Acknowledgement

Without the assistance of Almighty God, completing this Internal Assessment would not have

been possible. I want to thank the Highest for bestowing upon me the power, wisdom, and

understanding necessary to complete this study without suffering any injuries. This project has

received a lot of work to be successful. Also, I would like to express my gratitude to my teacher,

Mrs. Brown, for his assistance, direction, and supervision, as well as for the insightful instruction

and information she provided regarding this assessment.

Title and objectives

TITLE:

I've decided to research to determine the degree or extent to which teenage pregnancy has

impacted Jamaican culture.

OBJECTIVES:

The objective of this research is to:

 Analyze the extent to which teenage pregnancies have a negative impact on Jamaican
society.
 To determine the factors that contribute to the cycle of teenage pregnancy to continuously

going in Jamaica’s society.

 To ascertain the preventative actions that must be adopted in order to lower Jamaica's

high adolescent pregnancy rate.

Background

Teenage pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy in females who are 19 years old or younger. Teenage

pregnancy is a significant public health concern because it can have negative impacts on the

health and well-being of both the mother and child.

There are many factors that can contribute to teenage pregnancy, including lack of access to

comprehensive sex education, poverty, social and cultural factors, and lack of access to

reproductive health services.

Teenage mothers are at higher risk for complications during pregnancy and childbirth, including

high blood pressure, premature labor, and low birth weight. Babies born to teenage mothers are

also at increased risk for health problems and developmental delays.

In addition to the physical health risks, teenage pregnancy can also have social and economic

consequences for both the mother and child. Teenage mothers are less likely to complete their

education, which can limit their future job opportunities and earning potential. Children born to

teenage mothers are also more likely to experience poverty and social disadvantages.
Literature Review

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is a significant global public health issue with adverse social

and health consequences for both the mother and the child. This literature review aims to explore

the factors contributing to teenage pregnancy and its impact on health, education, and social

well-being.

Factors Contributing to Teenage Pregnancy: Teenage pregnancy has multiple complex

determinants, including poverty, lack of access to education, cultural and social norms, and

limited access to sexual and reproductive health services. Studies have suggested that parental

neglect, peer pressure, sexual abuse, and substance abuse are also risk factors for teenage

pregnancy.

Health Impact of Teenage Pregnancy: Teenage pregnancy is associated with higher maternal and

neonatal mortality rates, higher rates of low birth weight, preterm delivery, and increased risk of

obstetric complications. Adolescent mothers are also more likely to suffer from mental health

problems, including depression and anxiety.

Educational Impact of Teenage Pregnancy: Teenage pregnancy is also associated with lower

educational attainment, which has lifelong consequences for the individual and society as a

whole. Teenage mothers are less likely to complete high school, less likely to pursue higher

education, and more likely to have lower-paying jobs.

Social Impact of Teenage Pregnancy: Teenage pregnancy is also associated with social stigma,

which can lead to isolation, discrimination, and limited social support. This stigma can also

affect the child's social and emotional development, leading to poorer outcomes.
Prevention and Intervention: Prevention and intervention efforts must address the complex

factors contributing to teenage pregnancy, including poverty, lack of access to education, and

limited access to sexual and reproductive health services. Comprehensive sex education, access

to contraception, and youth-friendly health services have been shown to be effective in reducing

teenage pregnancy rates. Additionally, interventions targeting social and economic

empowerment, including education and employment opportunities, have shown promise in

reducing the risk of teenage pregnancy.

Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy is a complex issue with significant social and health

consequences. Effective prevention and intervention efforts must address the underlying social

and economic factors contributing to teenage pregnancy and provide comprehensive support to

adolescent mothers to ensure their health, educational, and social well-being.

Research Design

Information will be gathered using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to ensure the

success of this research. The quantitative study will generate statistical information regarding the

problem statements. It is quantitative because, in Durkheim's sociological perspective, the study

of statistical data can reveal both correlation and causality. The study can be easily replicated,

and the qualitative research method was chosen since it is effective in that it saves both time and

money. Also, it makes it possible to collect standard data and makes it simple to quantify the

data. The types of methods used were:

Observation is a method of acquiring information through the observation of behavior, events,

and physical traits as they occur in the wild. An observation may be overt (everyone is aware of

it) or hidden (no one knows they are being observed and the observer is concealed).

Questionnaires are a type of research tool that can be used to gather information. In order to

collect information from respondents, it consists of a number of pre-set questions that may

include both open-ended and closed-ended questions and a combination of the two.

Both graphic and tabular techniques were used to analyze the data. Moreover, descriptive

statistics were employed to examine and report the data.

Sociological Perspective

Sociologists use three theories; Functionalist theory, Social Conflict theory, and Symbolic

Interactionism. I will be applying these theories to the topic of teen pregnancy. First I’ll elaborate

on the functionalist theory. First of all, when you’re applying this theory you’re looking at how

this is affecting society as a whole. This theory also focuses on stability and public values. First

of all one-way teen pregnancy helped shape society is it offered more jobs in certain industries.

