Teenage pregnancy can make sense for youngsters

Teenage pregnancy can have a positive effect on the lives of young people, according to the authors of a new study.

In the book, Teenage Parenthood: What's The Problem?, authors argue that it is not necessary that teenage pregnancy is the result of ignorance about contraception or low expectations.

Authors say majority of teenage mums they interviewed for the study were more motivated to succeed at school or work because they wanted to provide for their families.

Dr Claire Alexander of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) said teenage mothers were often stereotyped as "dysfunctional and immoral", reports The Daily Express.

She said: "In contrast to the ignorance, fecklessness and hazardous consequences reiterated in policy and media, our research makes it clear that young parenthood can make sense and be valued and can even provide an impetus for teenage mothers and fathers to strive to provide a better life for their children."