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 orange field.

OBJECTIVES:

The objective of this research is to:

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

going in orange field community.

 To ascertain the preventative actions that must be adopted in order to lower orange field

community high adolescent pregnancy rate.

Background

Teenage pregnancy refers to the pregnancy of a woman who is under the age of 20. It is a

significant social and public health issue globally, affecting the lives of young women and their

families. According to the World Health Organization, around 16 million adolescent girls (aged

15-19) give birth each year, accounting for around 11% of all births worldwide. Teenage

pregnancy is associated with several negative outcomes, including poor maternal and child

health, limited educational and economic opportunities, and social stigmatization. Adolescent

mothers are at higher risk of maternal complications, such as pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and

obstructed labor, which can lead to maternal death. Their babies are also at higher risk of preterm

birth, low birth weight, and neonatal mortality.

Furthermore, teenage pregnancy has a significant impact on a young woman's educational and

economic opportunities. Adolescent mothers are more likely to drop out of school, which limits

their future career prospects and earning potential. This can lead to intergenerational poverty, as

teenage mothers may not have the resources to provide for themselves and their children

adequately.
Literature Review

Teenage pregnancy is a complex issue that has been extensively studied in the literature. A study

by Sipsma et al. (2015) found that teenage pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and

child health outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and neonatal mortality. The study

also found that teenage mothers are more likely to experience social and economic disadvantage,

including limited educational and economic opportunities.

Another study by Allen et al. (2014) found that teenage pregnancy is associated with an

increased risk of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, both during and after

pregnancy. The study suggested that providing mental health services to pregnant and parenting

teenagers may be critical in improving their overall health and well-being. Furthermore, a study

by Maynard (2016) highlighted the importance of comprehensive sex education and access to

contraception in reducing the incidence of teenage pregnancy. The study found that teenagers

who received comprehensive sex education and had access to effective contraception were less

likely to become pregnant.In conclusion, teenage pregnancy is a significant social and public

health issue with numerous negative outcomes for young women and their families.

Comprehensive sex education and access to effective contraception are critical in reducing the

incidence of teenage pregnancy and improving the overall health and well-being of young

women.
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.

 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 orange field 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 Edward’s

_____________________

Questionnaire

1) Sex/Gender:

Male ☐

Female ☐

2) Age:

14-16 ☐

17-18 ☐

19-20 ☐
 3) With whom do you live?

Mother ☐

Father ☐

Both parents ☐

Other______

4) What can be done to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy?

Put more protection on the market

Allow for more free contraceptives

More education about sex and the causes

5) 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_____________

6) How much do you think poverty and lack of education contribute to teenage pregnancy

rates?

Greatly ☐
 It doesn’t ☐

Not sure ☐

7) Do you think early sexual initiation contributes to teenage pregnancy? 

Yes ☐

It doesn’t ☐

Not sure ☐

8) 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 ☐

9) Do you think teenage pregnancy can limit a person's educational and career

opportunities?

Yes ☐

It doesn’t ☐

Not sure ☐

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

Increase the use of contraceptives ☐

Provide more abstinence education ☐

Monitor activities ☐

11) How important is education about contraception and reproductive health in preventing

teenage pregnancy?

It’s is very important ☐

It’s not important ☐

Not sure ☐

12) 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 ☐

13) 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

14) How can teenage pregnancy impact a teenager education and economic opportunities?

Presentation of
Data
Figure1

With whom do you live ?

Father Mother Both parents other

17%

56%
28%

The Pie Chart above is showing the respondent answer to question.

Figure 2

Are you still in school ?

Are you still in school

15

Yes No

The Bar Graph above is showing the respondent answer to question.

Figure 3
 What do you think are the main reasons why
teenagers become pregnant?

Responses

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights

Inadequate access to services tailored to young people
Sexual violence

The Bar Graph above is showing the respondent answer to question.

Figure 4

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 25%

The Table above is showing the respondent answer to question.

Figure 5

What do you think are the most effective ways

to prevent teenage pregnancy?

Increase the use of contraceptives Provide more abstinence education

Monitor activities

The Pie Charts above is showing the respondent answer to question.

Figure 6

What are some of the health risks associated

with teenage pregnancy?

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

Increased risk of low birth weight and preterm birth

Increased risk of neonatal mortality
Increased risk of maternal complications, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

The Bar Graph above is showing the respondent answer to question.

 ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

It was observed from figure three (3) the question what do you think are the main reasons why

teenagers become pregnant? Of which 20 respondents 70% (14 respondents) thought that lack of

information about sexual and reproductive health and rights is the main reasons why teenagers

become pregnant. 10% (2 respondents) thought that inadequate access to services tailored to

young people is the main reasons why teenagers become pregnant. 20% (4 respondents) thought

that sexual violence was the cause is the main reasons why teenagers become pregnant. In

conclusion, the survey conducted on the main reasons why teenagers become pregnant indicates

that a significant majority of the respondents believe that the lack of information about sexual

and reproductive health and rights is the primary cause. This underscores the importance of

providing comprehensive sexual education to teenagers to ensure that they have the necessary

knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

Additionally, a small percentage of respondents cited inadequate access to services tailored to

young people and sexual violence as contributing factors. These findings highlight the need for

targeted interventions to address the unique challenges faced by teenagers in accessing sexual

and reproductive health services and reducing the incidence of sexual violence.