Companies like Planned Parenthood especially focused on pregnancy options, and prevention

was born. Of course, there were people hired for this company. Another way this affects society

of course is the taxes Americans have to pay. According to the NCPTP “teen childbearing costs

taxpayers at least $9 billion each year, including public sector health care costs, increased child

welfare costs, prison costs, and lost tax revenue.” Fifty-two percent of mothers on welfare had

their first child as a teenager. Lack of education is being blame, claiming that having children

that young leads to not finishing high school and not getting higher-paying jobs. A report from

PBS I find interesting said that sons of teen moms are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison

which will increase crime rates in society. The strength of this theory is you can see how specific

actions of individuals can affect a whole nation. It looks at details of how something can affect

us in the grander scheme of things. But it can also be a con because functionalism does not

encourage people to take an active role in changing their social environment, even when such

change may benefit them. The Social Conflict theory claims human behavior in social contexts

results from conflicts between competing groups. There will be a conflict between two groups of

people. This theory is Marxist-based. With teen pregnancy, there can be a conflict between the

parents of the teens and the teens themselves. Parents and kids are always butting heads. Parents

want obedience and control from their kids, while kids want freedom from their parents. Teen
pregnancy can be a form of rebellion. A lot of parents kick their children out after finding out

their child is pregnant, or refuse to help financially support the child. Some parents can even

force their children into abortion and adoption, even against the teen’s will which can lead to

resentment and issues in that family. Another example of conflict is between taxpayers and

teenage mothers. In an earlier statistic, I said that our tax dollars go to teenage mothers, and that

can enrage some people in society who feel like they are being bothered by the huge burden of

paying for teen moms. Another example of conflict that has arisen in society because of teen

pregnancy is the war between Americans and the media. Many people feel like the media is

promoting teen pregnancy or glamorizing it by turning it into television shows like “16 and

Pregnant”. The pros of this theory are you can see the opinion of both sides of a conflict. But the

cons are with this theory you only experience two extreme and radical different opinions, there

are not many forms of different opinions that get focused on. The last theory I will go into is the

Symbolic interactionism theory. Sociologists consider the symbols and details of everyday life,

what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other as a factor in how a person

views things. According to the symbolic interactionist perspective, people attach meanings to

symbols, and then they act according to their subjective interpretation of these symbols. So how

something is portrayed to them will form that individual’s opinion. A pro to this theory would be

you can see how people can interpret things around them and make a decision. But a con is that it

neglects to focus on the bigger picture. It

Sampling

A sample is a tiny portion or quantity used to represent the characteristics of the

whole. While simple random sampling is considered to be the most fundamental

method of selecting a sample, it was chosen for this study since it has the

advantages of being quick and giving every unit the equal chance of being chosen.

Data Collection and Instrument

A questionnaire was chosen for the survey because it offers a reasonably affordable, quick, and

effective approach to collecting a lot of data from a big sample of people. As the researcher

wouldn't have to be there when the surveys were filled out, data can be gathered rather rapidly. A

set of questions with multiple choice responses that are printed or typed and created for a survey

or statistical study is known as a questionnaire. A total of thirty-six copies of the questionnaire

were distributed at random amongst the residents of the Linstead community. Just one week's

worth of questionnaires was given out. Although the majority of respondents complained that the

questionnaire was too long, 100% of the questions were answered, and none were skipped.
Sample of Instrument Used to Collect Data

Hello, Sir/Miss As part of my sociology internal assessment, I, a sixth-form student at McGrath

High School, am conducting a survey (I.A.) Your help is required to effectively complete this

survey. You may be confident that your response will be kept in complete secrecy. Where

appropriate, specific instructions are provided. Your kind assistance will be much valued. I'm

grateful.

Respectfully,

Derran Edawrds

_____________________

Qustionnaire

Sex/Gender: Male ☐ Female ☐

Age: 14-16 ☐ 17-18 ☐ 19-20 ☐

With whom do you live: Mother ☐ Father ☐ Both parents ☐ Other______

Are your parents: Unemployed ☐ Employed ☐ Self employed ☐

Are you still in school: Yes ☐ No ☐

What do you think are the main reasons why teenagers become pregnant?

Lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights. ☐

Inadequate access to services tailored to young people. ☐

Sexual violence ☐

Other_____________

How much do you think poverty and lack of education contribute to teenage pregnancy rates?

Greatly ☐ It doesn’t ☐ Not sure ☐

Do you think early sexual initiation contributes to teenage pregnancy? 

Yes ☐ It doesn’t ☐ Not sure ☐

What do you think are the most common effects of teenage pregnancy on the mother?

Drop out of school ☐ Unemployment/ underemployment as a young adult ☐ High risk of

Infant mortality

Do you think teenage pregnancy can limit a person's educational and career opportunities?

Yes ☐ It doesn’t ☐ Not sure ☐

What do you think are the most effective ways to prevent teenage pregnancy?

Increase the use of contraceptives ☐ Provide more abstinence education ☐ Monitor activities ☐

How important is education about contraception and reproductive health in preventing teenage

pregnancy?

It’s is very important ☐ It’s not important ☐ Not sure ☐

In your opinion, what role should parents, schools, and healthcare providers play in preventing

teenage pregnancy?

Very important role ☐ Not an important role ☐ Not sure ☐

What do you think are the most common effects of teenage pregnancy on the mother?

Options Amount Of Percentage

Responses

Drop out of school 10 50%

Unemployment/ underemployment as a 5 25%

young adult

High risk of Infant mortality 5 2%

Figure 2

1. What are some of the health risks associated with teenage pregnancy?
Increased risk of maternal complications, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
Increased risk of neonatal mortality
Increased risk of low birth weight and preterm birth