Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical

Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 12, Page 1-8, 2022; Article no.JAMPS.97131
ISSN: 2394-111

Knowledge and Perception of Teenage

Pregnancy among Secondary School
Girls in Southern Ijaw Local
Government Area of Bayelsa State
*A. I. Bademosi a, I. Austin-Asomeji a, O. M. Pius a,
E. M. Nelson a and J. E. Sokolo b,
*correspondence:bademosi.adetomi@yahoo.co.uk
a Department
of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port
Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
b Department of Family Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt,

Rivers State, Nigeria.

Authors’ contributions

This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. All authors read and approved the final
manuscript.

Article Information
DOI: 10.9734/JAMPS/2022/9173111

Open Peer Review History:

This journal follows the Advanced Open Peer Review policy. Identity of the Reviewers, Editor(s) and additional Reviewers,
peer review comments, different versions of the manuscript, comments of the editors, etc are available here:

Received: 10/11/2022
Original Research Article Accepted:20/11/2022
Published: 31/12/2022

ABSTRACT
Aim: The current study assessed the knowledge and perception of teenage pregnancy among
secondary school students in Southern Ijaw Local government area of Bayelsa state, Nigeria.
Study Design: Cross sectional design
Place and Duration of Study: Southern Ijaw local government area, Bayelsa state, Nigeria.
September, 2022.
Methods: A semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to assess the
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

*Corresponding author: E-mail: bademosi.adetomi@yahoo.co.uk

J. Adv. Med. Pharm. Sci., vol. 24, no. 12, pp. 1-8, 2022
 Bademosi et al.; J. Adv. Med. Pharm. Sci., vol. 24, no. 12, pp. 1-8, 2022; Article no.JAMPS.97131

knowledge and perception of teenage pregnancy among 370 teenage girls aged between 12 – 18
years in secondary schools. The chi-square statistics and logistic regression was used to assess
the association of demographic variables and knowledge/perception of teenage pregnancy among
the participants.
Results: The data collected showed that 30% of the girls had poor knowledge of teenage
pregnancy, while 31.1% of the girls had poor perception of teenage pregnancy. logistic regression
showed that persons between 12 – 14 years was 18.7 times (8.0 – 43.7) more likely to have poor
knowledge, while persons with at least 1 child were 3.2 times (2.0 – 5.1) more likely to have poor
knowledge of teen pregnancy. it was also observed that persons between 12 – 14 years was 34.7
times (12.1– 100.3) more likely to have poor perception, while persons with at least 1 child were 3.1
times (1.9 – 5.1) more likely to have poor perception of teen pregnancy. It was also observed that
persons who with a family income <50,000 were 1.1 times (0.6 – 1.9) more likely to have a poor
perception of teenage pregnancy.
Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate a considerably high occurrence of poor knowledge
and perception of teenage pregnancy among the teen girls. The findings of the study buttress the
need for urgent interventions to improve awareness of teenage pregnancy and create better sexual
education for teenagers in these communities.

Keywords: Knowledge; perception; teenage pregnancy; students.

1. INTRODUCTION 1000 women in 2021 [1]. Despite this overall

Pregnancy among teenagers, particularly those
in secondary school, is becoming an increasingly
common concern, with substantial health
consequences for young mothers [1,2].
According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), in 2019 they were 329, 772 births among
15-18 year old [3]. Pregnancy and childbirth
related deaths claim the lives of approximately
70,000 young women each year in
underdeveloped nations [4,5]. An estimated 19%
of young women in developing countries become
pregnant before the age of 18, and 95% of all
births to teens occur in poor countries, according
to a 2018 United Nations Fund for Population
Activities (UNFPA) research [6]. Furthermore,
research has shown that the underlying causes
of teenage pregnancy include child marriage,
gender inequality and obstacles to human rights,
poverty and sexual violence as well as national
policies restricting the availability of
contraceptives, the age of consent, and
appropriate sexual education [4-8].
Teenage girls living in rural and peri-urban areas
of developing countries are more likely to
become pregnant compared to teenage girls
living in urban areas [4]. This is especially true
for girls whose families live in poverty and who
have little access to formal education [9–11].
Girls who lack access to sexual and reproductive
health care, including contraceptive information
and services, are also more likely to become
pregnant, according to this survey [12,13]. The
global adolescent birth rate has declined from 65
births per 1000 women in 1990 to 47 births per
progress, because the global population of
adolescents continues to grow, projections
indicate the number of adolescent pregnancies
will increase globally by 2030, with the greatest
proportional increases in West and Central Africa
and Eastern and Southern Africa. Regionally
according to the United Nations Population Fund
report (UNFPA, 2018) about 19 percent of young
women in West Africa become pregnant before
the age of 18 years [13–15]. According to
research on sexual and reproductive health
undertaken in Nigeria, a lack of knowledge about
sexuality, sex and teen pregnancy leaves
secondary school students curious and
unprepared to deal with their growing interest in
these topics [1,2,16]. The current study assessed
the knowledge, attitude, and perception of
teenage pregnancy among adolescents living in
southern Nigeria.
2. METHODS
2.1 Study Population
The target population for this study consisted of
teenage girls attending secondary schools in
Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of
Bayelsa State. The population of the area is
33,695 teenage girls in the Southern Ijaw Local
Government Area. However, the population of
teenage secondary school girls was calculated
using Taro Yamane formula to determine the
sample size from the study population [17].

