THE CAUSES AND EFFECT OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A CASE STUDY OF OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This research work is carried out to find out the causes of teenage pregnancy among secondary school students in Ovia North East local government area in Edo State. This work is divided into five chapters. According to the project, its first chapter deals with the purpose of the study, which to find out the problems teens are facing concerning the unwanted pregnancy and unwanted parenthood. To suggest ways of helping any youths facing the dilemma of unwanted parenthood as well as practical suggestions for adolescent in avoiding the pitfalls of being pregnant and becoming parent suddenly.

Chapter two deals with literature review. Chapter three contains method and administration of questionnaires, which was collected and it was observed that most students drop out from secondary school is as a result of teenage pregnancy. Chapter four involves presentation of data and discussion. In the last chapter, chapter five deals with the summary, recommendations and conclusion researcher was able to find out that adolescent from neglected families or broken homes contributed to teenage pregnancy. It was also detected that lack of exposure, lack of family guidance and bad companies contributed a lot to teenage pregnancy. Based on the above findings, it was recommended that since the parent 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 should encourage deep, religious spiritual affiliation and realistic academic expectation.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The number of teenagers given birth each year is staggering. In fact, of the slightly more than 10% of all births worldwide-almost a million are of young mothers-teenagers. Before proceeding forward we will want to know what teenage pregnancy is all about. According to Oxford English Dictionary teenage pregnancy are children between the ages of 13 to 19 that get pregnant. Nigeria’s birth rate for adolescents is one of the highest in the world and the prevalence among female adolescents in Nigeria of sexual transmitted infections including HIV is climbing rapidly. I an effort to reduce the high pregnancy rate by teenagers, including other problems, Nigeria developed a national reproduction health policy in the year 2000 that focuses on preventing risk sexual behaviors during adolescence (national Population commission, Nigeria demographic and Health Survey, 1999, Abuja, Nigeria the Commission 2000). In Nigeria, pregnancy and mother hood mark the end of school attendance and by 16 years, 21% of female adolescents are either pregnant or have given birth. Teenagers face daily pressure from teachers and peers, they are exposed to relentless influence of TV movies, the music industry and internet etc. Unfortunately, young one are too inexperience to handle the consequences of pregnancy.