Assessing Knowledge of Teenage Girls on the Causes and Effect of Teenage Pregnancy, Case of Livanda Community
Department: Nursing
No of Pages: 37
Project Code: NS4
References: Yes
Cost: 5,000XAF
Cameroonian
: $15 for International students
ABSTRACT
This
study was designed to explore the knowledge of teenagers on the causes and
effects of teenage pregnancy, using Livanda community as a case study. The
study was conceived due to the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy in the
community.
The
objectives of the study were, to identify the causes of teenage pregnancy among
young girls, to examine the effect of teenage pregnancy on girls education, to
determine the support mechanisms for teenagers and teen mothers and to examine
the measures put in place to address teenage pregnancy.
To
attain the goals of this study, the non-experimental exploratory study design
was used and a convenient sampling method was used to select 40 participants
for the study. Questionnaires were used to collect data for the study. Data
collected was analyzed using tally sheet and Ms. Excels and result presented on
tables and charts.
With
respect to factors that lead to teenage pregnancy, it was evident that poor
parenting, poverty and peer pressure are the major causes of teenage pregnancy.
The study also revealed that most of the teenage mothers drop out of school.
The
study therefore recommended that teenage mothers should be helped in their
psychosocial development and job skills development, the parents should be
encouraged to teach their children sex education at home and the effective use
of contraceptives when need be.
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the
study
Teenage
pregnancy is a social problem affecting developed countries such as the United
States and developing countries such as Cameroon and this has been a source of
worry for policies makers, social workers and educators Gyan, (2013).
Teenage
is a critical period in a person’s life. It is a period in which physical,
psychological and social changes take place in one’s life. It starts from
thirteen to nineteen years of age. During this period people become emotionally
attracted to the opposite sex. Teenagers are conscious of their looks,
personality, people with whom they associate, and activities that please them.
Teenagers
may rebel against parents, and their
role models may be artist, actors, musicians or other kinds of persons. They
can also start involving in bad behaviors and subsequently have sexual
experimentation as a result of peer pressure which leads to unwanted pregnancies
Rachel J. and Caesar V.et al, 2009.
Globally
there has been a growing concern about the alarming rate of teenage pregnancies
and the consequences that these pose for pose for parents, children and society
as a whole. Teenage pregnancy emerged from social invisibility, lower
educational level and poverty involving young girls between the ages of 13 to
19 and was far normal in the previous country and common in developed countries
during the 20th century Hem (2016).
Devenish
and Greatheal (1992) viewed teenage pregnancy as a catastrophe of an
individual, her family and society. Globally as of (2011), the number of
teenage pregnancies in the world was 14 billion of adolescents aged 14 to 19
years and more than 90% of these births are occurring in developing countries
(UNICEF, 2011).
Mench et al (2001) reported that in Africa, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, there are concerns about high rate of teenage pregnancy related to school dropouts and also leading to gender disparities in education in developing countries.
Gyepi-Garbrah (1985) has explained that the plight of pregnant girl in school
in Africa is particularly wrenching, as they must either on their education or
drop out of school either on their own violation of threatened official
expulsion.
Girls
dropout of school because pregnancy has been linked to poverty and its
subsequent motherhood. It has been viewed as a cause as well as an effect of
teenage pregnancy. It has therefore been observed that in rural communities,
family financial status and social customs causes girls to stay out of school
and engage into sexual relationships which lead to early pregnancy.
According
to the world health organization (WHO,2010) teenage mothers are at risks of
physical, mental and social condition which are likely to result to unsafe
abortions with many health problems associated with negative outcome including
HIV, STDs and mental problems such as depression. In addition, pregnant
teenager developed obstetric fistula, which has a lot of effects for the lives
of girls.
According
to keller, Hilton and Twumasi-Ankran (1999) third world countries have been
confronted by this social problem of teenage pregnancy. It has therefore been
observed that on rural communities, family financial status and social customs
cause girls to stay out of school and engage into sexual relationships which
lead to early pregnancy.
Yanposkaya,
Brown and Greenboum (2002) also stated that teenage pregnancy is one of the
social ills that affect the society and making the development of girls-child
difficult. This is due to the girl’s age and the absence of consistent means of
support to care for the children and themselves when they should have been
attaining their educations.
Teenage
pregnancy is therefore associated with school dropout and may end up girl’s
dreams of achieving their educational aspirations. According to Foumane et al
(2013), Cameroon adolescents engage themselves in unprotected sexual practice
and having more than one partner at very tender ages.
Existing
data on Cameroon indicated that adolescent represents 21% of the total
population and contributed 13,8% of deliveries. P.M. Tebeu et al (2004-2006)
revealed that adolescent contribution to deliveries is 6,69% at the university
teaching hospital in Yaoundé and 26,54% in Maroua Regional Hospital in the Far
North Region. These findings suggest a disparity in the geographic distribution
of adolescent deliveries in Cameroon.
1.1 Statement of the
problem
Nowadays,
teenage pregnancy has become a growing concern and therefore various causes of
teenage pregnancy has become crucial. This study is aimed at assessing the
knowledge of teenage girls on the causes and effects of teenage pregnancy.
The
observed in Livanda community that most of the young girls gets pregnant within
their teenage ages. This is most often attributed to peer group pressure, lack
of knowledge in sexuality education. As a result most of them end up dropping
out of school.
1.2 Research objectives
1.2.1 General objective
- The main objective of this study is to assess the knowledge of teenage girls on the causes and effects of teenage pregnancy in Livanda Community, Limbe.
1.2.2 Specific objectives
The
specific objectives of the study are:
- To identify the causes of teenage pregnancy among young girls.
- To examine the effect of teenage pregnancy on girls education.
- To determine the support mechanisms for teenagers and teen mothers.
- To examine the measures put in place to address teenage pregnancy.
Check out: Nursing Project Topics with Materials
