KNOWLEDGE OF THE EFFECT OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AMONG STUDENTS

1.1 Introduction

The word Teenage refers to both male and female between the ages thirteen and nineteen (13-19years). Under the American social norm, such teenagers are not regarded as matured. Although physiologically, they look like adults and so they engage in acts of sexual intercourse with members of opposite sex. This behavior poses a great challenge to health services, since sex at this tender age exposes them to a lot of risks, such as teenage pregnancy. Contraceptive is used as a form of emergency contraception. Contraceptive is formulated to function in a manner similar to the female hormone progesterone, allowing for prevention of pregnancy if taken within a reasonable period of time.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.

1.2 Background of Study

The number of teenagers giving birth each year is staggering. In fact of the slight more than 10% of young mothers are teenagers. Nigerian birth rate for adolescent is one of the highest in the world and the prevalence among female adolescent in Nigeria of sexually transmitted infection including HIV is climbing rapidly. In an effect to reduce her high pregnancy rate by teenagers including other problems, Nigerians developed a national reproduction health policy in the year 2000 that focuses on preventing risk sexual behaviour during adolescent Nigeria demographic and health survey 2004, Abuja Nigeria Commission 2006. While sexual knowledge is higher among young people put of school sexual experience while in school pay prompt students to acquire sexual knowledge and to move out of school. In Nigeria, pregnancy and motherhood mark the end of school attendance and by 16 years, 21% female adolescent are either pregnant or have given birth. Teenagers face daily pressure from peers, they are expose to influence of TV movies, the music industry and internet etc unfortunately young ones are too inexperienced to handle the consequences of pregnancy.

Teenage pregnancy has become serious public health problem particularly in the developing countries and researches that have been conducted have shown that it has been on the increase. Research conducted also shows that teenage pregnancy poses health problem in developed countries like America.

Teenage pregnancy in developed countries are usually outside of marriage and for this reason, it carries a social stigma in many communities and countries. Some teenage pregnancies in developed countries are usually outside of marriage and for this reason it carries a social stigma in many communities and countries. Some teenage pregnancy occurs as a result of young women’s sexual in experience and an inadequate understanding of their reproductive matters and access to contraception are necessary to prevent unintended teenage pregnancies and childbearing. Not all teenagers’ pregnancies are unplanned, however a survey of 589 pregnant western Australian Adolescents (12-17) reported that 17% started that they planned to (Corkindale, 2002).

According to Kinby (2001) victims of teenage pregnancy lacked information or probably were not adequately educated on safe-sex either by their parents, schools or development agencies that could have enabled them deal with friends who lure them into sex prematurely. He stressed further that children of single parents are more vulnerable to teenage pregnancy. in the same vein exposure to sexual content on television, sexuality in the media, pornographic and sex chart rooms by teenagers, could most likely tune them to engage in sexual activities (L’Engle et al., 2006; Park,2008). Acceptance of gift for sex and some adult deliberately taking advantage of poor teenagers, encouraging them into having sex were also noted as factors responsible for teenage pregnancy (United Nation, 2001).

Yampolslaaya, Brown and Greenbaum (2002) posited that approximately 60% of adolescent mothers live in poverty at the time of the birth of their babies and “approximately 73% go on welfare within 5 years of giving birth”, its associated motherhood are characterized with shame, disgrace, and school dropout sometimes end up the individual’s dreams of achieving higher pursuits. Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to assess the Knowledge of the Effect of Teenage Pregnancy Among Students.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that teenage pregnancy is on the increase at an alarming rate among female students in Nigeria, which has generated a lot of concern to most individuals, families and the society. It is also one of the serious social health problems which is gradually gaining ground and spreading which is now in the whole wide world.

Studies had shown that teenagers are bound to have its share on this health problem. Therefore, the need for this study is to examine the Knowledge of the Effect of Teenage Pregnancy among Students. This will help in a great deal to expose these students to information that deal to expose these students to information that will in turn enable them to make informed decisions about their social health.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Knowledge of the Effect of Teenage Pregnancy among Students using Rosary College, Onitsha Anambra State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine if teenage pregnancy have effect on the academic performance of pregnant school girls;
2. To find out whether teenage pregnancy is a threat to the collective performance of the class;
3. To assess the frequency of sexual activity among female teenage students; and
4. To determine the relationship between teenage pregnancies and the rate of drop out among female students.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Is there any significant difference between knowledge of sex education either in school or at home and teenage pregnancy?
• Does teenage pregnancy affect the academic performance of pregnant school girls?
• Is teenage pregnancy a threat to the collective performance of the class?
• What is the association between the frequency of sexual intercourse and contraceptive use among female teenage students?
• What is the frequency of sexual activity among female teenage students?
• What is the relationship between teenage pregnancies and the rate of drop out among female students?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant relationship between teenage pregnancies and the rate of drop out among female students
• H1: There is significant relationship between teenage pregnancies and the rate of drop out among female students

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant difference between negligence of children by parents and teenage pregnancy
• H1: There is significant difference between negligence of children by parents and teenage pregnancy

1.7 Significance of Study

The findings from this study are very important to schools, parents and guardians. It can be used to educate students on the consequences of engaging in pre-marital sex and how teenage pregnancy can sabotage their academic pursuits. Research has shown that, one of the major causes of teenage pregnancy is lack of knowledge and it is the responsibility of parents and guardians educate them on sex. The rate of teenage pregnancies among female students in secondary school is alarming and it is however important to educated female students on how to avoid sexual activities.

The necessity to have teenagers make the right decisions pick appropriate findings, view others with value or importance and become better mothers and fathers. Now that there is much controversy and confusion as regard sex and morals, have made ours project a good relevant to our moral society. This is the nation making available to all at the appropriate time become next in priority.

The finding from this research can also be used as a reference material for other researchers who will likely carry out a study on a related topic.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Knowledge of the Effect of Teenage Pregnancy Among Students using Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha in Anambra State as a case study.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:

1. Time Constraint:The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
4. Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

1.10 Definition of Terms

Teenage Motherhood:

It refers to someone who gives birth between the age of 13 and 19 or a girl who give birth at her teenage age someone who is between 13 and 19 years old.

Teenage pregnancy:

It is the process when teenager becomes pregnant.

Puberty:

Adolescence age when secondary sex characteristics, that is breast, public hair develops.

Adolescent:

It refers to a young person age between the age of 10-14 years.

Adoption:

It is the act or process of adopting a child.

Abortion:

It is the removal of expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus resulting in or caused by death.