THE INCREASE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AT NAGURU TEENAGE CENTRE IN NAKAWA DIVISION, KAMPALA DISTRICT
LIST OF ACRONYMS
UDHS Ugandan demographic survey
AFDC AID to Families with Dependent Children
STIs Sexually transmitted infections
HIV Human Immune Virus
AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to find out the increase of teenage pregnancy in Kampala. A case study of Naguru Teenage Centre in Nakawa Division. The study was guided by three objectives; the causes of teenage pregnancy, the effects of early pregnancy among adolescents and possible solutions to the early pregnancy among adolescents.
The study used a qualitative descriptive design. A sample of 8 teenagers was interviewed. In addition to interviews, informal observations were also used to collect data.
The research has revealed that the causes of teenage pregnancy are; poverty, peer influence, lack of basic needs, desire for sex, little knowledge about contraceptives and idleness. The results have shown that the effects of teenage pregnancy include; difficulty in taking care of the child due to little finances, school drop outs, fear of responsibilities, traumatisation due to fear of being a parent, going caesarian section. The suggested ways to reduce teenage pregnancy included; introducing more peer educators and programs to communities, bringing family planning methods close to communities, starting income generation for poor students, practicing safe sex and advising parents to monitor their children to be role models, and to talk to them about sex issues.
For the situation to improve in the sampled area, the researcher recommended that;
The establishment of youth centers will assist in organising the youth at a central venue with the purpose of influencing them positively and hence eliminating the threat of negative peer pressure.
Parents should be encouraged by the assemblies and the chiefs to talk openly and freely with their children about sex.
It is therefore recommended that education on sex and sexuality should not just be a concept but should be developed further as a complete discipline and much more research should be conducted to that regard. In schools this should be introduced as a complete learning subject.
CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
Traditionally, in Uganda there were few cases of early pregnancies because of the punishments that were given to those girls who would get pregnant at an early age. Due to the fear of the punishments in Ankole, girls used not to engage in early sex. The punishments included stoning the girl to death, throwing her off the cliff. This kind of punishment discourages many young girl to get involved in sexual issues before marriage.
INTRODUCTION
Early pregnancy is pregnancy in females under the age of 18years.
According to the Ugandan health survey 2011, about 14 per cent of young women and 16 percent of young men had their sexual encounter before the age of 15 while 57 percent of young women had their first encounter before the age of 18. Early marriage, early initiation of sex and lack of information are said to be leading drivers of adolescent pregnancy.
According to UNFPA 2012, lack of access to reproductive health information supported with services, has led teenagers into early sex while poverty and cultural practices continue to force girls into early marriages.
Uganda has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa at over 25%. The Ugandan demographic survey(UDHS) 1995 indicates that by 17 years of age ,43.3% of adolescent girls have begun child bearing and by 19 years, over 70.8% of adolescent girls have given birth or are pregnant with their first child. Regionally, the rate of teenage pregnancy is 30.6% for East Central Uganda, 30.3% for Eastern, 29.7 for Karamoja, 26.4 for West Nile, and 25.6% for North (ending teenage pregnancy-UNFPA Fact sheet, 2012).
There is a close link between poverty and teenage pregnancy. Adolescents from poor households are more likely to become pregnant as compared to those from well-to-do families. (UNFPA 2013)
Teenage pregnancy is also higher among uneducated girls. 45% of girls without education have already had a baby compared to 16% of girls with secondary school education (UBOS and macro international Inc 2011).
According to the figures from the Uganda demographic health survey 2011, 15% of young women aged between 20-29 years old were married at age of 15, while 49% were married by the age of 18 years.
49% of Ugandan girls are married before their 18th birthday despite the fact that the law does not allow it.
A significant number of young people lack information about pregnancy or access to reproductive health services, and rely on myths and misconceptions. 54% of young people think that a girl cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex (straight talk foundation report 2013). A young girl is twice likely to die during pregnancy or child birth compared to a mature lady in her 20’s (UNFPA 2013). Defilement is another cause of early pregnancy. For example, in 2012, 8,076 cases of defilement were reported to Uganda police (Uganda police, Annual police crime and traffic report, 2012)
There is a lot of cross generation of sex especially among University students. When girls engage in sex with older men, they often have less negotiating power on protected sex.
The challenges associated with early marriages are real; unsustainable population growth and a bottleneck to economic development must be solved. Solving this calls for multi-prolonged approach. Teachers in schools should be empowered to provide regulated dosage of sex education. The poverty that compels parents to give out their daughters in forced marriages has to be tackled. It seems the already existing laws require strict enforcement mechanism.
