The Boys Get The Pleasure The Girls Get The Pain

Project and Seminar Material for Nursing (Science)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out teenagers’ views concerning the causes and prevention of teenage pregnancy in Nguluni located in Kenya. The aim was to get important information that can be used by partners and stakeholders who have a role in reducing teenage pregnancy. This study was qualitative through participation of 40 female students aged 13-16 from a local mixed day high school. Narrative study was used to collect data where participants wrote essays. Data was analysed by content analysis.

The results showed that causes of teenage pregnancy were peer pressure which led to bad decisions. There was lack of guidance and counselling because parents hardly took time to guide and counsel their children due to lack of time and required knowledge. Poverty in the area has caused early marriage, prostitution, dangerous relationships, substance abuse and alcoholism. Teenagers engaged in unprotected sex when they were under the influence of illegal drugs and alcohol and were subjected to rape. The results also showed that senior male students and teachers took advantage of female students who are not acquitted to school environment. Taboos had led to early marriage of young girls while media exposed teenagers to explicit material such as pornography.

The results showed that prevention of teenage pregnancy was through; awareness campaigns, change of teenagers’ own behaviour and involvement of the government. Awareness campaigns should incorporate ideas from the teenagers and other members of the community during the formulation, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvements of teenage pregnancy prevention programs.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the study

The birth of a child is an event that creates joy, celebration, and astonishment. The celebration comes easily and naturally and it is not easy to resist the happiness that comes within us when we are near a new born. (Cherry, Dillon &Righ 2001, 2.) However teenage pregnancy can affect these celebrations and therefore it is important to understand teenage pregnancy experiences and children born by teenagers.(Op. cit. p. 2.) During teenage phase an individual acquires skills and attributes necessary to become a productive and reproductive adult. Nearly all cultures recognise this phase in life when society acknowledges these emerging capacities of young people. The passage from childhood to adulthood can either be direct or short passage or a prolonged teenage phase marked by identities choices and roles which determine the contents of a particular culture .(Barker 2007, 1.)

Teenagers have to learn how to relate to the social world, develop social skills that attract friends, romance, employment and social responsibilities within many social spheres. The teenagers have to acquire a stable sense of identity and develop autonomy or agency. Search for identity is usually after many trial and errors in their social roles and social behaviours. However, many fail to become healthy adults and productive citizens due to the challenges encountered. They become victims of social and behavioural morbidities and mortality hence failing to achieve full potential as workers, parents and individuals. Some become short time victims while others extend into adulthood. The failures of teenagers development is as a result of preventable health risk behaviours .(Op. cit. p 4.) The aim was to get important information that can be used by partners and stakeholders who have a role in reducing teenage pregnancy.

1.2 Statement of the problem

According to DiClemente, Santelli & Richard (2009, 4), teenagers experience physical, psychological, socio-cultural, and cognitive development. Growth and maturation of body systems such as the reproductive organs and brain lays the foundation for other body development. Cognitive abilities mature due to the changes in brain in the early stages. Combination of new cognitive abilities with life experiences result to social judgement which includes risk and safety. Teenagers’ relationships with the world are also transformed where social lifestyles, peer pressure, adults work life, and social responsibilities become more important while the family circles are temporarily less important. The purpose of this study was to find out teenagers’ views concerning the causes and prevention of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the study

The main aim of this study was to find out teenagers’ views concerning the causes of and prevention of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria.

Specifically, the study sought to;

Examine the teenagers’ views concerning causes of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria.
Examine the teenagers’ views concerning teenage pregnancy prevention in Nigeria.

1.4 Research questions

The aim was to get important information that can be used by partners and stakeholders who have a role in reducing teenage pregnancy by answering the following questions;

What are the teenagers’ views concerning causes of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria?
What are the teenagers’ views concerning teenage pregnancy prevention in Nigeria?

Chapter Three

3.0 Conclusion And Recommendation

Teenage pregnancy problem is affecting societies in all levels. This has forced partners and stakeholders to criss-cross the globe in search of solutions that are effective in eradicating this problem. However, it is advisable to understand that the urge to do sex by teenagers will be there and teenage pregnancy cannot be completely eradicated. There is a big difference in the way different societies and cultures approach the issue of sex and teenage pregnancy at large. Prevention methods that have been proven to be effective in some societies and cultures can be benchmarked, but caution should be exercised to avoid cross-cultural miscommunication which might create more problems than solutions. Addressing of this problem should be teamwork between teenagers, policy makers, partners, stakeholders and members of the community in order to create a system which ensures effective communication and understanding of the challenges facing teenagers nowadays.

Vital information can come to the surface when teenagers are given a chance to air their views, ideas, opinions, and suggestions hence contributing goals and objectives achievements. Long-term success in reduction of teenage pregnancies can be achieved if the right guidelines are set because the future of a successful society lies in the foundation that is set for the teenagers. If the right foundation is missing, it will be difficult for a teenager to make wise decisions when faced with difficult challenges during adolescence stage and therefore the circle will not end but continue from generation to generation. There is a lot to unearth concerning teenage pregnancy in Nigeria and one suggestion for further research is to find out what are the views of boys concerning teenagers’ pregnancy in the area.