Latest news with #teenpregnancy
CBS News
2 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Pregnant teen in ICU after Corsicana double shooting; police seek leads
A pregnant teen is fighting for her life at a Dallas hospital after being shot in the abdomen during a double shooting earlier this week in Corsicana. According to police, officers responded to the 400 block of South 31st Street around 9 p.m. Sunday after reports that two women had been shot. Victim identified as teen mother 17-year-old Malaina Gonzales Gonzales family Family members identified the mother-to-be as 17-year-old Malaina Gonzales. In addition to Gonzales, who is six months pregnant, her friend was shot in the left forearm, family members told CBS News Texas. Witness thought it was fireworks The family, who was hosting a holiday weekend cookout, heard what they said sounded like fireworks, according to police. "[A witness] looked on the front porch of the house and observed the two females had been shot and were trying to get into the house," Police Chief Robert J. Johnson said in a news release. "The resident did see what he thought to be muzzle flashes coming from the street area." Teen undergoes multiple surgeries The two victims were taken to Navarro Regional Hospital before Gonzales was flown to a Dallas hospital, where she remains in the ICU in critical condition, according to police. The second victim was treated and released. Gonzales' mother, Gabby Gonzales, told CBS News Texas her daughter has a fractured spine, underwent surgery on her colon, kidney and pancreas, and had her gallbladder removed. Unborn child expected to recover Gonzales family But thankfully, Gabby Gonzales said doctors believe the baby is doing okay. However, she said the experience has been a nightmare for the family. "My heart stopped. I thought my daughter was going to die. I really thought she was going to die," Gabby Gonzales said with tears in her eyes. "You never think that you're going to go through something like this, and then you have to watch your child suffer. She didn't deserve it and she's pregnant. I want justice." Gabby Gonzales believes the crime could have been a targeted attack. Investigation ongoing, police say Detectives are seeking surveillance footage from nearby homes, and forensic evidence is being collected. Anyone with information is urged to contact Corsicana police at (903) 654-4902.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
US kids of divorce earn less, face more teen pregnancy and jail: study
The Brief Children of divorce before age 5 earn 13% less by age 27, according to a new study. Early childhood divorce is also linked to higher chances of teen pregnancy and incarceration. Researchers say income loss, neighborhood changes, and reduced parental access explain much of the impact. LOS ANGELES - Divorce in early childhood can shape a person's future in profound ways, a new study suggests. Children whose parents split before age 5 face significantly reduced earnings as adults—and an increased risk of teen pregnancy, incarceration, and even premature death. The research, released this month, highlights how a family breakup often triggers long-lasting economic and social ripple effects. The study, conducted by economists from UC Merced, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the University of Maryland, draws from a large data set linking federal tax records, census data, and Social Security information for children born between 1988 and 1993. Its findings offer one of the most detailed views yet of how early-life divorce shapes adult outcomes in America. By the numbers The study found that children whose parents divorced before they turned 5 had, on average, 13% lower income by age 27 compared to peers whose parents stayed together. If a divorce occurred after age 18, researchers saw little to no long-term financial impact. For those who experienced parental divorce before age 15: Teen pregnancy rates increased, but the effect faded by age 20. Incarceration rates rose, with the impact disappearing after age 20. Marriage likelihood by age 25 was unaffected. The study found no meaningful differences in outcomes by race or ethnicity. The backstory The researchers identified three major factors contributing to the impact of divorce: Household income loss – Divorce typically cuts household income in half as families split and attempt to rebuild separately. Worse neighborhoods – Post-divorce families often relocate to lower-income areas with fewer opportunities. Reduced parental access – Children are often farther from one parent or see them less due to increased work hours and logistical challenges. These factors explained 25% to 60% of the negative effects observed in children's lives, the study said. What they're saying "These changes in family life reveal that, rather than an isolated legal shock, divorce represents a bundle of treatments — including income loss, neighborhood changes, and family restructuring — each of which might affect children's outcomes," the study's authors wrote. Sociologist Philip Cohen, who was not involved in the research, noted that the study can't capture emotional impacts. Still, he emphasized that parents often weigh serious trade-offs. "I believe parents are aware divorce may have harmful consequences for their children," Cohen told the Associated Press. "They make difficult judgments about what's in their own best interest, as well as the interest of their children." One man who wasn't part of the study, Brandon Hellan of St. Louis, said his parents' divorce when he was in his early 20s made him wary of commitment for years. "I treated relationships like they were rentals," he said. Why you should care Nearly one-third of American children experience their parents' divorce before reaching adulthood. While many go on to thrive—like Barack Obama and Vice President JD Vance—the study underscores how divorce often triggers reduced stability and opportunity at critical developmental stages. The Source This article is based on a working paper released in May 2025 by economists from the University of California, Merced; the U.S. Census Bureau; and the University of Maryland. The study analyzed national tax, census, and Social Security data for children born between 1988 and 1993 to assess the long-term effects of parental divorce. Commentary was drawn from the study's authors, as well as sociologist Philip Cohen and anecdotal insight from individuals with personal experience.