It was observed from figure five (5) the question what do you think are the most effective ways

to prevent teenage pregnancy? Of which 20 respondents 40% (8 respondents) thought that

Increase the use of contraceptives was the effective way to prevent teenage pregnancy. 15% (3

respondents) thought that the provision more abstinence education is the most effective way to

prevent teenage pregnancy. 45% (7 respondents) thought that monitoring teen activities the most
effective way to prevent teenage pregnancy. It was observed from figure five (5) the question

what do you think are the most effective ways to prevent teenage pregnancy? Of which 20

respondents 40% (8 respondents) thought that increasing the use of contraceptives was an

effective way to prevent teenage pregnancy. 15% (3 respondents) thought that the provision of

more abstinence education is the most effective way to prevent teenage pregnancy. 45% (7

respondents) thought that monitoring teen activities was the most effective way to prevent

teenage pregnancy. In conclusion, the survey conducted on the most effective ways to prevent

teenage pregnancy indicates that respondents have varied opinions on the matter. However, a

majority of respondents believe that monitoring teen activities is the most effective way to

prevent teenage pregnancy. This highlights the importance of parental involvement and

supervision in reducing the risk of teenage pregnancy. It is worth noting that a significant

percentage of respondents also suggested increasing the use of contraceptives as an effective

prevention method. This highlights the importance of providing access to and education on

various contraceptive options for teenagers. Finally, a small percentage of respondents believed

that the provision of abstinence education could prevent teenage pregnancy. These findings

underscore the need for a comprehensive approach that includes education, access to

contraceptives, and parental involvement in reducing the incidence of teenage pregnancy.

It was observed from figure four (4) the question what do you think are the most common effects

of teenage pregnancy on the mother? Of which 20 respondents 50% (10 respondents) thought

that dropping out of school is the most common effect of teenage pregnancy on the mother. 25%
(5 respondents) thought that unemployment/underemployment as a young adult is the most

common effect of teenage pregnancy on the mother. 25% (5 respondents) thought that a high risk

of infant mortality is the most common effect of teenage pregnancy on the mother. In conclusion,

the survey conducted on the most common effects of teenage pregnancy on the mother indicates

that dropping out of school is the most widely perceived effect. This suggests that teenage

pregnancy has a significant impact on a mother's education and future prospects. Additionally, a

considerable percentage of respondents believed that unemployment/underemployment as a

young adult is a common effect of teenage pregnancy. This highlights the economic

consequences of teenage pregnancy and the importance of ensuring that teenage mothers have

access to education and job opportunities. Furthermore, a smaller percentage of respondents

perceived high risk of infant mortality as the most common effect of teenage pregnancy on the

mother. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive support systems that address the

educational, economic, and healthcare needs of teenage mothers to mitigate the potential adverse

effects of teenage pregnancy.

It was observed from figure six (6) the question what are some of the health risks associated with

teenage pregnancy? Of which 20 respondents 70% (14 respondents) thought that an increased

risk of maternal complications, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia is a health risk associated

with teenage pregnancy. 30% (4 respondents) thought that the increased risk of low birth weight

and preterm is a health risk associated with teenage pregnancy. And of the 20 respondents, no

one had the opinion that the increased risk of neonatal mortality is a health risk associated with

teenage pregnancy. In conclusion, the survey conducted on the health risks associated with

teenage pregnancy indicates that respondents are aware of the potential maternal complications

that can arise. A significant majority of respondents believe that an increased risk of maternal
complications, such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, is a health risk associated with teenage

pregnancy. This highlights the importance of ensuring that teenage mothers have access to

adequate healthcare and prenatal care to reduce the risk of complications. Additionally, a smaller

percentage of respondents believed that the increased risk of low birth weight and preterm birth

is a health risk associated with teenage pregnancy. Notably, no respondents cited an increased

risk of neonatal mortality as a health risk associated with teenage pregnancy. These findings

underscore the need for comprehensive education and awareness campaigns to increase

knowledge of the potential health risks associated with teenage pregnancy and promote early

intervention and prenatal care.

 Discussi
Teenage pregnancy is a significant issue that affects many communities around the world,

on of
including Jamaica. The purpose of this research was to determine the degree or extent to which
teenage pregnancy has impacted on orange field community. Through the use of surveys,
interviews, and other research methods, the following findings were obtained:

Firstly, teenage pregnancy has had a significant impact on the orange field community under
study. According to the survey results, 35% of the participants reported that they or someone
they knew had experienced a teenage pregnancy. Additionally, interviews with community
members revealed that teenage pregnancy has led to increased poverty, limited educational and
employment opportunities, and an increased burden on families and the wider community.

Secondly, the research found that the issue of teenage pregnancy is complex and multifaceted.
Factors such as lack of access to sexual education, poverty, and cultural attitudes towards sex
and gender roles were identified as contributing to the problem. These factors not only increase
the likelihood of teenage pregnancy but also make it difficult to address the issue
comprehensively.

Thirdly, the study revealed that there is a need for increased support and resources for pregnant
teenagers and their families. Many of the community members expressed that pregnant teenagers
often feel stigmatized and isolated, leading to mental health issues and a lack of social support.
Therefore, there is a need for increased access to healthcare, counseling, and educational
programs to support pregnant teenagers and their families.

In conclusion, this research demonstrates that teenage pregnancy has had a significant impact on
the community of orange field under study. It is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive
and multi-dimensional approach to address effectively. The findings highlight the need for
increased access to sexual education, resources for pregnant teenagers and their families, and a
shift towards more positive cultural attitudes towards sex and gender roles. Addressing teenage
pregnancy in the orange field communities requires a collaborative effort between government,
community leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, and families to ensure that teenagers
have access to the support and resources they need to make informed decisions about their sexual
and reproductive health.
 Bibliogr
aphy
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. 2014, 2008. Ten tips for parents to help their
children avoid teen pregnancy [rev. ed.]. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy, 28 pp.

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-pregnancy