Significance of the study about teenage pregnancy
1984 apr;29(4): significance of pregnancy among adolescents choosing abortion as compared to those continuing -gonthier m, lortie ctthe significance of pregnancy for adolescent women is usually related to unconscious motivations. Psychosocial status, contraceptive and sexual habits, attitudes towards pregnancy and environmental influences were studied in 50 teenagers who chose abortion. The results point to significant differences between the two groups, particularly as to the meaning of pregnancy and the decision-making : the significance of pregnancy for adolescent women is usually related to unconscious motivations. Psychological status, contraceptive and sexual habits, attitudes towards pregnancy and environmental influences were studied in 50 teenagers who chose abortion. The results point to significant differences between the 2 groups, particularly as to the meaning of pregnancy and the decision-making process. The teenagers who chose abortion seemed more independent and self-assured, made their decisions basically by themselves and had a more realistic view of pregnancy. The teenagers who chose to carry their pregnancies to term appeared more submissive and less capable of integrating various elements of reality into their decision making. Interpersonal relationships and the patient's personality were viewed as the major influences on pregnancy resolution. Future studies should shed light on the meaning of adolescent pregnancy as a contemporary sociologic phenomenon and address the following questions: how can adolescents' needs be met in ways other than pregnancy? 6716370 [indexed for medline] sharepublication type, mesh termspublication typecomparative studymesh termsabortion, legal*adolescentattitude to healthcontraception behaviordecision makingethnic groupsfamily characteristicsfemalehumanspregnancypregnancy in adolescence*quebecsexual behaviorsocioeconomic factorslinkout - more resourcesmedicalpregnancy - genetic allianceteenage pregnancy - medlineplus health informationmiscellaneousnci cptac assay portalnci cptc antibody characterization programpubmed commons home. Commentshow to join pubmed commonshow to cite this comment:Ncbi > literature > new authors:free, easy and al: ambassador newsletter keeps you up to date with all new papers in your information via can unsubscribe any registered t with t a new password via impact of teenage pregnancy on school dropout among secondary school girls in embu ogy - children and ad immediately. Illustration in percentages of the girls already engaging sex with partners of different gh considerable attention has been paid to the prevalence of adolescence childbearing in kenya today, few studies have focused on the educational consequences of the schoolgirl pregnancy. Using data collected in selected schools in embu municipality, this study examines the factors associated with schoolgirl pregnancy as well as the likelihood of school dropout and subsequent re-enrollment of schoolgirls who become analysis is derived from the data collected from secondary schoolgirls, education officials and teachers on factors that predispose girls to pregnancy, the extent to which teenage pregnancy contributes to school dropout and the eventual levels of re-admission.
Significance of the study of teenage pregnancy
Question is then raised on what other factors would be causing these girls to drop out of school other than just the pregnancy. However, poverty, cultural practices and peer pressure are among the factors assumed to be predisposing girls to pregnancy from the findings of this study, while these factors in themselves would also cause dropouts. Given the increasing levels of female school participation in kenya today through the affirmative action motion targeting the girl child, the findings of this study suggest that future studies will benefit from exploring the causal relationships between the factors mentioned above, adolescent reproductive health behavior and subsequent school r 1: introduction. 0 introduction & background of the study:Pregnancy related school dropouts have become a matter of public concern in the world today. In addition, some studies have shown that few adolescents use contraceptives and are at risk of pregnancy (kiragu, 1991; mccauley and salter, 1995; kiragu & zabin, 1995). Research reports also indicate that the united states records the highest teen birth rates in the industrialized world, twice as high as that of the united kingdom which is the developed nation with the second highest rate of teen pregnancy (the national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy, 1997). The educational stakes are also very high for young parents in the developed countries whereas a high percentage of young mothers drop out of school, making early motherhood the number one reason for dropping out of school among young girls in these africa, especially the sub-saharan africa countries, there are concerns about high rates of pregnancy-related school dropouts, also leading to the reported gender disparities in education in the developing world (mensch et. Among policy makers and even the media, pregnancy is increasingly being mentioned as a reason for premature school leaving in the region. Anyone who has lived or travelled in africa and read the local papers is familiar with the attention given to “schoolgirl pregnancy”- a term which draws attention to the risks schoolgirls face when they stay in school beyond the age of sexual maturity (lloyd & mensch, 2005). Because girls who dropped out of school due to pregnancy usually never returned to school to complete their education after childbirth, their opportunities for socioeconomic advancement are limited. They must either terminate their pregnancy by taking recourse in abortion in order to continue their education, or drop out of school either on their own volition or on pain of threatened official expulsion….. When girls drop out of school because of pregnancy, their future socio-economic prospects are significantly reduced. Than the health problems associated with teenage pregnancy, it can also affect the girl’s future by delaying or terminating education, decreasing the chance of education beyond high school and increasing the chances of a poor marriage, unemployment or a low paying job.