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𝑁 190 (51.35%) did not have any children, while

𝑛=
1 + 𝑁(𝑒)2 175 (47.30%) had 1 – 2 children and 5 (1.35%)
had 3 – 4 children. It was observed that 84.59%
Where n= sample size, N= target population, e= of the participants indicated that they were
level of significance sexually active.
(Limit of tolerance error) = 0.05 (5%),
33,695 Table 1. Demographic characteristics of
𝑛=
1 + 33,695(0.05𝑥0.05) respondents
33,695
𝑛= Variables Frequency Percentage
1 + 84 (n=370) (%)
33,695 Age
𝑛=
85 12 to 14 years 45 12.16
15 to 18 years 325 87.84
𝑛 = 396
Number of
children
2.2 Data Collection
None 190 51.35
1-2 Children 175 47.30
The instrument for data collection was
3-4 Children 5 1.35
interviewer administered questionnaire with four
Estimated family monthly
main sections; Section A: socio-demographic
income (NGN)
data, Section B: knowledge of teenage
pregnancy, Section C: perception of teenage <50,000 266 71.89
pregnancy and Section D: attitude of teenage 50,000 - 90 24.32
pregnancy. 100,000
Above 100,000 14 3.78
Sexually
2.3 Data Analysis
active
The data obtained from this study was entered Yes 313 84.59
into MS Excel, sorted, coded and labeled. No 57 15.41
Afterwards, the data was transferred to Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 Table 2 shows the responses for questions on
for analysis. Descriptive statistics was presented the knowledge of teenage pregnancy among the
in mean, frequencies and percentages as study participants.
appropriate.
Table 3 shows the responses for questions on
the perceived factors that influence teenage
3. RESULTS
pregnancy among the study participants.
Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics
Table 4 shows the responses the perceptions of
of the study participants. Of the 370 girls, 12.16%
teenage pregnancy among the study
was between 12 – 14 years, and 87.84% were
participants.
between 15 – 18 years. Among the participants,

Table 2. Knowledge of teenage pregnancy among secondary school girls

Questions N Mean Std. deviation

Teens are at a greater risk of pregnancy-related hypertension and 370 3.65 .860
its consequences than mothers of average age.
Teens are informed on the risks to the baby during premature birth 370 4.13 1.121
Teenagers are conscientious Preeclampsia can cause renal 370 3.97 1.236
damage or even death in both mother and baby.
Pregnant teens have a higher chance of becoming anemic. 370 3.65 .684
Pregnant teens feel frightened and worried about telling their family 370 3.78 .912
and friends
By having unprotected sex, you can get pregnant 370 3.97 1.236

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Washing the vagina after having sex prevents pregnancy 370 4.65 .684
*Statements with a mean above 2.5 are accepted by the participants

Table 3. Factors that influence teenager’s attitudes towards teenage pregnancy

Questions N Mean Std. deviation Remarks

Peer pressure of dating at that tender age. 370 4.15 .940 Accept
Little parental guidance. 370 4.13 1.020 Accept
Low socioeconomic status of the family. 370 3.97 .936 Accept
Indifference to contemporary contraception as a 370 3.65 1.184 Accept
method of birth control
Cultural factor in the form of promised marriage 370 4.21 .912 Accept
School Girls from low-income family, are forced to 370 3.56 1.236 Accept
quit school and work as hawkers.
Poor sex education from parents and instructor 370 3.87 .784 Accept
influence teenager’s thoughts towards pregnancy
*Statements with a mean above 2.5 are accepted by the participants