The psychosocial trauma teenagers go through after pregnancy is indescribable. For the young girls who get pregnant by “accident” or “unwanted” pregnancy. In most cases the probability of marriage stability is nearly half. Ill prepared as they mostly are, the partners are obviously not prepared emotional and materialistically for the role of parenting.
The Uganda police child protection unit has continuously been receiving cases of abandoned children, courtesy of unprepared parents unable to take care of their own kids. A large proportion of over 15,000 street kids who are not going to school and without parental guidance are the potential burglars and robbers or even rebels of tomorrow. Such is along term disaster in the making, to which teenage pregnancy is a contributing factor.
The research was carried out at Naguru teenage health center in Nakawa division. Teenagers were staying in surrounding areas of Mutungo, Luzira and Bugolobi. Tribes in the area included Buganda, Banyankole, Iteseots, Bakiga, Batooro and the languages spoken were English, Luganda, Runyankole, Rutooro, Rukiga and Ateso.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Early Pregnancy among adolescents comes with complications like difficulty in giving birth, some adolescents run away from home because of fear of what their parents might do to them or feel ashamed of the pregnancy. Some are neglected by their parents and the society after the pregnancy, and others. In Naguru Teenage center there are many teenagers who give birth on a daily basis, so i decided to research on the causes of early pregnancy among adolescents.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To find out the causes of early pregnancy among adolescents.
To find out the effects of early pregnancy among adolescents on their welfare.
To find out the possible solutions to the early pregnancy among adolescents
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
To know all the possible causes of early pregnancy among adolescents.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What are the possible causes of pregnancy among adolescents?
What are the effects of early pregnancy among adolescents on their welfare?
What are the possible solutions to the early pregnancy among adolescents?
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study was carried out in Naguru teenage center, Nakawa division. Teenagers were staying in surrounding areas of Mutungo, Luzira and Bugolobi.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will benefit the following categories of people;
Policy makers, the findings will help to contribute the prevention of teenage pregnancy and thereby improve the children and families’ welfare.
Researchers, the study findings will be a reference for other students and researchers who was interested in the same field.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter the related literature review is presented objective by objective namely: (i) to identify the causes of early pregnancy (ii) to establish the effects of early pregnancy and (iii) to identify possible in the prevention of early pregnancy and formulate appropriate strategies.
CAUSES OF EARLY PREGNANCY
There are several factors which contribute to the causes of early pregnancy, but seems to be one of the major causes among girls from poor communities. The causes of pregnancy in this paper include culture, financial security, lack of education and relationships. All these causes have, in one way or another, something to do with poverty.
Financial Insecurity
Ipanteco (2014) argues that poverty is one major contributor to teen pregnancy among poverty stricken girls. Bruenig (2012) asserts that high rates of early pregnancy are a feature of inequality and not a cause of it. He emphasizes that pregnancy is a symptom of poverty. Kamper (2013) adds that poverty causes teen parenting and not the other way round. GPCC (2006) states that the youth living in poverty have a teen pregnancy rate of five times the average rate. The poor socio-economic circumstances seem to play a major role in increasing rates of early pregnancy. Teenage girls from low income families are falling pregnant at a higher rate than those from middle and upper income families.
Posel (2013) stresses that adolescent pregnancy most often is caused by lack of access to schools, employment, quality information and health care. Early pregnancy reflects powerlessness, poverty and pressures from partners, peers, families and communities. In South Africa all children have access to free education and health services. It can be argued that private schools offer a better education as compared to public schools (Muligwe 2012).
Also, the private health sector offers better health care service as compared to the public health care sector because most of the public health care sectors’ resources are overstretched (Motswaledi, 2013). Even if South Africa experiences high levels of poverty and unemployment, and poverty among children is extremely high, government policies promote poverty alleviation (Chitiga et al. 2014). The CSG is a cash grant targeted to eradicate poverty from children.
Solomon (2013) states that there is substantial evidence that child support grants reduce risky behaviour among teens such as sexual activity and pregnancy. They serve to reduce teen pregnancy over time rather than increase them.
Burdette (2012) argues that child pregnancy is an effect of poverty. Yalesias (2012) confirms that women choose to become mothers because their economic outlook is objectively bleak. There is a desire for financial security, and by falling in love with affluent people who will support them financially, women attain this desire. As a result, they are exploited by older men (Decker 2006). Sometimes, even if they were given money for transport to and from school, children tend to hitchhike and fall sexual victims of older men (eNCA 2013).