Background of the study about teenage pregnancy
It is also noted that rather than pregnancy causing girls to drop out of school, other factors such as the lack of social and economic opportunities for girls and women in general as well as the domestic demands placed on them, coupled with the gender inequities of the education system, may result in unsatisfactory school experiences, poor academic performance and an acquiescence in or endorsement for early kenya, the youth population with young people between ages 15 – 19 is large, accounting for 25% of the population of the country. The challenges are serious such that many young people especially young girls are leaving school early due to pregnancy. A growth in the percentage of girls attending school after puberty inevitably leads to a rise in the risk of pregnancy among students being that they are already sexually the fluidity of the traditional african marriage process, the onset of sexual relations and childbearing prior to formalizing a union was not unknown in kenya in the past (meekers 1992). The ministry is fully aware that the dropout rate for girls is higher than that of boys and also that pregnancy and subsequent drop out of the girls from school contributes to the very disparities the educational policy seeks to eliminate. The statistics on school drop out of the teenage mothers in kenya reveal that the problem has been demanding urgent solution. 1 problem statement:Teenage pregnancy has a direct implication on school dropout among girls and a subsequent contributor to the disparities experienced in the education of both girls and boys. A number of studies concur that many young women drop out of school as a result of pregnancy (gyepi-grabrah, 1985a). In kenya, a study conducted in 1985 estimated that about 10% of female students drop out of secondary schools because they were pregnant (division of family health/gtz support unit, 1988; barker and rich, 1990). Whereas there have been issues raised with regard to teenage pregnancy and its subsequent influence on school dropouts, the literature available is really not about schoolgirl pregnancy at all, but instead on the relationship between school exit and subsequent childbearing. The widespread perception is also that girls who become pregnant and drops out may have to accept a low-paid job, enter a premature marriage, or become the head of an impoverished household, relying on meager assistance from her family and the child’s study seeks to establish the extent to which teenage pregnancy contributes to school dropout among girls in embu municipality. What are the levels of school drop outs in embu municipality due to teenage pregnancy? 5 scope of the study:This study was carried out in embu municipality targeting girls from selected girls-only and mixed schools. Head teachers and guidance and counseling teachers from these schools were also covered in the study.
Teenage pregnancy significance of the study
6 justification of the study:Early sexual debut and premarital sex are increasingly common features of female adolescence in kenya - putting girls at the risk of unwanted pregnancy and even infections such as sexually transmitted infections and hiv/aids. Except in qualitative studies, the simultaneous decisions related to pregnancy and leaving school are rarely examined. In particular, if a girl gives a reason other than pregnancy for discontinuing her education, whether she is also pregnant at the time she leaves school is rarely taken into account. Particularly for those who give such dominant concerns as financial issues, family obligations, or lack of interest in school, a pregnancy may serve as an unacknowledged catalyzing force for timing of school ’ dropping out of school due to pregnancy is a prevalent issue as reported in most schools in kenya and this makes the issue of pregnancy as a reason for school dropout a subject worth investigating. Pregnancy as a factor in some of the dropouts may be downplayed, likewise the girls who mention pregnancy as their reason for leaving school may be influenced by their family’s financial situation or by potential care giving arrangements that will be available after the child is born. These factors may be significant in determining how a schoolgirl reacts to pregnancy and whether she will resume her education after her child is reports also show that an estimated 13,000 girls drop out of school every year due to pregnancy. With all the uncertainties pointed out here, it is evident that the issue of teenage pregnancy as a reason for school dropout among school girls is an area worth investigating; singling out the influence that teenage pregnancy has on schoolgirl dropout and the extent to which it is felt. 7 significance of the study:As already seen above on the justification, the outcome of this very important study has provided a more precise understanding of how teenage pregnancy influences school dropout and how that affects the education of the girl child in this particular region, the causes of teenage pregnancy as well as the possible remedies that can be employed to control the most likely to benefit from the findings of this study are the ministry of education and the school management authorities, especially in the formulation and strengthening of policies that guard teenage pregnancies in schools and the possible re-admission of the affected girls back to school. The civil society is another potential beneficiary of the outcome of this study in their course of championing for the rights of the girl child in attaining education, while working towards narrowing down the gender disparities in the education study has also helped create an environment of clear understanding of teenage pregnancies in schools, singling it out for clarity as one of the major causes as opposed to the many reasons that may cause school dropout. 8 limitations of the study:The limitations this study encountered were to do with the degree of willingness that the ministry and school management officials were having in divulging the information on pregnancies within their institutions. 9 assumptions of the study:- secondary school going girls are at great risk of dropping out of school due to pregnancy. Girls who withdraw from school due to pregnancy would have otherwise continued in school had they not become r 2: literature studies have investigated the degree to which pregnancy related school dropout is a major cause of gender differences in educational attainment (eloundou-enyegue and strokes 2004). The goal of this study is to determine whether reduction in unintended teen pregnancy is a useful policy lever to improve school attendance by girls ensuring gender equity in school ble arguments suggest that programs to avoid unintended pregnancies among teens can have spillover benefits in promoting gender equity in education in many countries.
