According to the data from the National Center for Health Statistics in the United States of America, it suggests that about 17.4 per 1,000 males ages 15-19 years became teen fathers in 2002. While longitudinal studies suggest this number might be even higher. While the incidence of teen fatherhood is lower than that of teen motherhood, these young men are a potential resource for their child, as well as individuals with their own unmet needs.


Teen fathers face a developmental dilemma. They need to transition into parenthood while simultaneously going through adolescence and becoming an adult. Their fatherhood is impacted by both their ethnicity and cultural norms.



Teenage fatherhood grows out of both personal and social contexts which influence young men’s decisions regarding being sexually active, whether to use contraception, and pregnancy outcomes. Despite common stereotypes, there is increasing evidence that teen fathers want to be (and are) involved with their children in some ways. Teen parent programs which help young fathers with the legal aspects of fatherhood, help them become self-sufficient, teach effective parenting skills, and promote healthy lifestyles have shown to be effective.

Teenage mothers are not the only ones who are facing the reality of early parenthood. Teenage fathers are also responsible for their own child. Through our program, we will try to to help these teenage fathers who are facing this unfortunate circumstances.

From:

http://teenagefatherhood.com/teenage-father/teen-fathers-an-introduction/



RESEARCH ABOUT THE TOPIC:

According to Telegraph.co.uk, the advice given by Teenage Pregnancy Unit in UK was to teach children on the "enjoyment of fatherhood" and "parenting aims and aspirations." The cases of teenage pregnancy in UK kept rising. In February 2009, the front page of a newspaper shocked everybody. It was a picture of the 'youngest father in UK.' The Department of Health in UK advices the teenagers on necessary knowledge and skills that a parent should have.



A researcher said that fathers who are under 16 'should be a matter of police.' For her, parents of the teenagers involved should be charged because they should not let these children sleep at the same bed, at the same house. Teenage fathers who are over 16 should get their own job to help their children. The Government in UK is trying their best to reduce teenage pregnancy.

Source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/4644539/Teenage-fatherhood-and-underage-sex-glamorised-in-Government-guidance.html