The consequences of America's high adolescent pregnancy rate are cause for great concern. Adolescent pregnancy creates health risks for both the offspring and the mother. Infants born to adolescent mothers are more likely to have low birth weights a prominent factor in infant mortality-as well as neurological problems and childhood illness. Adolescent mothers often drop out of school. Although many adolescent mothers resume their education later in life, they generally do not catch up with women who postpone childbearing.