Since many girls and few (if any) boys drop out of school because of pregnancies, policymakers could reduce existing gender gaps by addressing pregnancy-related dropouts (hyde 1995; odaga and heneveld 1995; okojie 2001). 1 causes of teenage pregnancies:The various causes of teenage pregnancies in kenya are as listed below;. Early pregnancy may be seen as a normal occurrence, the outcome of adolescent fertility and an indication of one’s et. Teenage pregnancy can usually be attributed to abundance of sexual mythology that they have learned from their peers and lack of factual information that they have received from their parents. For pc, kindle, tablet, impact of teenage pregnancy on school dropout among secondary school girls in embu a in social ess of the health risks associated with teenage pregnancy in ... Licensee: aosis is an open access article distributed under the terms of ve commons attribution license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution,And reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly s contributing to teenage pregnancy in the capricorn district of the limpopo this original research... Adolescents may lack knowledge of access to conventional methods ting pregnancy, as they may be afraid to seek such information. The study purpose was to identify factors contributing to teenage one village in the capricorn district of the limpopo province. Population consisted of all pregnant teenagers attending antenatal care during june 2007 at one clinic in the capricorn district of the limpopo province. Findings further revealed that 60% of the respondents started to engage in sex at 13–15 years; 48% of the teenagers’. The strategies focused on reproductive health services, male adult-teenager communication limpopo province is one of nine provinces of the republic of south africa and is situated in the far northern part of the country, its is polokwane. The study was the capricorn district which is central to the entire districts and it has urban, semi-urban and rural e the extensive attention given to adolescent sexuality and teenage pregnancy in the past 30 years, many teenagers were still nt (van eijk 2007). Teenage pregnancy has become a national epidemic, partly because more and more teenagers who give birth decide to raise their children.
That teenage pregnancy is more common amongst young people who have been disadvantaged and have poor expectations of either ion or the job market. Premature sexual intercourse results in high rates of sexually transmitted diseases, hiv transmission, adolescent pregnancy ons (mkhwanazi 2006). Unprotected sexual intercourse can lead to an unwanted adolescent pregnancy which is often considered a serious social and public health ers have a high risk of unintended pregnancy (mestad et al. Richter and mlambo (2005) said teenage pregnancy appears to aged by lack of access to sex education. Some parents are reluctant to make sex education and contraceptives available to their teenagers,As they are afraid that their teenagers might interpret this as permission to engage in sexual activities. Morake (2011) revealed ers appear to be ignorant about issues such as puberty, pregnancy and contraception. Teenage pregnancy involves recognising the complexities surrounding teenagers’ attitudes and knowledge about the use ceptives (phipps et al. Knowledge on sexual and reproductive issues amongst teenagers in sekhukhune and waterberg districts o province is low morake (2011). There is also a lot of misinformation on sexual and reproductive issues that affect teenagers. The study by kaufman, de wet and stadler (2001) indicated that there was a slightly of knowledge about modern methods of contraception amongst teenagers. It implies that supplying adequate information about sexual behaviours and contraceptives to teenagers should be of paramount importance. 2007) outlines that even though a large number of teenage girls aged between 15–19 reported knowledge about methods of family planning,Contraceptive use is low. Kaufman, de wet and stadler (2001) pointed out that amongst other barriers, clinic staff disapproves of teenagers ly active; ignorance about reproduction; misunderstanding by young people; and false assumptions and ignorance surrounding ers believe that pregnancy cannot result from the initial act of intercourse, but only by repeated sexual encounters.