CNA
18-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
'This is not the time to judge': Meet the woman behind Babes, a support group for pregnant teens in Singapore
Every year, Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support receives over 600 enquiries to its 24/7 telephone hotline and WhatsApp service. The organisation helps pregnant teens – the girls who get pregnant and the boys who got someone pregnant – navigate an unplanned pregnancy. One of those calls was from Vanessa. The young woman, who did not want to reveal her full name, was in her late teens when she found out she was pregnant. Her abusive boyfriend then tried to force her to get an abortion. Even though she eventually found the courage to leave him, there were other struggles. She had a strained relationship with her mother, and having left school, found it difficult to find a job and support herself financially while pregnant. She toyed with the idea of terminating the pregnancy, but when she heard her baby's heartbeat during her first ultrasound, she made a decision – she would raise her daughter. Thankfully, she wasn't truly alone. After reaching out to a Family Service Centre, Vanessa was referred to Babes. The organisation helped her prepare for childbirth, gave her essentials like a stroller, diapers, and a cot, and even helped her secure a job. Even now, her case worker continues to support the single mum as she raises her daughter. It's stories like Vanessa's that keep Sophie Mathur going. As the chairperson of Babes, Mathur hears accounts like this almost daily from her team. It reminds her of why the work matters. Babes started in 2005 under Beyond Social Services, a non-profit that supports children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds in Singapore. As it does now, the crisis support organisation served teens with unplanned pregnancies. They lend a hand to anyone relevant to the cause, whether it's the girl who got pregnant, the boy who discovers he made someone pregnant, or the concerned but lost parent who finds out their child is pregnant. In 2013, Babes became an independent organisation. Mathur was appointed its chairperson in 2019, but she had long been a vocal advocate. 'This space is large but overlooked,' said Mathur, who is also a corporate partner at global law firm Linklaters. 'Not many people realise how many young women in Singapore face unplanned pregnancies and how hard it is to find support when they do.' According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's 2022 report on births and deaths in Singapore, 218 babies were born to mothers aged 19 and younger. In comparison, 487 babies were born to this group in 2013. A study by SingHealth in November 2024 found a 60 per cent increase in the number of Singapore women seeking abortion referrals at its eight polyclinics, between 2017 and 2020. Most of these women were under 20, and over 10 per cent were repeat referrals. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support (@babes_pregnancysupport) 'Babes provides support to teenage mums at every stage,' said Mathur, who is in her forties. Its mission is to help pregnant teens and their families work towards the 'best possible future', whether it's choosing motherhood, terminating the pregnancy, or putting the baby up for adoption. 'From the moment she finds out she's pregnant and doesn't know what to do, to walking her through an abortion if she decides to have one, to when they've just given birth and are dealing with postpartum issues, to even if she has another unplanned pregnancy and changes her mind about keeping the baby. 'We even guide teenage boys who are so lost or anxious after knowing they got someone pregnant – we walk with them through it all.' To do this, Babes operates on two main pillars. 'The first pillar is direct support,' Mathur told CNA Women. This includes the 24/7 helpline and WhatsApp service, as well as the dedicated work of full-time case workers and volunteers. If a teen finds out she's pregnant or if he has made someone pregnant, they can reach out to Babes' 24/7 service. Helpline volunteers are trained to listen without judgement or criticism. More importantly, they're there to guide the teen through different options so they can make informed decisions based on their situation. Mathur highlighted the contributions of Spradha Sinha, Babes' lead helpline volunteer, who oversees a team of around 30 helpline volunteers. In all, they clock more than 1,000 hours of calls each year. For her work in Babes, Sinha was a finalist in the 2023 Singapore Silent Heroes Awards, given by the Civilians Association (Singapore) to honour those who make unseen contributions to the community. Case workers like Haslinda So'od and Fatimah Abdul Karim also play a key role in helping each pregnant teen navigate her unique circumstances, right down to the smallest detail, to help her feel safe, empowered and supported. That can include figuring out where to get affordable baby clothes and learning how to breastfeed. 'The second pillar focuses on upstream work,' Mathur said, referring to efforts like teen pregnancy prevention campaigns, and social media work that focuses on education surrounding relationships, contraception and decision-making. In addition to talks at junior colleges and polytechnics, Babes also runs workshops with partners like the Girl Guides. On its office tours at local companies and at networking events, the girls get to meet people from various industries and hear their personal stories. 'The tours show the girls that despite any setback or growing up in difficult circumstances, there are different paths towards success and they can still build a meaningful future for themselves.' Some fundraising efforts double as empowerment initiatives, including offering henna art services, or selling handcrafted items like candles, made by women who have used Babes' services, at markets like Boutique Fairs Singapore. CATCHING YOUNG WOMEN WHO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS Mathur grew emotional when she shared why Babes matters so much to her. While some critics of the organisation may mean well, she believes their concerns are often misplaced and laced with judgement instead of compassion. 