Lack of Education and Relationships
Education is one of the most effective ways to reduce early pregnancy, but in most of the cases governments do not have funding to provide proper health programmes. Burdette (2012) asserts that childbearing is more likely among women from low income level and education than among their better off peers. Teenage mothers are less likely to finish school and more likely to live in poverty, depend on public assistance and be in poor health (NCSL 2014).
However, alarming figures released by the South African Provincial Education Department indicate that schoolgirl pregnancies have doubled since 2006, despite a doubled effort of spending on sex education and AIDS awareness (IRIN 2007). Ipantenco (2014) confirms that access to quality sex education and health classes are essential during teen years, because the classes teach children how babies are made and what action they can take to prevent pregnancy. It seems that the type of education offered at the South African schools is not good enough to stop the learners from engaging in dangerous sexual behaviors. The explanation maybe that the financial needs of the learners are not being addressed practically, hence they opt for CSG.
Parents do not guide and supervise their children on issues relating to sexuality. Parents’ lack of education about schools and government and sex and relationships is a contributing factor of early pregnancy (Mbeki 2010). Most parents lack both the knowledge and skill to talk openly about sex with their children. They feel disempowered to talk about sex to their children in an environment which emphasizes a right based culture for children. The general knowledge gap filled by the educational gap between parents and children contributes towards the sense of disempowerment (HRSC 2009). Parents’ lack of knowledge about safe sex and use of contraceptives such as condoms, pills, and loops (Posel, 2013) is problematic.
Most of the parents feel disempowered to talk about such things as HIV and AIDS. They leave everything into the hands of government via schools and teachers. As a result, they fail to equip their children with the realities of adult life. Therefore, peer pressure, alcohol abuse, loneliness and lack of belonging take control of teenagers. In most cases, these situations result in unwanted teenage pregnancies (Cause of Early pregnancy 2009). The teenage mothers end up becoming poorer as the envisaged salvation of the CSG proves worthless. Therefore, poverty in terms of knowledge and material possessions causes early pregnancy, which further exacerbates the cycle of poverty.
EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY
Early childbearing has an impact on society, for when individuals cannot realize their full educational and occupational potential, society loses their economic contributions. In addition, if early child bearers utilize public services more than other women, public expenditures on programs such as AID to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Medicaid, and food stamps increase.
Schooling
The most general sequence of schooling, marriage and childbearing is that of completion of schooling, marriage, and then childbearing. Because of the time and energy that raising children require, which interferes with the time and energy required to study and attend classes, women who bear a child during the school years often leave before they can complete their schooling (Deckert, 2010). This is especially the case for those who bear a child during the high school years. Results from a number of studies show that young women who bear a child as teenagers are substantially less likely to complete high school than those who bear a child later on. All the studies reviewed show that early child bearers exhibit a substantial educational deficit relative to later child bearers.
Card and Wise (1978) for example, found that young women who bear a child while in high school not only were of lower socioeconomic status when they were in ninth grade, but already had lower academic abilities and lower educational expectations than their classmates, factors which also predict poor school performance and poor later life chances.
Enrollment in special school programs may also affect school completion. In their 17 year follow-up of adolescent child bearers, Furstenberg and Brooks-Gunn (1985) found a strong association between staying in school and attending a special school for teen mothers. Since adolescents who had higher ambitions were much more likely to participate in the special program than to stay in the regular school, and more highly motivated adolescents did better later on regardless of the type of school, this may explain their differential school continuation. However, after controlling for its selective attraction to motivated adolescents, Furstenberg found that the association between attending the school and later well-being remained strong (Furstenberg and Brooks-Gunn, 1985). Those in the special school for pregnant girls did substantially better in later life than those attending a regular school program (and those who dropped out).
Teen childbearing not only has the potential to affect the mother’s education, but has implications for children as well: children born to teen moms often do not perform as well as children of older mothers on early childhood development indicators and school readiness measures, such as communication, cognition and social skills. Research shows that children of teen mothers not only start school at a disadvantage; they also fare worse than those born to older parents later on. For example, children born to teens have lower educational performance, score lower on standardized tests, and are twice as likely to repeat a grade. Additionally, only around two-thirds of children born to teen mothers earn a high school diploma, compared to 81 percent of children born to adults (Deckert, 2010).
