The Causes and Effect of Teenage Pregnancy Among Female Secondary School Students in Nigeria (a Case Study of Makurdi LGA)
CHAPTER ONE
Purpose Of The Study
This study is designed to achieve the following purpose.
- To identify and critically examine various factors that influence and contribute to the high rate of teenage pregnancy in Makurdi Locals government area.
- To ascertain the adverse effects of teenage pregnancy on the teenagers and their academic performance as well as the local government area under investigation.
- To ascertain the extent to which broken homes, poverty, and adverse life circumstances, ignorance of the consequences of sexual activity, sexual abuse all coercion and the changing attitude towards sex have influenced and contributed to teenage pregnancy in Makurdi Local Government Area under study.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
An Overview of Teenage Pregnancy
Atuyambe (2005) explains that teenage pregnancy is the same as adolescence pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy occurs between thirteen and nineteen years. Teenage pregnancy is normally unexpected and various expectant teenage girls react to it individually. Clemmens (2002) asserts that the expectant teenage girl has to come to terms with the unplanned expectations of being a parent. In most cases, the teenager may have to deal with stigma and isolation shown by important people like friends and siblings. Macleod (1999) reported that teenage pregnancy is a social problem that leads to the disruption of schooling, poor obstetric outcomes, inadequate mothering, poor child outcome and poor interrelationship. Teenage period is essential in the development from infancy to maturity including the change of their responsibilities. This stage is characterized by curiosity activities that are either positive or negative. The risky sexual behavior may lead to unwanted pregnancies (Patton, 2009)
Atuyambe (2005) established that expectant teenage girls compared to their teenage boys have been reported as highly affected in numerous low developed nations. Teenage pregnancy is largely viewed as personal challenges that affect either the expectant teenage girl or the entire society at large. The connection that occurs to the individual and the society problems with expectant teenage girls may not be fixed to a particular dimension. It is most likely that there is relationship of the minor and major directions of the minor and major overlapping in the Yoruba understanding of teenage pregnancy. In the society‟s view irresponsible sex activities and unplanned pregnancies effects are easier to view on the teenage girls than their sexual counterparts are. The isolation of expectant teenage girls shows that one is different in the prevailing conditions. Although teenage pregnancy is a challenging situation it distablizes both expectant teenage girls and their parents but the isolation of the issue of teenage pregnancy makes it more challenging for the expectant teenage girls than the mature women. However, Weiss and Lonnquist (2006) argued that the nature and dynamics of how social forces and circumstances such as unprotected sex are a bad life event which brings challenging issues for example isolation of expectant teenage girls.
Wiemann and Rickert (2005) in their study on the impact of teenage pregnancy explained that teenage changes lead to uncontrolled sex desire for a teenager and therefore causes to unplanned expectancies. More so, the dysfunctioning of some important family set ups are the major cause of teenage pregnancy. The parents, for example, are the main foundation of interaction seems to put aside their responsibility of enlightening and speaking with teenage boys and girls about sexual behaviours and leave the duty to the learning institutions. Learning institutions, hoping to elevate teenage pregnancy by educating teenage boys and girls to own up for individuals activities. Bissell (2000) noted that when teenage pregnancy occurs it is normally affective to numerous expectant teenage girls. Teenage girls who become expectant when compared to those who delay child bearing past the teen years, are mostly likely to be affected in their psychosocial set up.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
This study used a descriptive research design. The purpose of descriptive surveys, according to Ezeani (1998), is to collect detailed and factual information that describes an existing phenomenon. A thorough review of literature was conducted before selecting the topic of the study. The research design that was used in this study was a descriptive design. The researcher chose this research design because the study aimed at collecting information from respondents on their attitudes and opinions in relation to the causes and effect of teenage pregnancy on their academic performance in secondary schools.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULT PRESENTATION
Bio Data Of Respondents
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Discussion of findings
The purpose of this research was to explore the causes and effects of teenage pregnancy on the academic performance of students. This section covers the discussion of the major findings revealed by the study based on the study objectives and in line with the literature in the second chapter of the study.
Factors that Lead to Teenage Pregnancy
With respect to factors that lead to teenage pregnancy, this study revealed that poor parenting is a major cause of teenage pregnancy. From table 4.2.1 it was revealed that 85.7% of the respondents agree to the fact that poor parenting can lead to teenage pregnancy. This finding is consistent with Sarri & Phillips’ (2004) findings that parents play a pivotal role in curbing teenage pregnancy through proper parenting skills and parental attitudes.
Again, the study revealed that love seeking cannot lead to teenage pregnancy and from table 1 (page 5) it was evident that most of the respondents disagree to the assertion that love seeking can cause teenage pregnancy. The study revealed that most of the respondents live in “domestic violence-free homes” and had parents who showed them the needed love and care. These findings contradict Davies et al’s (2004) findings that the relationship and atmosphere within the home can push teenagers to seek for love and affection from their male colleagues which invariably make them engage in early sex which consequently lead to teenage pregnancy.
Recommendations
Based on the evidence obtained from the study, the following recommendations have been suggested to guide policy decisions that would help reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy. Firstly, given the educational, social, economic, and employment histories common among teenage parents, career development is a priority for helping this group make the transition from adolescence to economic independence. These early parents are in special need of psychosocial development, life skills development, career awareness, and job skills development. Governments should prioritize the career development of teenage mothers.
Again, a number of psychosocial factors can affect the education and training of teen parents. These factors include low self-esteem; low aspirations, motivation, and expectations; unrealistic goals and ambitions; limited emotional resources for support and maintenance; and lack of role models. To help teen parents overcome the ramifications of their disadvantaged backgrounds, attention should be given to the building of their self-concept and support systems; learning how to meet the challenge of combining work and family roles; learning how to give and receive emotional support and enhancing interpersonal communication and relationships.
References
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- Bankole, A, Ahmed, FH, Ouedraogo, C, Neema, S, & Konyani, S. 2007. ‘Knowledge of correct condom use and consistency of use among adolescents in four countries in Sub-Saharan Africa”. African Journal of Reproductive Health 11(3):198-220.
- Bloom, KC & Hall, HS. 1997. Pregnancy wantedness in adolescents presenting for pregnancy testing. American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing 24 (6):296-300.
- Brink, H. 2006. Fundamentals of research methodology for nurses. Pretoria: Juta.
- Brink, PJ & Wood, MJ. 1998. Advanced design in nursing research. 2nd Edition.
- London: Sage Publishers.
- Chigona, A & Chetty, R. 2008. Teen mothers and schooling: lacunae and challenges.
- Nigerian Journal of Education 28(2): 261-281.
