Project – THE EFFECT OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AMONG THE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SHOMOLU LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BARIGA LAGOS STATE
ABSTRACT
This research work is carried out to find out the Effect of teenage pregnancy among the secondary school students in Shomolu Local Government Area in Lagos State. It deals with the purpose of the study, which is to find out the problems teens are facing concerning unwanted pregnancy and unwed parenthood. To suggest ways of helping any youth facing the dilemma of unwed parenthood as well as practical suggestions for adolescents in avoiding the pitfall of being pregnant. Related literature was reviewed and questionnaires were administered. It was observed that most students drop out from secondary school as a result of teenage pregnancy the summary recommendation and conclusion researcher was able to find out that adolescent from neglected families or broken home lead to teenage pregnancy. It was also detected that lack of exposition, lack of family guidance and bad company contribute a lot to teenage pregnancy. Based on the above findings, it was recommended that since the parents has a greater role to play in the life of adolescent therefore parents should maintain stable and positive relationship with their children. And also parents encourage deep religious spiritual affiliation and realistic academic expectation.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Teenage pregnancy is a global issue that has attracted significant attention due to its profound impact on the academic performance of secondary school students. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020), approximately 21 million girls aged 15 to 19 years in developing regions become pregnant each year. The causes of teenage pregnancy are multifaceted, ranging from socio-economic factors, lack of sexual education, peer pressure, to family background. A study by Azevedo et al. (2015) found that low socio-economic status and lack of parental guidance significantly contribute to the high rates of teenage pregnancy.
The lack of comprehensive sexual education in schools is another major cause of teenage pregnancy. According to UNESCO (2018), comprehensive sexual education is crucial in equipping adolescents with the knowledge and skills to make conscious, healthy, and respectful choices about relationships and sexuality. However, many schools, particularly in developing countries, do not provide adequate sexual education, leading to a lack of awareness among teenagers about the consequences of early sexual activity and unprotected sex.
Peer pressure and family background also play a significant role in teenage pregnancy. A study by Bunting and McAuley (2004) found that teenagers are more likely to engage in early sexual activity due to pressure from their peers. Similarly, teenagers from families with a history of teenage pregnancies are more likely to become pregnant at an early age (Meade, Kershaw, & Ickovics, 2008).
The effects of teenage pregnancy on the academic performance of secondary school students are profound. Pregnant teenagers often face stigma and discrimination, leading to low self-esteem and a lack of motivation to continue with their education (WHO, 2020). Furthermore, the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy and motherhood often lead to absenteeism and eventually school dropout (Azevedo et al., 2015). This, in turn, limits the teenagers’ future career prospects and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
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 (national Population Commission) 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 is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address. It is crucial to provide comprehensive sexual education, promote open communication about sexuality, and provide support for pregnant teenagers to continue their education. By doing so, we can help to reduce the rates of teenage pregnancy and its negative impact on the academic performance of secondary school students.
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS
This research work is to look into the Effect of teenage pregnancy among the secondary school students and its effect. Millions of children return from school to an empty house because both parents are of the working class, which makes many teenagers less parents. Dysfunction families have set the stage for pregnancy. Many parents feel that their young ones will be taught sex education in school while the schools have failed to meet that demand. So good foundation of sex education both in school and at home, there is also the powerful influence of the media because teenager usually spend more likely to practice these behaviours in real life and have multiple sexual partners. In our computer age, children do not need to have computer in their homes before using one, the use of computer have increased in many country including Nigeria and sexual materials of all kinds are easily accessible through the internet. Unsupervised internet use may expose teenagers to pornographic and sex chart room, some teenagers are willing to accept sex if they are paid and some adult encourage teenage sex by deliberately taking advantages of their being poor.
Most parents fail to understand their children and do not have a close relationship with their children as a result, find it difficult to confide matters to their parents.
- PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
- To determine if there is a significant difference between the negligence of children by parents and the occurrence of teenage pregnancy.
- To investigate if there is a significant difference between the knowledge of sex education, either in school or at home, and the incidence of teenage pregnancy.
- To examine if there is a significant difference between exposure to media and computer usage and the prevalence of teenage pregnancy.
- To assess if there is a significant difference between parental background and the incidence of teenage pregnancy.
- To evaluate if there is a significant difference between peer group influence and the occurrence of teenage pregnancy..
- RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- Is there any significant difference between negligence of children by parents and teenage pregnancy?
- Is there any significant difference between knowledge of sex education either in school or at home and teenage pregnancy?
- Is there any significant difference between exposure to media and computer and teenage pregnancy?
- Is there any significance difference between parental background and teenage pregnancy?
- Is there any significance difference between peer group influence and teenage pregnancy?
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
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 (practical suggestions) available to all at the appropriate time become next in priority.
- SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
The study examined the effect of teenage pregnancy among the secondary school students. The study has weakness of limitation that may affect its result or interpretation. Non-random selection of participants in some schools may have resulted in a sample that did not present the population of secondary school students in Shomolu Local Government Area in Lagos State. Furthermore, although Shomolu Local Government Area I the country students differ and their sexual behaviour and family differ and the study collected data from adolescents. In schools, where less than third of those that attend the schools are adolescents the result cannot be generalized to all adolescents nationwide. Finally, the study was strenuous, time consuming and there was lack of finance for transportation as a result of high cost of petroleum product and bad roads.
- DEFINITION OF TERMS
Adoption: That act or process of adopting a child.
Abortion: Is the removal of expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus resulting in or caused by death.
Adolescent: A young person age 10-14 years.
Curiosity: The desire to know above a lot of different things.
Pregnancy: The condition of being pregnant or the period of time when a woman is pregnant.
Promiscuous: Having sex with a lot of people.
Peer Pressure: A strong pressure imposes by peer group.
Peer: Some one of the same age group, social class etc.
Sex Education: Education in school about the physical processes and emotions involved in sex.
Teenage motherhood: Someone who give birth between the age of 13 and 19 or a girl who give birth at her teenage age some one who is between 13 and 19 years old.
Project – THE EFFECT OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AMONG THE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SHOMOLU LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BARIGA LAGOS STATE