POSSIBLE STRATEGIES TO REDUCE EARLY PREGNANCY
Early pregnancy is a socially, economically, physically and emotionally complex issue. StayTeen.org reports that three out of 10 teen girls in the U.S. find themselves pregnant at least once before age 20. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy relays that approximately 47.8 percent of all high school students report having sexual intercourse. With serious consequences at stake, ways of preventing teen pregnancy should be a high priority (Posel, 2013).
Abstinence
Abstinence from sex (oral, anal or vaginal) is the only behavior that is 100 percent effective at preventing early pregnancy. In fact, the National Campaign stresses that abstinence from sex is the best choice for teens as it avoids early pregnancy, parenthood and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Planned Parenthood reminds teens that remaining abstinent is a behavior choice and it can be difficult for some people (Posel, 2013).
Contraceptives
Posel (2013), besides abstinence, using contraception during sexual intercourse can also prevent early pregnancy. Whether using barrier or hormonal methods, contraception can help to avoid pregnancy. StayTeen.org reports that one-third of teenage girls did not use any form of contraception the last time they had sex and 52 percent of sexually active teens reported a primary reason for not using contraceptives is because their partners did not want to. Educating teens about contraceptive methods may help to change attitudes and behaviors toward safer sex practices.
This chapter presents the research design, Area of study, Study population, Sample procedures/strategies, Instruments of data collection, Procedure of data collection, Data analysis sand processing, Data presentation, Limitation of the study.
A qualitative descriptive research design was adopted. It also employed a qualitative method of data collection. Qualitative approach was used to capture some comments, opinions, ideas, and concepts from the respondents that are relevant to the study.
This study was carried out at Naguru Teenage Information and Health Centre. Teenagers were staying in surrounding areas of Mutungo, Luzira and Bugolobi.
Target population included adolescentgirls who have children, pregnant and attending antenatal clinic at Naguru Teenage Information and Health Centre.
A total of 8 respondents were sampled. The sample was selected randomly from 20 pregnant adolescents.
METHODS AND TOOLS OF DATA COLLECTION
Interviews
An interview is a conversation where questions are asked and answers are given. The researcher strived to get first-hand information by making appointments with individual respondents to answer questions related to the study topic.
The method has the following advantages
This method was chosen because it helped in the collection of more data as it allowed the interaction of both the researcher and the respondents.
It was cheap and did not waste much time.
It’s simple, flexible and easy to understand.
The disadvantages include;
Some respondents may become biased and shy to express their views.
In addition to the above, a researcher used formal observation to observe the suggestions given by the respondents.
The researcher got an official introductory letter from Research Coordinator at the university which was presented to the authority to enable the researcher officially conduct the study in the areas with ease. The researcher then went to the field and the introductory letter was presented to the respondents on request. It was important that at the start of every interview, the researcher guaranteed to respondents confidentiality to both the respondents and the informants. The researcher moved to the area of study for data collection.
The researcher used a matrix method to analyse the data.
To ensure the reliability and validity, the interview was piloted to check on the question wording, difficult terms and response format. To perfect on the interview guide, comments of the supervisor were sought and appropriate adjustments were made.
The researcher observed extreme confidentiality while handling the responses and Information was availed to the respondents that the researcher would not cause any danger directly or indirectly and that participation is voluntary.
The researcher anticipates facing limited cooperation from the respondents. This was due to their own reasons among themselves being that they may have limited time and interest in providing the information required.
Inaccessibility of key persons in the study. This was a result of some of them having their own programmes and not willing to provide information.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF THE FINDINGS
INTRODUCTION
In order to find out the causes of teenage pregnancy at Naguru Teenage Centre, a research carried out a qualitative descriptive study where a sample of 8 teenagers was interviewed.
In this chapter, the findings of this study are presented in this chapter. They are presented according to the research questions stated in chapter one namely;
- Causes of early pregnancy among adolescents.
- Effects of early pregnancy among adolescents on their welfare.
- Possible solutions to the early pregnancy among adolescents
In the first part of the chapter, a description of the sample is made. This is followed by the findings as extracted from the responses to interview questions. At the end of the presentation ofeach research question, a comment was made; a comment may either refer to the researcher’s interpretation of the presented text or clarifying addition information that clarifies it.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SAMPLE
A sample of 8 teenagers was used. 4 of which stay in Mutungo, 3 teenagers stay in Luzira and one teenager stays in Bugolobi. Out of the 8 teenagers, five (5) were P.7 dropouts and three (3) of them were in O’level.
