PREDISPOSING FACTORS AND PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY ON TEEN MOTHERS IN UMUAGU-INYI, OJI-RIVER L.G.A OF ENUGU STATE
Abstract
Author(s): Robert. T. Kever, Emmanuel O. Chukwu, Dathini Hamina, Habu Haruna, Markus. N. Uba, Lola Nelson. Kabiru. K. Dawa
Background: Teenage pregnancy is now a global tragedy however, the tragic proportions of this problem is best seen when the impact of pregnancy upon a frightened teenage girl is considered. It is est imated that each year, over 15 million women between the ages of 15 and 20 give birth worldwide. This figure does not include girls younger than fifteen years, nor does it accounts for abortions or miscarriages. In Africa alone, about twenty-five percent of all women give birth before their 18th birthday. Objectives: To determine the predisposing factors and psychosocial effects of teenage pregnancy among teen mothers in Umuagu-Inyi ward, Oji-River Local Government Area of Enugu state. Methods: A descriptive cross- sectional design was used. The target population comprises teenage mothers in Umuagu-Inyi. The sample size consists of 100 teenage mothers from Umuagu-Inyi, who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected through the use of self structured and validated questionnaire which was administered to the teenage mothers. Frequency distribution table was used for data analysis while inferential statistics of Chi-square was used to test the hypothesis at 5% level of significance. Results: Findings revealed that the major predisposing factors to teenage pregnancy are ignorance, poor socio-economic status of parents/guardian and lack of proper sex education at home and in schools. Findings also revealed that school dropout is the major psychosocial impacts of teenage pregnancy on teen mothers. Test of hypothesis however showed a significant association between sex education and school dropout among teen mothers. Conclusion: The study suggests a rising need for parents to put serious effort towards adequate education of their children on healthy relationships as it concerns the opposite sex, encouraging them to ask questions where necessary Key words: Predisposing factors, psychosocial impact, teenage pregnancy, teen mothers.
