Political Science

Immigrants in United States (US) face numerous health issues which affect their lives adversely.  Among the critical issues being experienced by the second generation immigrants is teenage pregnancy.  According to the study conducted by Frazier and Tettey-Fio (2006), the rate of teenage pregnancy particularly in the Latino community has been increasing steadily thus becoming a health concern.  However, the severity of the outcome depends on nativity and the level of enculturation into the US society.  These two factors play an important role in analyzing teenage pregnancy among immigrants since they determine its peak.

Evaluation of enculturation is usually done using several variables which include year of residency, place of birth and language.  Enculturation affects the health of subsequent immigrant generations unfavorably.  Despite the foreign born immigrants being less acculturated hence experiencing fewer health issues, as they continue to stay in US their relative advantage begins to decline and health problems start increasing.  The second generation of immigrants which is more acculturated is characterized by many health problems which entail high rates of teenage pregnancy and illicit drug use.  Often, illicit drug use is considered a supplement to teenage pregnancy since an increase in the former result in a rise in the latter (Frazier  Tettey-Fio, 2006).

The social context encountered by children of immigrants in neighborhoods and American schools pose major health concerns.  It promotes negative outcomes which include dropping out of school, participating in drug subculture and joining street gangs.  To female children of immigrants such outcomes will in turn lead to teenage pregnancy since they are involved sexual activities and have little knowledge regarding use of contraceptives.  The labor market transformation that resulted in removal of blue-collar jobs is partially linked to the emergence of deviant lifestyles in US inner cities.  Despite the fact that the first victims of this transformation do not constitute the second generation members, they are children and grandchildren of their predecessors who were brought to America to contain the high labor needs (Portes  Rumbart, 2006).

As descendants of the earlier immigrants reach the working age, they are confronted by blocked economic mobility and shrinking industrial opportunities.  Lack of jobs in industries together with racial discrimination, keeps this group of immigrants suppressed in the inner cities and at the same time prevents them from taking advantage of emerging opportunities in the post industrial economy.  As a result of this, a web of social pathologies emerges amongst the immigrants such proliferation of teenage pregnancy among others (Portes  Rumbart, 2006).

Low education also contributes greatly to teenage pregnancy as teenagers are involved in irresponsible sexual behaviors without knowing the outcome of such actions.  As a result of immigrant children not taking part in sex education, their sexuality and sex life is transformed by the American culture and this contributes greatly to alarming rate of teenage pregnancy which is a health concern.  There are health risks for the baby and in addition to that children born to teenage mothers have a higher chance of experiencing health, emotional and social problems (Gortzak-Uzan et al, 2001 ).  Pregnant teenagers have little to no knowledge regarding caring for the unborn thus putting themselves and the unborn at a greater risk of adverse health consequences.  Moreover, pregnant teenagers are more susceptible to obstetric risk thus needs caution during provision of maternal care (Jolly et al, 2000).   

The family and especially the parental one influence greatly the risk of adolescents becoming pregnant.  Research findings are very consistent regarding closeness of parents and children, parental supervision of childrens activities and parental values against unprotected or teen intercourse in reducing the risk of teenage pregnancy (Miller, Benson  Galbraith, 2000).  In such a case, children are raised with standards set by their parents and as they reach the adolescent age they continue to adhere to the parental rules and regulations.  However, such is not the case for many immigrants as they reside in disorganized and dangerous neighborhoods, with lower families or living with single parents, and in addition to that might be having older siblings who are sexually active, a parenting teenage sister or are victims of sexual abuse (Miller, Benson  Galbraith, 2000).  Such conditions place immigrant children in awful situations where the risk of teenage pregnancy is highly elevated. 

As a way of curbing teenage pregnancies among their children, some immigrant parents become distressed by American culture permissiveness and the threat it poses to their children that they ought to send them back home to be educated by their grandparents or kin (Portes  Rumbart, 2006).  The motivator behind such decision is that their culture is better of in modeling behaviors of their children with regards to the American one.  The American culture is not strict enough since it gives children more control over their lives thereby resulting in frailties which are of health concern.  As a result of children being in control they end up joining peer groups which dictate what is right and wrong thus molding their characters.  Such peer groups are characterized by drug abuse which augments teenage pregnancy.

A positive transformation in the sexuality can contribute immensely in reducing teenage pregnancy among immigrants thus improving their health.  A recent study conducted by Hondagneu-Sotelo (2003), showed a change in the trend of teenage pregnancy, particular on Mexican immigrants.  Following the migration and establishment of a permanent life in US, Mexican immigrant women are experiencing a transformation in their sexuality.  The transformation in their sexuality and sex life is not occurring through enculturation but by additional complex dynamics which are socially constructed.  These dynamics are inclusive of socioeconomic factors, social networking and immigrant community life. 

These immigrant women have expressed enthusiastic alertness on educational opportunities and the increased employment offered to their children by the US economy (Hondagneu-Sotelo, 2003).  As a result, they are investing most of their energy and finances in ensuring that their children climb up the educational ladder, develop career goals and secure a good job.  By ensuring that their children understand the importance of education in their lives thus focus adequately to achieve it, the chance of dropping out of school is reduced and in turn teenage pregnancy risk diminishes.  Raising the level of education among immigrants and their children constitutes the cornerstone for improving their living conditions thus eliminating health hazards (Garcia, 2002). 

Exposure to sex education presentations and talk shows constitute one of the most appropriate methods for reducing teenage pregnancies among immigrant communities.  According to the research conducted by Hondagneu-Sotelo (2003), some immigrant women have sought this method in transforming their sex lives as well as that of their children.  Teenagers of today do not care much about sexual problems as they consider it a private matter and their parents are also less concerned about restricting their childrens sexual activities through conversation (Rowatt, 2001).  By attending sex education programs which are normally sponsored by community based agencies, immigrant parents become more empowered and adequately equipped to assist their children acquire a healthy life.  Such programs provide the stepping-stone for containing the issue of teenage pregnancy.

Furthermore, talk shows particularly those discussing teenage pregnancy also provide an important tool for facilitating sexually related conversations with their children.  In a recent study, some immigrant parents were reported to be using talk show discussions involving teenage pregnancy to have important conversations with their children about the topic, after watching the show together (Hondagneu-Sotelo, 2003).  Often, most parents find it difficult to raise discussions on sexuality with their children mainly because it was considered a taboo but through talk shows it has been made easier thus contributing greatly to the reduction of teenage pregnancy among immigrant communities.