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PERCEIVED CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL
STUDENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF
THE STUDY
In developing and developed countries, teenage pregnancy
continue to receive increased attention because of early age at which
adolescents engage in sexual activities and the result of unplanned and
unintended pregnancies associated with the risk and problem of early
motherhood. Lack of adequate information, education and communication on
reproductive health services and the perennial concern in different parts of
the world reveal that adolescents become sexually active at an early age which
lead to a high number of teenage pregnancy today.
In many developing countries, about half the population is
under 15 years. These age groups expose themselves into sexual habit which have
led many of them into teenage pregnancy and at the same time cost the
adolescent their educational background, (Gyan, 2013). Out of wedlock pregnancy
and motherhood is not encouraged in Owerri North community at large. When
teenage pregnancy is allowed to continue, at times it places the teenage mother’s
health in danger because of inadequate parental care received by the teenage
mother. So, after birth, the risk of the mother and her child will be high.
Those circumstances may be responsible for increase in infanticide, baby
abandonment and child abuse. For these reasons, pregnancies among teenagers are
creating concern for many industrialized countries today WHO, (2000).
Van, (2007), perceived economic factor as a cause of teenage
pregnancy, he indicated that teenagers from lower income families are more
likely to report having sexual intercourse regardless of the family structure
or race. It is further pointed out that teenagers from single parent family
homes are more likely to report having the family in combination with the high
rate of schools fees in the present school system in Nigeria. These have
exposed girls to sexual intercourse in order to make out ways to solve their
problem of school fees in the school. This act at times occurred as a result of
poor family background. Van further indicated that substance abuse was long
recognized as one of the greatest health and social problems which resulted in
teenage pregnancies because teenagers engage in sexual intercourse without
making calculated decisions due to the influence of alcohol.
Added to the risk of being born by teenage mother, there also
exist other associated risks for babies born into an environment that lacks
life’s basic needs. Baby and mother usually stand disadvantaged and handicapped
in day-to-day living. Teenage mothers are typically depicted as inadequate
parents (BuchHoiz, 2003), then their children are thought to be a significant
risk for maltreatments. However, the degree of risk to children teenage parents
may be well determined by the financial, social and emotional stresses these
families face. The critical factor being the availability of resources which
after support and encouragement.
In recognition of the identified problems of teenage
pregnancy and early motherhood, there are many welfare programmes and services
available to pregnant adolescents in most of the developed countries. Family
welfare programmes are considered as a set of measures formulated at the
executive level to provide concrete support and services for the advancement of
groups and individuals in order to bring about social change, family planning,
education welfare services, food and nutrition. The form and content of a
programme as well as its organization and administration depends on the culture
and history of a given country including its values, customs and social
structure as well as its resources and awareness.
The concept of social health emanated from the multifaceted
view of health which according to World Health Organization (WHO) is a state of
complete physical, social and mental well-being of an individual and not merely
the absence of diseases or infirmities. According to Chijioke (2010), man is
well known to be a social animal and therefore lives by interacting with his
fellow human beings. Similarly, Oguguo (2004) observes that man’s nature, which
cannot be effectively fulfilled without inter and intra relationship has
equally created some social problems ranging from hatred to others, breed and
nurtured by the so called jet age. These problems according to Ogugo (2004) are
the evil effects of man’s social consciousness which health educators have
designated social health. Some of these problems emanating from social health
according to Asogwa (2000) are called social health problems. This is because
according to him, their solution require community efforts, professional know
how, co-operation of other disciplines and greater effort and time. Nwachukwu
(2009) identified teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, drug addicton, sexual
promiscuity among others as social health problems which are usually associated
with the adolescents.
