Abstract
Society in general, and particularity the role of women in Spain, has undergone major changes. For example, over the 30 years period between 1980 and 2010, the average age at which women married increased by 8.4 years of age. The adolescent experience has also changed. The period of transition to adulthood marked by significant physical and psychosocial changes overtime is far different than it was for their parents. This chronological pattern of transition does not follow the same sequence of events in years past. In modern Spain, although adolescent pregnancy and motherhood are much more common, it is still a condition that can hinder or truncate the pattern of an adolescent’s transition into adulthood. Consequently, teenage mothers in Spain present characteristics that compose a fairly specific profile. In this profile, the disadvantages of teenage pregnancy go beyond negative perinatal and postnatal outcomes. It can negatively impact the girl’s education and employment opportunities even as an adult and can also affect the life of her child. Given the medical risks due to the physical and emotional immaturity, educational and health care initiatives should provide age-appropriate services to reduce the risk of pregnancy and increase protective factors against early unintended pregnancy. In addition to the physical risks to the adolescent and her fetus, there are social risks and consequences that are the product of Spanish society’s values and morals. Risks that result from the social context can and should be modulated by policy and interventions. The focus in Spain must continue to be on prevention of STIs and pregnancy. This requires accurate and comprehensives sex education for all children and adolescents. Without accurate and reliable information about one’s sexuality, adolescent girls and young women cannot make informed decisions about childbirth, or exert control over their reproductive lives.
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Cancelo, M.J., Rodrigues, I.S., Castelo-Branco, C. (2014). Teenage Pregnancy in Spain. In: Cherry, A., Dillon, M. (eds) International Handbook of Adolescent Pregnancy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8026-7_32
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