Two (2) sampled teenagers earned their living through working in a restaurant, five (5) stay with their partners and only one (1) stays with the parents.
PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS
CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY
Five sampled teenagers out of eight (8) said that the causes of early pregnancy is due to the poverty they experienced at home. But two (2) teenagers said early pregnancy is caused by peer influence and lack of basic needs. There also individual teenagers who pointed out idleness, desire for sex and also little knowledge about contraceptives.
Comment;
It seems the causes of Teenage pregnancy among sampled teenagers is a result of poverty, peer influence and lack of basic needs. But desire for sex and little knowledge about contraceptives was also mentioned.
EFFECTS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY
4 sampled teenagers out of eight (8) said that the effect of teenage pregnancy is difficulty in taking care of the child due to little finances. Individual teenagers pointed out school dropout, traumatisation due to fear of being a parent, going through a caesarean section and fear of responsibilities.
Comment
It seems the major effect of teenage pregnancy is difficulty in taking care of the child due to little finances experience. However, school dropout, traumatisation due to fear of being a parentand fear of responsibilities was also mentioned.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY
Three (3) sampled teenagers out of eight (8) said that introduction of more peer programmes and educators to communities can be used to reduce on teenage pregnancies and experience. But two (2) sampled teenagers recommendedbringing family planning methods close to communities as the best methods of reducing teenage pregnancy. There are also individual teenagers who pointed out practicing safe sex and starting income generation for poor students. Parents were also advised to monitor their children to be role models, and to talk to them about sex issues.
Comment
It seems teenage pregnancy can be reduced among the sampled youth by introducing more peer programmes and educators to communities and bringing family planning methods close to communities. But, practicing safe sexand talking to teenagers about sex was also mentioned.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
INTRODUCTION
The research has revealed that the causes of teenage pregnancy are; poverty, peer influence, lack of basic needs, desire for sex, little knowledge about contraceptives and idleness. The researcher have also revealed that the possible solutions to teenage pregnancy include; introducing more peer educators and programs to communities, bringing family planning methods close to communities, starting income generation for poor students, practicing safe sex and advising parents to monitor their children to be role models, and to talk to them about sex issues.
The results have been discussed according to the research questions stated in chapter one namely;
- Causes of early pregnancy among adolescents.
- Effects of early pregnancy among adolescents on their welfare.
- Possible solutions to the early pregnancy among adolescents
DISCUSSION
CAUSES OF EARLY PREGNANCY AMONG ADOLESCENTS
The results have revealed that the causes of teenage pregnancy included; poverty, peer influence, lack of basic needs, desire for sex, little knowledge about contraceptives and idleness.
The results are in agreement with Ipanteco (2014) who argued that poverty is one major contributor to teen pregnancy among poverty stricken girls. Bruenig (2012) also asserts that high rates of early pregnancy are a feature of inequality and not a cause of it. He emphasizes that pregnancy is a symptom of poverty. Kamper (2013) adds that poverty causes teenage parenting and not the other way round. GPCC (2006) states that the youth living in poverty have a teen pregnancy rate of five times the average rate. The poor socio-economic circumstances seem to play a major role in increasing rates of early pregnancy. Teenage girls from low income families are falling pregnant at a higher rate than those from middle and upper income families.
The results also agree with Posel (2013) who stresses that adolescent pregnancy most often is caused by lack of access to schools, employment, quality information and health care. Early pregnancy reflects powerlessness, poverty and pressures from partners, peers, families and communities.
EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY
The results have shown that the effects of teenage pregnancy included; difficulty in taking care of the child due to little finances, school drop outs, fear of responsibilities, traumatisation due to fear of being a parent and going caesarian section.
The results are in agreement with Deckert (2010) who stated that the most general sequence of schooling, marriage and childbearing is that of completion of schooling, marriage, and then childbearing. Because of the time and energy that raising children require, which interferes with the time and energy required to study and attend classes, women who bear a child during the school years often leave before they can complete their schooling.
But Chitiga et al. (2014) observed that two-thirds of young unmarried mothers are poor and around 25 percent go on welfare within three years of a child’s birth. Low educational attainment among teen mothers affects their economic opportunities and earnings in later years. Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school or college, and are therefore less likely to find well-paying jobs. This reality is evident in the fact that over the past 20 years, the median income for college graduates has increased 19 percent, while income among high school drop-outs has decreased 28 percent. The economic consequences of dropping out of school often contribute to the perpetual cycle of economic hardship and poverty that spans generations.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO TEENAGE PREGNANCY
Results have revealed that introducing more peer educators and programs to communities, bringing family planning methods close to communities, starting income generation for poor students, practicing safe sex and advising parents to monitor their children to be role models, and to talk to them about sex issues are some of the suggestions to reduce early pregnancy.