'When I had my first pregnancy, I was 38. It was twins, and I was terrified,' said Mathur. ' I had so many things – a stable job, financial security, a supportive husband and family, and I was so used to speaking with doctors who also respect me. So if I could feel scared, how must a teenage girl feel when she has none of that?' That's why Babes exists, the mum of three said. Not to encourage teen pregnancy, but to support girls when they're at their most vulnerable. Mathur said: 'What kind of society do you want to live in? Do we want to build one that's harsh and punishes us for every mistake we make? Or one that's more compassionate and picks us up when we're down?' She noted that some teens only come to Babes after a second unplanned pregnancy, not because they didn't learn the first time, but because they had no support then. 'The deed is done, the girl is pregnant, and she needs help,' Mathur said. 'This is not the time to judge, it's the time to show up for her and her family.' This is not the time to judge, it's the time to show up for her and her family. 'Teens are often misunderstood,' Mathur said. 'Their brains are still developing. When they, especially those at risk, act out or make poor decisions, we call them stupid or reckless – but many of them are already dealing with a lot.' Whenever critics question why Babes is needed, Mathur remembers something Sinha shared with her. 'She told me, 'What if this were my daughter? These girls have nowhere to go, no one to turn to. So let me be that person for all of these girls, these daughters.' Mathur added: 'I want to make sure these daughters are never alone.' Mathur said her legal training has taught her to leave assumptions at the door. 'I don't walk into a situation thinking I know everything,' she said. 'And that's so important at Babes, where every girl and every family has their own story. You can't judge before you've even listened.' It's why stories like Vanessa's move Mathur and allow her to learn more about the different challenges faced by young girls seeking help, especially after what seems to be a terrible mistake. 'The moment we hear of a teen, especially if that teen is someone we know, getting pregnant, we may think we know what's best for her,' Mathur said. 'But if I don't know the full story, how can I ever begin to know?' 'Working with these amazing women and men on the Babes team and learning about the dozens of girls we have the privilege to help – it personally makes me more empathetic, more grounded,' Mathur said.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tradwife influencer Nara Smith SLAMMED for 'glamorizing' teen pregnancies
Popular 'tradwife' influencer Nara Smith has been slammed for glamorizing teen pregnancy after posting a controversial TikTok. The 23-year-old, who shares three children with husband Lucky Blue, posted a video celebrating being a young mom, which concerned followers who accused her of encouraging other women to have children at a young age. The clip, which showed her hugging her young child in a paddock, was captioned: 'POV: You decided to have kids at 18 and this is your fifth Mother's Day.' Nara rose to fame through TikTok, where she flaunts her 'tradwife' (traditional housewife) lifestyle, baking extravagant meals for her family while seeming to effortlessly care for her young children. While her social media shows a lavish lifestyle, where she wears designer clothing in a beautiful home, many have pointed out very few teen moms can afford the same lifestyle. 'Nara please don't glamorize this. Happy for you but your life at 18 is not most teens realities…,' one response read. 'Reminder to all the 18-year-olds, you do not have Nara Smith money,' read another. 'Girlies at 18 you don't have Nara Smith money so this ain't your sign,' someone else shared. 'No. DO NOT GET INFLUENCED PLEASE. Finish your college. Get a job. Become financially stable,' agreed another. In a Reddit thread, users delved into why the influencer, who is Mormon, is heavily advocating for the controversial take. '[Nara] is 100 percent serious on how she thinks this is easy and achievable,' one user wrote on a thread. 'No idea about the teen pregnancy stuff but they should be unfollowing her for pushing trad wife aesthetics. It's like Andrew Tate for Gen Z girls and we're falling hard and fast into mass conservatism,' chimed in another. Someone else agreed, writing: 'Especially when the couple are Mormons, there's definitely an underlying agenda to all this — hell, find me a tradwife influencer who ISN'T a Mormon or fundamentalist Christian.' They continued: 'And the problem is she's promoting such a glamorized fantasy that just isn't within reach for 99 percent of people if they got married and started popping out kids at eighteen, all on one income.' 'Her own social media income avoids the all too common scenario of being trapped in a loveless or even abusive marriage, or left destitute with her kids after her husband sets his eyes on that pretty young secretary, takes the house, and weasels himself out of child support or alimony,' they pointed out. has reached out to Nara for further comment. Tradwives are a trending topic on social media that showcases women who sport 1950s style clothing while embracing traditional gender roles. Last year, the South African star told Harper's Bazaar that she has had 'a really hard time' digesting the concept of the 'the trad wife, whatever it is,' defending her lifestyle. 'People are seeing her gaining some success from everything she's doing,' Lucky said. 'If you have someone who doesn't know you at all and they're making a video about you online with things that are not true, you can just tell it's coming from a place of jealousy. Let's call it what it is.' Smith has been married to fellow model Lucky Blue Smith, 26, since February of 2020, and the couple are parents to three children: daughter Rumble Honey, three, son Slim Easy, two, and daughter Whimsy Lou Smith, four months. Smith is also stepmother to her husband's daughter Gravity, seven, from his previous relationship to model Stormi Bree.