Chauhan (1999) asserted that development is a continuous
process, which begins from time of conception in the womb of the mother and
continues till death. However, that period of life that lies between the end of
childhood and the beginning of adulthood is termed adolescence. Njoku (2008)
pointed out that adolescent is that spam of years during which boys and girls
move from childhood to adulthood, mentally, emotionally, socially and
physically. The period varies in length from culture to culture and includes
the teenage years. During the adolescent years which spans between the ages of
12 and 20 years in Nigeria, Ene and Nnamani, (2000). Most teenagers experience
a period of very rapid growth and adolescent growth spurt. This growth is
accompanied by the development of reproductive organs and such secondary sex
characteristics as breast enlargement in girls, beards in boys and appearance
of pubic hairs generally. These changes culminated in puberty marked by the
development of sperm cells in boys, ovum and subsequent menstruation in girls.
The bodily changes that accompany sexual maturity are sources of both pride and
embarrassment in the adolescents. Ajiboye (2007) remarked that adolescent is a
period when the youngsters develop heterosexual feelings. This sort of feeling
may lead the youngster to develop passionate affection for others. This may be
attributed to why adolescents want to go out, engage in social activities,
attend church services and carryout all sorts of personal exhibitions of
themselves. Such teenage social interactions tend to create an atmosphere for
personal affections, love which may even result in sexual intercourse. The sex
hormones already in their blood streams constitutes a powerful force, which generates
the sex drives and craving in them.
Sex is one area in which impulse most frequently conflict
with moral standard and violation of their standards may generate strong
feelings of guilt. This is especially so, if it results in an illegitimate
pregnancy in a teenager. But in traditional Nigerian setting, sex is regarded
as being very personal and exclusive, and any careless reference to it without
caution, both in words or deeds is deemed immoral and irresponsible.
Thus, there is an apparent silent ban on the direct reference
to sex. Consequently, girls abstained from pre-marital sex for it was a virtue
for both the bride and groom to be innocent of sexual acts until after wedlock.
Christianity also extended this restrictive attitude towards sexual expressions
and participation. Nnadi (2003) reported that schools were built and managed by
missionaries who imposed very stringent codes of conduct on heterosexual
activities. The mission was aimed at preventing children from acknowledging any
type of sex activities which was collectively regarded as acts of immorality
and sin against God.
The situation however changed remarkably after the civil war
with the take-over of schools by the federal and state government of Nigeria.
Many co-educational institutions were established such that teenage males and
females had more opportunities to interact with one another. It is worthy of
note that prior to this era according to Ngwu (2005), the Western World had
adopted radically liberated social attitude towards sex. He observed that
sexual intercourse has become glorified and commercialized and all types of
behaviour such as nudity, homosexuality and premarital sex recklessly and
publicly expressed with impunity.
Consequently, Ngwu (2005) reported that today pornographic
magazines, blue films and romantic books and novels among others are almost
legalized. These could however be the reason why Okoro (2010) observed that
effects of civil war, establishment of corresponding viability of satisfactory
knowledge and acceptance use of birth control methods heightened the incidence
of teenage pregnancy, abortions, veneral diseases, drug addictions,
promiscuity, and other social health problems. Onyia (2000) had earlier
reported that the pregnant teenager is usually maladjusted because she feels
that she has committed a crime, consequently, she feels ashamed, guilty, not
always accepted by peers parents, relatives and even to a considerate extent by
the society.
One of the reasons for the high rate of school drop-out in
the present is teenage pregnancy. According to Castle (2009), a
disproportionate number of studies are committed by pregnant teenagers all over
the world. Added to this are instances of violence and neglect suffered by
teenagers forced to marry because of pregnancy in societies. He further
outlined the following as the factors associated with teenage pregnancy. These
are social factors, economic, psychological, adolescent sexual behaviour with
reference to its consequences. Singh (2010) states that the normal tendency of
adolescents is to engage in impulsive behaviour, simple by reason of their
developmental stage and lack of knowledge at the particular period. This act,
further facilitate the risk of sexual activities.
