/AIDS and drug addiction, which were not prevalent some years ago, now present tremendous problems, especially for the African-American community (Kirby, 2007). The health concerns associated with minority teenage parenting create serious consequences for the children, in addition to the teen parents (Beaver, 1996). In examining various factors related to teenage pregnancy among minority populations, socioeconomic status has been a major underlying cause. Economic factors have further impact when teenagers fail to complete school or gain skills while in school, which result in limited future opportunities. Available jobs for those who do not receive an adequate education often pay the minimum wage. This type of employment offers little opportunity for advancement. The earlier a teen becomes a parent, with little or no family support, the more likely it is that the teen and child will face a future of poverty and hardship (Price & Hyde, 2009). Factors such as living in unsafe neighborhoods, attending poor quality schools, and associating with peers who do not value education or healthy relationships are all major contributors to the problem of teenage pregnancy. In addition, pregnant teens often receive poor prenatal care, which results in an increase in infant mortalities and morbidities, low birth weight, and sexually transmitted diseases (U.S. Center for Disease Control, 2002). It is also important to note that teen pregnancy closely correlates to a number of other critical issues. The more important of these are: 24 • Welfare dependency and overall child well being • Out of