Table 4. Teenager’s perception of early pregnancy among secondary school girls

Questions N Mean Std. deviation Remarks

Teenager pregnancy is perceived as a negative 370 3.89 .790 Accept
outcome
Post marital pregnancy is regarded as a positive 370 3.68 .921 Accept
outcome
Adolescent pregnancy is commonly associated with 370 3.65 .866 Accept
adverse psychosocial, socioeconomic consequences
Children of adolescent mothers are more likely to 370 3.98 .784 Accept
have low birth-weight and behavioral difficulties
Early pregnancy tends to hinder further education 370 3.78 1.112 Accept
and result in adverse health condition
Most of my friends do not believe in using 370 3.55 1.131 Accept
contraception
An adolescent female who refuses to have sex is 370 4.15 .884 Accept
outdated.
*Statements with a mean above 2.5 are accepted by the participants

Fig. 1 shows the distribution of good and poor
knowledge and perception of teenage pregnancy
among the study participants. The figure shows
that 111 (30.0%) of the participants had poor
knowledge of teenage pregnancy, while, 259
(70%) had knowledge of teenage pregnancy. It
was also observed that 115 (31.1%) of the
participants had poor perception of teenage
pregnancy and 255 (68.9%) had good perception
of teenage pregnancy.
Table 5 shows the association of demographic
factors and knowledge of teen pregnancy among
the study participants. The table showed the
persons between 12 – 14 years was 18.7 times
(8.0 – 43.7) more likely to have poor knowledge,
while persons with at least 1 child were 3.2 times
(2.0 – 5.1) more likely to have poor knowledge of
teen pregnancy. It was also observed that
persons who were sexually active were 4.1 times
(2.1 – 7.9) more likely to have a poor knowledge
of teenage pregnancy. The table showed no
significant association between income levels
and poor knowledge of teenage pregnancy
among the participants.
Table 6 shows the association of demographic
factors and perception of teen pregnancy among
the study participants. The table showed the
persons between 12 – 14 years was 34.7 times
(12.1– 100.3) more likely to have poor
perception, while persons with at least 1 child
were 3.1 times (1.9 – 5.1) more likely to have
poor perception of teen pregnancy. It was also
observed that persons who with a family income
<50,000 were 1.1 times (0.6 – 1.9) more likely to
have a poor perception of teenage pregnancy.
The table showed no significant association

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between persons sexually active and poor
perception of teenage pregnancy among the
participants.
4. DISCUSSION
The study showed that 30% of the participants
had a poor knowledge of teenage pregnancy.
This is in support of the study by Bolarinwa et al,
[17] which reported a poor knowledge of teenage
pregnancy ranged between 20 – 55% among
teenage girls living in rural settings. Similarly, a
previous study had indicated that between 20 –
40% of teenage girls in rural settings in Nigeria
tend to have poor knowledge of teenage
pregnancy [18]. The findings of the study
showed that the participants indicated that
“Washing the vagina after having sex prevents
pregnancy”. This is a myth that is in no means
any form of contraception for pregnancy. The
findings of the study also could be an indication
of limited knowledge of contraception among
teen girls [10,11,18]. The poor knowledge
observed among the current study population
could also be attributed to the socio-cultural
influences in the environment as other studies
have also indicated that the knowledge of teen
pregnancy could be influenced by socio-cultural
norms in the environment of the individuals
[19–21].

80.0% Good Poor

70.0% 68.9%
70.0%

60.0%

50.0%

40.0%
30.0% 31.1%
30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Knowledge Perception

Fig. 1. Distribution of knowledge and perception of teen pregnancy (n=370)

Table 5. Association of demographic factors and knowledge of teen pregnancy

Variables Poor (n=111) Good (n = 259) Total n,(%) Chi- OR

square (95% C.I)
(p-value)
Age Group
12 to 14 years 38(84.4) 7(15.6) 45(100.0) 72.31 18.7
15 to 18 years 73(22.5) 252(77.5) 325(100.0) (<0.0001) (8.0 - 43.7)
No. of Children
At least 1 child 76(42.2) 104(57.8) 180(100.0) 24.93 3.2
No Children 35(18.4) 155(81.6) 190(100.0) (<0.0001) (2.0 - 5.1)
Estimated family income