Medscape
06-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
WHO Updates Guidelines to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related complications are the leading cause of death globally among girls aged 15-19 years. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its guidelines aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy and mitigating its health impacts. While teen pregnancy is a worldwide issue, it is especially critical in low- and middle-income countries. Each year, an estimated 21 million adolescent girls in these regions become pregnant — half of these pregnancies are unplanned. Beyond the significant health risks — including increased rates of infection, preterm birth, and complications from unsafe abortions — adolescent pregnancy also leads to major social consequences. Early pregnancies often interrupt education and social development, contributing to long-term cycles of poverty and exclusion across generations. 'Early pregnancies can have serious physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women, and often reflect deep-rooted inequalities that limit their ability to shape their own relationships and life choices,' said Pascale Allotey, PhD, director of WHO's Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research and of the United Nations's Special Program of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction. 'Tackling this issue means creating environments in which girls and young women can thrive — ensuring they remain in school, are protected from violence and coercion, and have access to sexual and reproductive health services that respect their rights and allow them to make informed choices about their futures,' she added. Adolescent pregnancy is influenced by a range of factors, including social and economic vulnerability, gender inequality, and barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services. In some countries, these services are only available with parental or guardian consent, which can further restrict access. There is also a well-established connection between teen pregnancy and child marriage. In low- and middle-income countries, approximately 90% of adolescent mothers were married before the age of 18 years. In light of this, the updated WHO guideline calls for urgent global action to end child marriage. It recommends multisectoral efforts to provide meaningful alternatives to early marriage, such as expanding girls' access to education and improving their long-term prospects. Increased school enrollment and completion have been shown to reduce the likelihood of early unions. For adolescents at higher risk, the guidance suggests providing targeted support — such as scholarships or financial incentives — to help them remain in school through secondary education. The WHO also recommends that countries adopt legislation prohibiting marriage before the age of 18 years. 'Early marriage robs girls of their childhood and has severe consequences for their health,' said Sheri Bastien, PhD, adolescent sexual and reproductive health scientist at WHO. 'Education is fundamental to changing the future of girls. At the same time, adolescents — both boys and girls — must be empowered to understand consent, take care of their health, and challenge the entrenched gender inequalities that continue to drive high rates of child marriage and early pregnancy in many parts of the world.' The updated guideline highlights the importance of providing comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents of all genders. Evidence shows that such education can help prevent teenage pregnancies and delay the initiation of sexual activity. WHO also emphasizes the need for adolescents to have access to contraceptive methods, along with proper guidance on their correct use. Experts further stress that pregnant adolescents — who frequently face stigma and discrimination — must receive high-quality, respectful healthcare. This includes access to safe abortion services where legally permitted. The newly published guideline updates the original 2011 edition, incorporating over a decade of new research and field experience. It reflects growing calls — both within and beyond WHO — for more robust and evidence-based strategies to address adolescent pregnancy. Despite persistent challenges, global progress has been made. Between 2000 and 2021, the adolescent birth rate declined from 64.5-42.5 births per 1000 girls aged 15-19 years. However, significant regional disparities remain. The most notable declines were observed in South, Central, and West Asia, as well as North Africa. In contrast, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean continue to have the highest adolescent birth rates — 101 and 53.2 births per 1000 adolescent girls, respectively, in 2021. The report also notes substantial differences within individual regions and countries. For example, in Latin America and the Caribbean, Nicaragua reported 85.6 births per 1000 adolescent girls in 2021 compared with 24.1 per 1000 in Chile.