Definitely teenage pregnancies do not come about on their
own; it is strongly rooted on numerous possible multi-dimensional factors. Some
authors have proffered possible factors associated with teenage pregnancies
such as economic, social, and psychological factors. But there is need to be
empirically sure. In order to ascertain the factors associated with teenage
pregnancies among secondary school students in Owerri North Local Government
Area, therefore this study is geared towards finding the factors associated
with teenage pregnancies among secondary school students in Owerri North Local
Government Area of Imo State.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
Ude (2010) described the ramping with which teenagers get
pregnant in Nigeria after the civil war. According to him, the problem assumed
a large dimension with time and people started being aware of such unruly
tendency on the part of these teenagers. According to Igiebor (2009), the
pervasiveness of moral decadence has turned sex which used to be a taboo in the
olden days to be seen as a symbol of sophistication by the modern societies,
explicit expression of sexuality in various forms and sexually suggestive music
are allowed which simulates teenagers’ curiocity and enhanced sexual
intercourse which results in teenage pregnancy.
With these explicit expression of sexuality, health education
and preaching against it were carried out by concerned individuals but all
these did not bear much fruits as to stop the menace. Rather, according to
Aneke (2012), many more teenagers get attracted to some “goodies” and were
fully initiated into heterosexual relationship leading to increase in the
number of teenagers getting pregnant every year. Nokidu (2011), observed that
the problem is pretty serious as according to him, teenage pregnancies continue
to be on the increase.
The teenage parenthood according to Ani (2010) is a
reflection of the society. Ani further stated that it is a common occurrence
and is fast trying to become part of our culture instead of a taboo. It is
however a general observation according to Ezugwu (2000), that teenagers who
fall prey to this problem usually get so embarrassed, disturbed, frustrated and
become totally dislodged and disillusioned in life. He concluded that the
future of those who would be leaders is completely shattered. This study
therefore examines the perceived causes of teenage pregnancies among secondary
school students in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State so as to
proffer solution to reduce its occurrence.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE
STUDY
The major purpose of this study is to examine the perceived
causes of teenage pregnancies among secondary school students in Owerri North
Local Government Area of Imo State. Specifically, this study will examine:
1. The economic
factors associated with teenage pregnancy among secondary school students in
Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
2. The social and
psychological factors associated with teenage pregnancy among secondary school
students in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
3. Ascertain
adolescent sexual behaviour associated with teenage pregnancy among secondary
school students in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
4. The consequences
of teenage pregnancy among secondary school students in Owerri North Local
Government Area of Imo State.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This research will be of immense significance to teachers,
social workers, government and the students as well as school administrators.
The findings generated by this study would help the government to use all
available resources to organize a programme to educate both parents and the
youths on needs and importance of sex education. This programme will go a long
way to discourage early marriage and teenage pregnancy among the youths, which
will in turn, stand to develop the youths and make them to be useful to the
society at large.
This study will be of interest to the students who are the
future of the nation, because the study of this nature will expose them to the
bad implication of teenage pregnancy and this will motivate them to see reasons
of studying and forsake anything like distraction among their peers.
Furthermore, the findings of this study will help the social
workers in the area of counseling to know the absolute counseling activities
and techniques needed to adopt for the benefit of the students. This will help
school authorities and administrators to know the economic (monetary) needs of
their students and communicate same to their parents on their economic
responsibilities towards their wards in the secondary school during the
Parent-Teachers-Association (P.T.A) meetings. Finally, this will also help
social scientists to identify the causes of this social problem called teenage
pregnancy and proffer lasting solution to the problem.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE
STUDY
This study was delimited to the following: Owerri North Local
Government Area of Imo State. It was delimited to secondary school students
(SS1-SS3). The context covered: the concept of teenage pregnancy, adolescent
factors, social factors, economic factor and psychological factors of teenage
pregnancy and consequences.
1.6 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
The following
research questions were formulated to guide the study:
1. What are the
economic factors associated with teenage pregnancy among secondary school
students in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State?
2. What are the
social and psychological factors associated with teenage pregnancy among
secondary school students in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State?
3. What are the
adolescent sexual behaviours associated with teenage pregnancy among secondary
school students in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State?
What are the consequences of teenage pregnancy among
secondary school students in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State?
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