TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION
APPROVAL ii
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF TABLES ix
ABSTRACT
C~A~TE~ ONE 1
INT~~ODtJC’TIOr~,j 1
1.0 Background tothestudy 1
1.1 Statement of the problem 2
1.2 Objectives 2
1.3 Specific objectives 3
1.4 Scope 3
1.5 Research questions 3
1.6 Significance of the study 4
1.7 Definition of Terms 4
1,8 Limitations 4
CHAPTERTWO 5
LITERATURE REVIEW 5
2.0 Introduction 5
2.1 Meaning of teenage pregnancy
2.1.1 Trends of teenage pregnancy 5
2.2 Causes of early pregnancies 7
2.2.1 Changes in sex behavior 7
2.2.2 Misinformation about sex 7
V
2.2.3 Lack of contraceptives 8
2.2.4 Sexual abuse 9
2.2.5 Biological changes
2.2.6 Parental influences g
2.2.7 Peer influence g
2.2.8 Academic influences 10
2.3 Socio-economic factors on teenage 10
2.3.1 Childhood environment 10
2.4 Effectsofteenage pregnancy 11
2.4.1 Medical outcomes of early pregnancy 11
2.4.2 Impact on the child 12
2.5 Ways of controlling teenage pregnancies 12
CHAPTER THREE 14
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 14
3.0 Introduction 14
3.1 Research design 14
3.2 Research area and population 14
3.3 Sample framework 14
3.3.1 Sample size 14
3.3.2 Sampling techniques 14
3.3.3 Sample procedure 15
3.4 Methods of data collection 15
3.4.1 Instrumentation 15
3.4.2 Sources of data 15
3.5 Data processing 16
3.6 Data analysis 16
3.7 Ethical considerations 16
vi
CI{APFE~~. FOUF~ 17
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 17
4.0 Introduction 17
4.1 Questionnaire run rate 17
4.2 Background information of respondent which has a bearing on teenage
pregnancy 17
4.2.1 Marital status of parents who are pregnant 17
4.2.2 Educational status of parents of pregnant teenagers 18
4.3 Causes of early pregnancies among girls 20
4.4 Effects of teenage pregnancy on the society 21
4.4.1 Psychosocial consequences of teenage pregnancies on the family and society
22
4.4.2 Pregnant teenagers living with their partners or who have plans to marry
them 23
4.4.3 Why young mothers are not living with their partners 24
4.4.4 Psychosocial consequences of teenage pregnancy to the parents 25
4.4.5 Economic consequences of teenage pregnancy 26
4.4.6 Health challenges caused by teen pregnancy 26
4.5 Ways of controlling teen pregnancy 28
CFIAPTER FIVE 30
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMMENDATIONS
30
5.0 Introduction 30
5.1 Summary of findings 30
5.1.1 Causes of teen pregnancy 30
5.1.2 Socio-economic problems of teenage pregnancy 31
5.1.3 Controlling of teenage pregnancy in schools of Ishaka Bushenyi 32
5.2 Conclusion 32
5.3 Recommendations of the study 32
ABSTRACT Thi~ study sought to examine the effect of teenage pregnancy on socio-economic aspects of girls in the selected schools of Ishaka-Bushenyi municioallty specially to identify the causes of teenage pregnancy among the gh-ls, the socio-economic consequences of teenage pregnancies, and ñ7vestlqated the measures that would be taken to curb th/s problem. The respondents used in the study were local leaders, teachers, parents who filled a semi-structured questionnaire containing items which had been formulated from the objectives. FLridLrigs showed that in Ishaka-Bushenyi, it was established that young girls are becoming pregnant mostly because peer pressure and bad company. It was also covered that due to economic hardships some girls go out with men to get some of their requirements and end up becoming pregnant. Those parents did not care much about what their daughters did with their fr/ends. More factors that were hinted on by the respondents include the negative media influence and pinpointed films. It was established that teenagers lacked relevant education about sex and how to handle sexuality. Recommendations were also made. Public debates on sexuality and teenage pregnancy must be initi~ted These can teach the youth in a very dynamic and interactive way, so that they learn about the dangers of the out of school participants become part of thei~ learning process. Youth themselves must be encouraged to participate. The teenage mothers should be encouraged to go back to school after giving birth to continue with their education. This’ will only work if a policy is formulated to safeguard the young mothers in school from social ostrarchy and isolation. Due to ‘ignorance, some teachers and learners have soc/ally sti~qmatized such girls who chose to rejoin school and as a result they have had to terminate their studies
