A STUDY OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AMONG THE FEMALE STUDENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
This project is to look into the causes and effects of teenage pregnancy among the female students and how it affects academic performance. Millions of children return from empty house because both parents are of the working class, which makes many teenagers less parented. Dorland medical dictionary for health consumer (2007) states that teenage is the period between puberty and the completion of physical growth, roughly from 11 to 19 years of age adolescent.
According to Mosby’s medical dictionary (2007) Elsevies also states that teenage is the period in development between the onset of puberty and adulthood. It usually begins between 1 and 13 years of age with the appearance of secondary sex characteristics and spans the teenage years, terminating at 18 to 20 years with the completion of the development of the adult form. During this period the individual undergoes extensive physical, psychological, emotional, and personality changes. Teenagers face daily pressure from peers, they are exposed to influence of TV, movies, the music industry and internet etc. he further stated that, pregnancy as the state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. This condition can be indicated by positive result, on an over the counter, urine test and confirmed through a blood, ultrasound, detection of fetal heartbeat or an x-ray. Pregnancy lasts for about nine months measured from the date of the woman’s last menstrual period (LMP). It is conventionally divided into three trimesters, each roughly three months long. The most important task of basic fetal cell differentiation occur during the first trimester, so any harm to the fetus during this period is most likely to result in miscarriage or serious disability can survive outside. The womb, even with the best hospital care, its system are simply too underdeveloped. According to Slater Jon (2000) teenage pregnancy is referred to as the premature pregnancy of female children that is yet to attain the maturity and ripe age for marriage. Dysfunctions families have set the stage for teenage pregnancy. Many parents felt that young ones will be taught sex education in school both in school and at home.
National population commission, Nigeria demographic and health survey 2004, Abuja Nigeria 2006 said that the Nigerian birth rate for adolescents is one of the highest in the world and is common among female adolescents in Nigeria of sexually transmitted infections STI) including HIV. In cause of reducing her pregnancy rate by teenagers, including other problems, Nigerians developed a national reproduction health risk sexual behaviour during adolescent. However, in this modern time, young people are now familiar with the knowledge about sex in Nigeria today, pregnancy and motherhood mark the end of school attendance and by 16 years, 20% of female adolescents are either pregnant or have given birth.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS
There are many causes and obstacles which hinders teenage pregnancy. In these modern society, teenagers do not need to have computer in their homes before using one, the use of computer have increased in many countries including Nigerian sexual materials of all kinds are easily accessible through the internet. Uncontrolled internet usage also expose teenagers to pornography and sex chat rooms, some teenagers are willing to accept sex deliberately taking advantage of their being poor. Powerful influence of the media which the teenagers watch on the TV, they are more likely to practice this behaviour. In real life and have different partners. Parents do not have a close relationship with their children and as a result, they find it difficult to confide matters to their parents about pregnancy and sex education. Some teenagers are very curious, and most of them are ignorance of sex education and to abortion.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
School age girls who are pregnant come from all socio-economic classes, all race, and all part of the country (rural and urban areas) many teenagers are facing the dilemma of unwanted pregnancy and unwedded parenthood parents, the society, the nation and the world in general are affected directly and indirectly and their choices will have significant consequences for the future of their communities, their country and the rest of the world. The main aim of this project therefore is designed to help many youth out of their dilemma of unwanted parenthood as well as practical suggestions for adolescents in avoiding the pitfalls of being pregnant and becoming parents suddenly.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
There is no significant difference between negligence of children by parents and teenage pregnancy?
There is no significant relationship between teenage pregnancy and academic performance.
There is no significant difference between parental background and teenage pregnancy.
There is no significant difference between exposure to media, computer and teenage pregnancy.
There is no significant difference between knowledge of sex education (either in school or at home)
There is no significant difference between peer group influence and teenage pregnancy.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significant of this is the necessity to help teenagers, makes the right decisions, pick appropriate findings, view others with valuie or importance and become better mother and father. Now that there is more controversy and confusing as regard sex moral have made this project relevant to our moral society. It is to the nation making (practical suggestions) available to all the appropriate time, becomes next in priority).
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Abortion: Is the removal of expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus resulting in or caused by death.
Adolescent: A young person age 10-14 years.
Curiosity: The desire to know above a lot of different things.
Pregnancy: The condition of being pregnant or the period of time when a woman is pregnant.
Promiscuous: Having sex with a lot of people.
Peer Pressure: A strong pressure imposes by peer group.
Peer: Some one of the same age group, social class etc.
Sex Education: Education in school about the physical processes and emotions involved in sex.
Teenage motherhood: Someone who give birth between the age of 13 and 19 or a girl who give birth at her teenage age some one who is between 13 and 19 years old.