The results are in agreement with Posel (2013) whose study posed that using contraception during sexual intercourse can also prevent early pregnancy. Whether using barrier or hormonal methods, contraception can help to avoid pregnancy. Whalen and Loper (2004) reports that one-third of teenage girls did not use any form of contraception the last time they had sex and 52 percent of sexually active teens reported a primary reason for not using contraceptives is because their partners did not want to. Educating teens about contraceptive methods may help to change attitudes and behaviors toward safer sex practices.
CONCLUSION
Reducing teenage pregnancy cannot be done overnight. It needs combined effort of different stakeholders for instance the government, Non-government organizations, parents, local leaders and the community members.
The findings cannot be generalized because a small sample was used. The researcher recommended a large quantitative study if findings were to be generalized.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The establishment of youth centers in other parts of Uganda will assist in organising the youth at a central venue with the purpose of influencing them positively and hence eliminating the threat of negative peer pressure. In such centers the awareness campaign on the impact of unsafe and unprotected sexual conduct would be discussed together with teenagers both boys and girls.
Parents should be encouraged by the assemblies and the chiefs to talk openly and freely with their children about sex. If children get proper information and guidance from their parents at home they would disregard whatever misinformation they come across outside the boundaries of their homes.
The schools are very important in the shaping of children’s future and ultimately the future of the country as a whole. It is therefore recommended that education on sex and sexuality should not just be a concept but should be developed further as a complete discipline and much more research should be conducted to that regard. In schools this should be introduced as a complete learning subject.
Finally, it is important to work on reducing teenage pregnancy, the emotional, developmental and financial needs of pregnant teenagers should be considered in policy making to prevent the teen mothers to end up being trapped in the cycle of poverty.
AREA FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
A quantitative study on Teenage Pregnancy to be able to generalize the findings.
REFERENCES
Bruenig M 2012. Teenage Pregnancy and Poverty. Matt Bruenig News Letter.
Burdette W 2012. Poverty, Low Education Attainment Lead to Teen Pregnancy. The State Journal. West Virginia Only Business Newspaper, Daily, March 26, 2012, P. 1.
Chitiga Mabugu M, Ngadu S 2014. The Child Support Grant. From <http://www.google.com.> (Retrieved on 10 April 2014).
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX I: INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR TEENAGERS
- How old are you or how old were you when you had your first child?
- What do you think caused you to have children at a young age?
- What were the challenges that you faced being a parent at a young age?
- What do you suggest should be done to reduce teenage pregnancy.
APPENDIX II: RESULTS
| Causes of Teenage pregnancy | Effects of Teenage pregnancy | Possible solutions | |
| T1 | Sexual desire | Dropped out of school | Practicing safe sex |
| T2 | Poverty | Difficulty in taking care of child plus her needs because of little money | income generation for poor students |
| T3 | Poverty Lack of basic needs | Difficulty in taking responsibility as a mother | Parents should plan before giving birth to children. |
| T4 | Peer influence | Lack of money to take care of the child’s needs
| More peer programs for teenagers |
| T5 | Poverty | Going through c-section | Peers to be educated on other available opportunities in life. |
| T6 | Lack of basic needs poverty | No financial help | More employment of peer educators in communities |
| T7 | Poor influence Little knowledge about contraceptives | Traumatisation due to being aparent | Parents should talk to their children about sex. Parents should be role models to their children. |
| T8 | Poverty Idleness | Little financial help | Family planning methods be brought close to communities so that they can be easily accessed. |
APPENDIX II: RANKED RESPONSES
| CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCES |
| Desire for sex Poverty Peer influence Lack of basic needs Little knowledge about contraceptives Idleness |
| CHALLENGES FACED BY YOUNG MOTHERS |
| School dropout Difficulty in taking care of the child due to little finances Traumatisation due to fear of being aparent Going through a c-section Fear of responsibilities |
| REDUCING TEENAGE PREGNANCY |
| Practicing safe sex Income generation for poor students Bringing family planning methods close to communities Introduction of more peer programmes and educators to communities Parents should monitor their children, be role models, and talking to them about sex |