Teenagers are nded by sexual images and messages, which imply that sexual activity is the norm (mwaba 2000). High teenage pregnancy rates seem to exist capricorn district of the limpopo province and this was also mentioned by morake (2011) who indicated that statistics reflect that four out girls fall pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20. This leads to the situation where it seems as is compulsory amongst teenagers without giving due consideration that they should reach maturity age before engaging in sexual is against this background that the study on factors that contribute to teenage pregnancies was conducted in one village of the ct in the limpopo purpose of this study was to identify factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy in one village of the capricorn district in the ce. The following research questions were used to guide the study:• which factors contribute to teenage pregnancy in one village of capricorn district in the limpopo province? Are there any pregnancy prevention strategies available within the community at this village of the capricorn district in limpopo province? Of the objectives and the specific aims of this study were to:• explore and describe the factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in the capricorn district of the limpopo province and• propose recommendations to strengthen pregnancy prevention strategies that are relevant to the needs of the community of this village capricorn district of the limpopo tion of er: a teenager is an individual in the transitional stage of development between childhood and full adulthood, representing the period during which a person is biologically adult but emotionally not fully matured (south african concise oxford dictionary 2005). In this study, er is a female person aged between 13–19 ncy: pregnancy is the state in which a foetus develops in the uterus of a woman of childbearing age, during the period from birth (south african concise oxford dictionary 2005). The context of this study, pregnancy refers to a period of gestation when a woman aged between 13–19 years has conceived an in her icance of is anticipated that the study would contribute to the prevention of teenage pregnancies. The guidelines could be used in health care educate teenagers how to avoid unwanted ch method and design. Quantitative research approach was chosen for this study because it emphasises objectivity and uses systematic procedures to measure our by using formal structured instruments when collecting data from respondents (brink 2006). This approach has been used to objective facts about factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy that could be statistically analysed and interpreted. In this study t was made to obtain information from pregnant teenagers and to identify human behaviour that contributes to teenage pregnancy in e in the capricorn district of the limpopo descriptive design was selected as it is concerned with gathering more information about the phenomenon studied. This research design le to obtain relevant information and to describe and identify factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy in one village in the ct of the limpopo province (brink 2006).
And study population consisted of 103 pregnant teenagers attending antenatal care during the last weeks of june, july and august 2007 at in the capricorn district of the limpopo province. Probability, simple random sampling was used to ensure that all subjects had an of being included in the study. The 100 respondents who picked numbered papers all voluntarily agreed to participate in the study (brink 2006). Sample consisted of 100 pregnant teenagers who satisfied the inclusion criteria, their ages ranging between 13–19 years and who picked. The questionnaires consisted of 23 questions that were divided parts namely, demographic data, factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy and sexual behaviour. The process was followed by the researchers to ensure authenticity of the tion instrument to collect data, which would achieve the objectives of this study and further facilitate understanding during completion questionnaires by the respondents. The researcher hand-delivered the questionnaires to those pregnant teenagers who consented to hout the time when the participants were completing the questionnaires, the researchers were present either to clarify misunderstanding answer any questions (de vos et al. Each score was listed separately which the results were subdivided into classes, collection of scores and percentages of those scores which were grouped together, aphic data, factors leading to sexual encounters and factors that contributed to teenage pregnancy (brink 2006). The quality of the research was ensured by adhering to the highest possible standards of research tability and the ability to execute the research sion to sample the pregnant teenagers was obtained from the clinic supervisor and primary health care district manager. Each er was provided with sufficient and understandable information regarding her participation in the study before signing the consent minors between 13–17 years of age, consent forms were signed by their parents or guardians. Confidentiality and anonymity were protecting the participants’ identity, privacy, self worth and dignity by not indicating the subjects’ names on the ty and ty was ensured through probability, simple random sampling and ensuring that every member of the population had an equal chance of the study. Of hundred (n = 100) pregnant teenagers (between 13 and 19) who were attending antenatal care at one clinic in the capricorn district of o province participated voluntarily in the study. The study results reflected that 10% of the participants were married whilst 90% of the participants were single during their when they became of first engagement in sexual -two per cent (62%) of the respondents started engaging in sexual activities between the age of 13 years and 15 years; 54% engaged for time in sexual intercourse between the age of between 16 years 19 years whilst 4% started at the age of 10–12 years.
