(UNICAMP - 2006 - 2 FASE )Leia o texto abaixo e re

Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage birth rates in the USA have declined steadily since 1991. While this is good news, teen birth rates in this country remain high, exceeding those in most developed countries. High teen birth rates are an important concern because teen mothers and their babies face increased risks to their health, and their opportunities to build a future are diminished.

• Between 1991 and 2002, the teenage birth rate fell by 30 percent. Still, in 2002, about 4 teenage girls in 100 had a baby.

• About 11 percent of all U.S. births in 2002 were to teens (ages 15 to 19) and about 17 percent of teen mothers go on to have a second baby within three years after the birth of their first baby.

• A teenage mother is at greater risk than women over age 20 for pregnancy complications such as pregnancy-induced anemia and high blood pressure. Teens that are under 15 years old also may be more than twice as likely to die of pregnancy complications as mothers ages 20 to 24.

• Teen mothers are more likely than mothers over age 20 to give birth prematurely. In 2002, 9.6 percent of mothers ages 15 to 19 years had a low birth weight baby (under 5.5 pounds), compared to 7.8 percent for mothers of all ages. Low birth weight babies may have organs that are not fully developed. This can lead to chronic lung problems, or bleeding in the brain, blindness and serious intestinal problems. Low birth weight babies are more than 20 times as likely to die in their first year of life as normal weight babies.

• Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school than girls who delay childbearing. With her education cut short, a teenage mother may lack job skills, making it hard for her to find and keep a job. A teenage mother may become financially dependent on her family or on welfare.