ABSTRACT

A survey of the impact of teenage pregnancies on the teenagers and their families was carried out in Akwa-lbom, Enugu and Imo States of Nigeria. It was aimed to identify and document the causes and consequences of teenage pregnancies and some measures to reduce the occurrence; and at the same time integrate the victims to the society. Multi stage sampling and multi data gathering tools were used. A total of 300 respondents formed the study population. The data collected were statistically analyzed. Among the causes of teenage pregnancies were age, educational status, occupation of the teenagers and parental monthly income. Most parents were shocked to hear that their teenage giris were pregnant and sternly wanted to know who were responsible. All the pregnant girls were unhappy while those of them in a desperate situations opted for abortion. The culprits themselves denied the fact. It is an established fact that teenage pregnancies are filled with problems for the teenagers involved with particular reference to their educational, social and marital status. Since poverty of the parents and lack of self of the teenagers contributed greatly to teenage pregnancies, it is very apparent that if self discipline is inculcated into the teenagers on time and the economic condition of parents are improved, .certainly there would be a reasonable reduction in the occurrence of teenage pregnancies in the nation as a whole and the victims well integrated into the society.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE

CERTIFICATION

DECLARATION iii

DEDICATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF TABLES ix

ABSTRACT Xi

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of lhe problems 4

1.3 Justification for the study 4

1.4 Research questions 5

1.5 Delimitation of the study 5

1.6 Limitation of the study 6

1.7 Objectives of the study 6

vii

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Factors that favour teenage pregnancy 7

2.2 Psychological, socio-economic and academic impact of

teenage pregnancy on the victims and society 11

2.3 Reactions of society to teenage pregnancy 14

2.4 Why teenage girls get pregnant 15

2.5 Solution to teenage pregnancy and precautionary Measure to avoid it 17

CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Design of the study 19

ii

3.2 Area of study 19

3.3 Population 19

3.4 Sampling technique and sample size 20

3.5 Methods of data collection 21

3.6 Validation of instrument 21

3.7 Reliability of instrument 21

3.8 Data analysis 22

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Socio-economic characteristics of the teenagers 23

VIII

4.2 Whom teenagers lived with and their parental monthly income 26

i'

4.3 Family characteristics and teenage pregnancy 29

4.4 Those responsible for teenage pregnancy 32

4.5 Reactions to teenage pregnancy 35

4.6 Causes of teenage pregnancy 40

4.7 Factors favouring teenage pregnancy 44

4.8 Impact of teenage pregnancy on teenagers 46

4.9 Reasons for indulging in sexual relationship 48

4.10 Solution to teenage pregnancy 50

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 51

REFERENCES 53

APPENDIX 57

LIST OF TABLES

TABLES PAGES

4.1： Selected Socio-economic characteristics of the Teenagers 25

In Akwa-lbom, Enugu and Imo States.

4.2: Distribution of Teenagers in Relation to who they are living

y

With and Parental Income. 28

4.3: Distribution of Teenagers in Relation to Household Size,

Sex of Children and type of family. 31

4.4: Distribution of those Responsible for Teenage Pregnancy

In Imo, Enugu and Akwa-lbom States. 33

4.5: Those Responsible for Teenage Pregnancy According to

Key Informants and Focus Group. 34

4.6: Reaction to Teenage Pregnancy as Perceived by those

Responsible, Parents and Teenagers. 38

4.7: Reaction to Teenage pregnancy as Perceived by key

Informants and Focus Group. 39

4.8: Perceived Causes of Teenage Pregnancy by the Teenagers

In the study area 42

X

4.9： Causes of Teenage Pregnancy According to Key

Informants and Focus Group Discussants. 43

4.10: Influence of family living Condition, Type and Marital Status

Of Parents on Teenage Pregnancy. 45

4.11: Impact of Teenage Pregnancy as Perceived by the Teenagers 47

4.12: Impact of Teenage Pregnancy on the Teenagers and Family

As Perceived by Key Informants and Focus Group. 48

4.13: Distribution of Reasons Why Teenagers Indulged in

Sexual Relationship with Men. 50

4.14 Solutions to teenage Pregnancy 51