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<50,000 77(28.9) 189(71.1) 266(100.0) 0.49 0.8

at least 50,000 34(32.7) 70(67.3) 104(100.0) (0.479) (0.5 - 1.3)
Sexually active
Yes 65(20.8) 248(79.2) 313(100.0) 19.67 4.1
No 46(80.7) 11(19.3) 57(100.0) (<0.0001) (2.1 - 7.9)
Table 6. Association of demographic factors and perception of teen pregnancy

Variables Poor (n=115) Good (n = 255) Total n,(%) Chi- OR

square (95% C.I)
(p-value)
Age Group
12 to 14 years 41(91.1) 4(8.9) 45(100.0) 86.19 34.7 (12.1
15 to 18 years 74(22.8) 251(77.2) 325(100.0) (<0.0001) - 100.3)
No. of Children
At least 1 child 81(42.6) 109(57.4) 190(100.0) 24.32 3.1 (1.9 -
No Children 34(18.9) 146(81.1) 180(100.0) (<0.0001) 5.1)
Estimated family income
<50,000 88(31.8) 189(68.2) 277(100.0) 0.24 1.1 (0.6 -
at least 50,000 27(29.0) 66(71.0) 93(100.0) (0.6217) 1.9)
Sexually active
Yes 71(22.7) 242(77.3) 313(100.0) 77.2 0.1 (0.03
No 50(79.4) 13(20.6) 63(100.0) (<0.0001) - 0.1)

The current study showed the participants
indicate that factors influencing teenage
pregnancy include; “Peer pressure of dating at
that tender age”, “Little parental guidance”, “Low
socioeconomic status of the family”, “Indifference
to contemporary contraception as a method of
birth control”, “Cultural factor in the form of
promised marriage” and “Poor sex education
from parents and instructor influence teenager’s
thoughts towards pregnancy”. These identified
factors are consistent with studies carried out on
influences of teenage pregnancy among teen
girls especially in many low and middle income
countries in sub-Saharan Africa [1,2,10,18].
Subsequently, the study also showed that 31.1%
of the participants showed poor perception of
teenage pregnancy. The findings are in concert
with the reports of similar studies where between
20 – 45% of teenage girls living in non-urban
centres are reported to have poor perception of
teenage pregnancy [13,19,20]. This finding also
buttresses the earlier reports in the current study
of poor knowledge of teenage pregnancy among
30% of the participants. The findings are an
indication of a considerable high proportion of
persons with poor perception of teen pregnancy
in comparison with reports from other developed
regions of the world where poor perception of
teenage pregnancy is reported in <15% of
teenage girls [4,22]. The current study showed
that persons between 12 – 14 years was 18.7
times (8.0 – 43.7) more likely to have poor
knowledge, while persons with at least 1 child
were 3.2 times (2.0 – 5.1) more likely to have
poor knowledge of teen pregnancy. It was also
observed that persons who were sexually active
were 4.1 times (2.1 – 7.9) more likely to have a
poor knowledge of teenage pregnancy. This is
consistent with reports of similar studies.
Younger teens have been reported to be more
likely to have poor knowledge of teen pregnancy,
followed by persons that are already sexually
active [2,6,12,23]. It was also observed that
between 12 – 14 years was 34.7 times (12.1–
100.3) more likely to have poor perception, while
persons with at least 1 child were 3.1 times (1.9
– 5.1) more likely to have poor perception of teen
pregnancy. It was also observed that persons
who with a family income <50,000 were 1.1 times
(0.6 – 1.9) more likely to have a poor perception
of teenage pregnancy. These results are also in
concert with the reports of other studies. In many
instances in low- and middle-income countries
like Nigeria, low incomes have been reported to
increase the likelihood of teen pregnancies
and poor perceptions of teenage pregnancies
[6,24-26].
5. CONCLUSION
The finding of this study highlighted a
considerable amount of poor knowledge and
Perception of Teenage pregnancy among
teenage girls in Southern Ijaw local governments.
Factors such as young age (<14 years), socio-
cultural norms and sexually active persons were

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found to be significantly associated with poor
knowledge and poor perception of teenage
pregnancy among the study participants. The
findings of the study increase the need for urgent
interventions to improve awareness of teenage
pregnancy and create better sexual education for
teenagers in these communities.
CONSENT AND ETHICAL APPROVAL
A consent letter of approval was sought and
obtained from the community head, while a
willing written informed consent was also
obtained from the respondent parents, assuring
them of their confidentiality at every point of the
study. Approval to carry out the study was
obtained from the Research and Ethical
Committee of the Bayelsa state primary
healthcare board.
COMPETING INTERESTS
Authors have declared that no competing
interests exist.
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