ESSAY 13. (UNIT 15)

EARLY PREGNANCY IN EL SALVADOR

       In our country, early pregnancy is one of the main problems the population day by day has to cope with. There is a great deal of teens who become pregnant every year. This is a worrying situation given that it gives rise to an increase of over-population. The term early pregnancy is based on the term adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in females before being 20.  Pregnancy can be a trying time, especially for girls whose bodies are not yet mature enough for childbearing. Globally, pregnancy-related complications are the leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19.

       The practice of sexual relations when being young without contraceptive methods is one the main causes to get pregnant. The epidemic of pregnancies in girls and adolescents is rooted in the Salvadoran culture that continues to allow free unions or marriages of the young teens with couples older than them. It is irresponsible that before having the adequate age to be engaged in a relationship, they start having sexual intercourses. After getting pregnant, they are left alone since that the guy who got them pregnant does not assume the consequences of his actions. Also, the marriage at an early age and the role of gender that is traditionally assigned to women, mainly in the rural area is one of the culprits. It is noticeable the fact that once the guy proposed, the girls think of doing whatever they want to without paying attention to the advices their parents give to them.

        A secondary issue is the family disintegration. The consequence of a pregnancy for girls and adolescents not only entails having to drop out of school, but also leaves them vulnerable to being rejected by the people responsible for their development. Even though there are some adolescents who receive the support of a close relative, there is a great deal of pregnant women who are forced to abandon their parents’ places so as to settle down in a new one where they are likely to get ill-treated. It goes without saying, this problem can lead to particular circumstances such as prostitution, rape, incest and adolescents with mental problems. Another concern is, the fear of being rejected socially; one of the consequences of adolescence and pregnancy is that the young woman feels criticized by her environment . As a result, she tends to isolate herself from the group.

        In conclusion, parents should provide children with information so as not to get involved in a preoccupying situation like this one. Also, the government should invest in order to prevent the spread of pregnancies at a young age. It is also requested to increase the use of contraceptives in order to avoid the risk of involuntary pregnancy. In addition, it is advisable to create policies to protect the young girls against abuse and forced sex so that they are able to voice against this background. While acknowledging these approaches, many women will have the benefit of getting ready to face any hurdle they can encounter later in their lives. The society must also contribute through awareness campaigns and informative trainings for young women so as to reduce the number of early pregnancies.