The Effects of Teenage Pregnancy on Students

ABSTRACT

1.
Teen pregnancy is a social problem not resolved in developing and some developed countries. Adolescent
fecundity has become the most exact bio-demographic and health indicator of development. In developing
countries that are expected to follow the sexual behaviour patterns of developed countries, without
offering the levels of education and services for adolescents, the consequences will be adolescent
fecundity and STI prevalence increase. The ignorance about sexuality and reproduction both in parents,
teachers and adolescents increases the early initiation of coital relations and of unwanted pregnancies.
Extreme poverty and being the son or daughter of an adolescent mother are risk factors of repeating the
early pregnancy model. The application of predictive risk criteria in pregnant adolescents to facilitate the
rational use of Health Services to diminish the maternal and perinatal mortality is discussed as well as the
social factors associated with adolescent pregnancy as socioeconomic levels, structure - types and
characteristics of the family, early leaving school, schooling after delivery, female employment, lack of
sexual education, parental and family attitudes in different periods of adolescent pregnancy, adolescent
decisions on pregnancy and children, unstable partner relationship and adoption as an option. Social
consequences are analyzed as: incomplete education, more numerous families, difficulties in maternal
role, abandonment by the partner, fewer possibilities of having a stable, qualified and well-paid job,
greater difficulty in improving their socioeconomic level and less probability of social advancement, lack
of protection of the recognition of the child. Finally, based on evidence, some measures that can reduce
adverse consequences on adolescent mothers, fathers and their children are suggested.

2.
The Namibia Demographic Survey in 2013 revealed that about one out of five teenagers aged 15 to 19
were either pregnant or had given birth. The United Nations report for the same year believes that about
127 girls get pregnant every day in Namibia. The aim of this article was to find out the impact of teenage
pregnancy on academic performance of Grade 7 learners at a school in the Zambezi Region. A qualitative
research method was used in this article and two teachers and 4 pregnant learners were interviewed. The
findings for this study revealed the reasons why these teenagers get pregnant as follows: lack of parental
care and control, lack of some material needs, poor peer guidance, lack of sex education, and the
influence of alcohol and drug abuse. The impact of teenage pregnancy on academic performance included
poor academic performance after the pregnancy, increase dropout because of pregnancy related issues and
negative feeling on schooling.

3.
Teen pregnancy continues to be a problem for families, educators, health care professionals, and the
government. Teenagers are not afforded the opportunity to learn or receive reinforcement on God's laws
on abstaining from premarital sex because religious education is not allowed in the public school system.
This increase has led to the creation of the Teenage Parenting Center (TAPP), located in southwest
Georgia. TAPP is one of 64 schools in a school district that offers special benefits for pregnant and
parenting teens. This qualitative case study used a phenomenological approach to explore the experience
of eight former attendees of the TAPP program. Participants (N = 8) completed interviews, wrote a
personal reflection, and completed a survey to determine their beliefs regarding the program’s
effectiveness. Results showed that participants were satisfied with the practical help the program gave
them. Being able to attend school where day care was available enabled participants to remain in school
and, with one exception, to graduate from high school. Participants reported satisfaction with program
components that helped them learn to plan ahead, think about their futures, and obtain further education
and paid employment. All participants but one were gainfully employed, and six had attended or were
attending an institution of higher education. The program was successful in encouraging participants to
practice safer sex, but was unsuccessful in preventing additional pregnancies out of wedlock or improving
moral values, as all but one participant had gone on to have more children and were living with a man to
whom they were not married.

REFERENCES
Molina, Ramiro & Gonzalez, Electra. (2012). Teenage Pregnancy. Endocrine development. 22. 302-31.
10.1159/000326706. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230588265_Teenage_Pregnancy

Maemeko, Eugene & Nkengbeza, David & Chokomosi, Traphinah. (2018). The Impact of Teenage
Pregnancy on Academic Performance of Grade 7 Learners at a School in the Zambezi Region. Open
Journal of Social Sciences. 06. 88-100. 10.4236/jss.2018.69006.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327421439_The_Impact_of_Teenage_Pregnancy_on_Aca
demic_Performance_of_Grade_7_Learners_at_a_School_in_the_Zambezi_Region

Brown, M. (2013). THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT

OFFERS SPECIAL BENEFITS FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY.
Liberty University. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/58825279.pdf

ANGELICA GRACE HAYIN

SECTION-27
MS. ANALIZA PENTINIO