2004) who found that amongst teenage girls interviewed in south africa, 35% were teenagers aged 19 years of which 53% pregnancies had either been unplanned at 36% or unwanted at 17%. As a result of the first sexual intercourse – was experienced by teenagers between the age of 13 years and 16 -eight per cent (48%) of the respondents had partners who were 21 years and above; 43% had partners between 19–20 years and 9% rs between 16–18 years. The vast majority of teenagers became pregnant by partners who were older than they were. Mwaba (2000) disagreed, indicating that the older boys and their refusal to use condoms during sexual intercourse, were the main reasons for teenage -economic -four per cent (44%) of participants depended on their single mother’s income, others worked as domestic workers; 20% depended on ’s income and 12% depended on the income of both parents. It was evident from the study findings that most pregnant teenagers depended on a single mother’s eijk (2007) indicated that teenagers from lower income families are more likely to report having sexual intercourse regardless of the ure or race. It is further pointed out that teenagers from single parent family homes are more likely to report having sexual less of the income of the support of the study findings van eijk (2007) indicated that the widespread belief that young women are having children specifically so access a grant is unfounded because the teenagers in this study who were pregnant and were receiving a child support grant were few s contributing to teenage l factors are strongly associated with and contribute to the increased risk of an early pregnancy. These factors include: lack of sex and how to use contraceptives; barriers to access contraceptives including negative attitudes of health staff; peer pressure; on; low self-esteem; low educational expectations; poverty; family breakdown; and heightened sex-based messages in the respondents in this study had knowledge about the use of contraceptives and other ways of preventing unwanted pregnancy apart from ence from sexual activity. Other reasons for ing the contraceptives were that teenagers were reluctant to take contraceptive precautions for fear of complications and ion, despite their knowledge about the importance of the use of those contraceptives (ritcher & mlambo 2005). The findings by mlambo (2005) outlined that teenage pregnancies resulted from lack of knowledge about contraception and many other misconceptions. 2000) teenage girls expressed a preference for receiving the injectable contraceptive and stated that condoms were not their birth of choice. Respondents further mentioned that teenage boys did not visit family planning clinics and were reluctant to use condoms as. The teenage boys refused to use condoms because they commented that sex with a s leading to sexual usage: the study findings pointed out that 96% of the respondents didn’t use drugs, 4% did smoke, and 92% didn’t l whereas 8% drank alcohol. In support of the study findings van eijk (2007) indicated that substance abuse was long recognised as one greatest health and social problems in south africa which resulted in teenage pregnancies because teenagers engaged in sexual t making calculated decisions due to the influence of alcohol.
Additionally it was outlined that drinking became more common as moved through their teenage years rising to 45% amongst 15 year olds and this was proven to be a cause of teenage tions of the study results are limited to one village in the capricorn district and will not be generalised to all villages in the district. It ted that the same study be conducted in other villages in order to determine the factors which contribute to teenage pregnancies teenagers who attend the clinics for antenatal factors driving teenage pregnancy are complex and varied and therefore require multifaceted intervention strategies. There is a wide variety gies aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy including education programmes, family planning services, school-based health centres,Youth-friendly clinics and youth development programmes. The following pregnancy prevention strategies are recommended based on the results study:• develop more effective preventive measures for teenage pregnancy and have solutions that might prevent unplanned teenage pregnancy. Pregnancy prevention programmes with guidelines should be available and utilised appropriately in all areas where teenagers are found. Increase awareness and knowledge about and availability of emergency hormonal contraception; since this safe, effective and reliable post-coital contraception is paramount to tackle the unplanned pregnancy rates. Facilitate the establishment of adult-teenage communication programmes with guidelines to give adults information and communicate effectively with young people about reducing risky behaviour. Young men have information needs and anxieties about sex and increase in the number of teenage pregnancies is causing great concern and is becoming a critical issue. 2003, ‘low expectations, sexual attitudes and knowledge: explaining teenage pregnancy and fertility in english ts from qualitative research’, the sociological review 51, 199– adolescents in four countries in sub-saharan africa. 2004, ‘ten years of democracy africa: documenting transformation in reproductive health policy and status’, reproductive health matters journal 12(24),Inconsistent contraceptive use among adolescent girls: findings from prospective study’, journal of adolescent health 38(1),Democratic nurses organization of south africa (denosa), 1998, ethical standards for nurse researchers, denosa, ment of health, 2009, family planning method and practice, government printers africa, vos, a. 2006, ‘teenage pregnancy and gender identities in the making in a post apartheid south african township’, tation, department of anthropology, university of , a. 1995, ‘factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in rural nigeria’, journal of youth and adolescence 24(4),Phipps, m. 2005, ‘perceptions of rural teenagers on teenage pregnancy’, health sa gesondheid 10(2),61– african oxford school dictionary, 2007, oxford university press southern africa, cape africa, studies in family planning 32(2), 147– eijk, r.
2007, factors contributing to teenage pregnancies in rarotonga, united nations population fund (unfpa), up for article nt asked this article (login required).