Research paper

NAME: Shiela Tranquilino. Angusan GRADE & SECTION: Gr.10-Mabini

TEACHER: Juvelyn Parason

TITLE: Early pregnancy

Format:

Abstract

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Note

ABSTRACT:

Teenage pregnancy is now one of the biggest problem of the country. Most of the
teenagers are students who became really curious about “sex” to the point they done some adventure
and do it with a person who’s not ready too, to build a family. And it’s one of the problem too, because
they can’t provide anything for the family. Teenage pregnancy should stop as soon as possible. Parents
should look up to their sons and daughter, while it’s still early they should teach lessons to their children
for them not to be that curious. Teenagers is on poverty their hormones is high so as a parent you
should be strict.
INTRODUCTION:

Teenage pregnancy is a global problem. It confronted all levels of societal Status

from low, middle to high-income nations. The current paper provides an exploration of the
mothers that come across the stage of Teenage pregnancy. This provides narratives of the
causes, challenges encountered, and their regrets by mothers that come across teenage
Pregnancy. A qualitative method of research was used in this study. The narrative – case study
design was utilized in this methodology. It Includes 10 participants and data were gathered
through the use of a semi-structured interview schedule. The following were the study’s
Significant findings: The majority of the participants were at the age of 21 and got pregnant at
the age of 16 – 19. Most of them were first-year College students when they got pregnant,
unmarried, unemployed, and therefore dependent on their parent’s income. Participants’
narratives revealed that they got pregnant at an early age because of the individual willingness
of having sex with their boyfriend, socialization with their Friends, and family influences. It is
significantly shown in their narratives that the challenges they encountered in
childbearing/raising Were financial shortcomings, acceptance of the community, and their
marital relationship. Their pregnancy greatly affects their studies Resulting in dropping out of
school. Participants confronted emotional stress during their pregnancy. Participants commonly
narrated that they Regretted most finishing their schooling and seeking a quality job.

Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a

female under the age of 20. Pregnancy can occur with sexual intercourse after the start of
ovulation, which can be before the first menstrual period but usually occurs after the onset of
periods (Steward & Raja, 2020).
 The World Health Organization reported that there are approximately 12 million girls
aged 15–19 years And at least 777,000 girls under 15 years give birth each year in developing
regions. At least 10 million Unintended pregnancies occur each year among adolescent girls
aged 15–19 years in the developing world. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are
the leading cause of death for 15–to 19-year-old girls globally. Of the estimated 5.6 million
abortions that occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years, 3.9 million are unsafe,
contributing to maternal mortality, morbidity, and lasting health problems (World Health
Organization (WHO), 2020).

The UNESCO (2020) releases news stating the Early and Unintended Pregnancy:
Recommendations for the education sector, in addition to the detrimental effects on health,
social, economic, and education of adolescent girls, early and unintended pregnancy also put
the young mother’s and the child’s lives at risk.

Related to pregnancy or childbirth complications are the second leading cause of

death among 15-to 19-year-olds, affecting around 70,000 teenagers per year (UNESCO,
2017).The UNESCO was commissioned to help governments and education actors understand
the effects of early and unintended pregnancy and the actions necessary to prevent it while
also ensuring that all girls, including those who are pregnant and parenting, can realize their
right to education in a safe and supportive school environment.

In addition to the direct benefit for girls and their families, addressing this
pressing problem also contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) including Goal 1 is to eradicate poverty; Goal 3 is to promote healthy lives; Goal 5
is to achieve gender equality; and Goal 16 is to create peaceful and inclusive communities (UN
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2015).
 The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) estimated that the country will reach a 108.8
million population at the end of 2020. More than 53 million are below 25 years old including
the 10.3 million adolescent girls aging 10–19 years old (PSA, 2014). This data shows the
potential of the country to accelerate development. On the contrary, the United Nation
Population Fund (UNFPA) commissioned a study on 2016 shows that those adoladolescents in
the Philippines who have begun childbearing before the age of 18 are less likely to complete
secondary education compared to the adolescents who have not begun childbearing. The non-
completion of secondary education impacts employment opportunities in the future and the
total lifetime earnings of families. The net estimated effect of early childbearing due to lost
opportunities and foregone earnings can be as high as 33 Billion pesos annual losses for the
country (United Nations Population Fund,(2016).

The teenage pregnancy rate in the Philippines was 10% in 2008, down to 9% in
2017. Live births by Teenage mothers (aged 10-19) in 2016 totaled 203,085, which slightly
decreased to 196,478 in 2017 and 183,000 in 2018 (UNFPA, 2020). Still, the Philippines has one
of the highest adolescent birth rates among the ASEAN Member States. Recent World Bank
data shows that the Philippines has 47 births annually per 1,000 women aged 15-19, higher
than the average adolescent birth rates of 44 globally and 33.5 in the ASEAN region (UNICEF,
2019). Lao PDR (76), Cambodia (57), Indonesia (48), and Thailand (43). This entails that More
than 500 Filipino adolescent girls are getting pregnant and giving birth every day (UNFPA,
2020).

According to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) Office of

Odiongan, Romblon, from the year 2015- 2019, the number of early pregnancy has also
smoothly increased, from the year 2015 the number of teenage pregnancies is 120 while in the
year 2016 have some 126, then 105 by the year of 2017, 80 in 2018 and 116 in 2019. In five
years, the number of cases of teenage pregnancy has a total of 431 in the Municipality of
Odiongan. According to the Commission on Population, the gathered data in the said
Municipality is leading the highest number of early pregnancies in the province of Romblon.
This issue is very alarming in the Municipality of Odiongan, Romblon.

The prevalence and effects of teenage pregnancy captured the attention of top
government officials in Limpopo Province. In 2011 a member of the Executive Council (MEC) for
Health and Social Development and Education visited a secondary school in the Mopani District
where 12 teenagers were reported to be pregnant. The MEC appealed to social workers to
equip teenagers with life skills and to inform them of the consequences of teenage pregnancy
(Nduvheni, 2011:1).

BODY:

Teenage mothers narrate that raising their children shows that they encountered
financial challenges in Raising their children. According to K2, K5, and K10, the needs of the
children are more important, additional financial burden was their school expenditures. There
were also challenges encountered in giving quality time to their children also the mothers are
having difficulties with the discipline of her child. Added to that, there were mothers having
problems with their marital relationship with their partners being single Mothers and
encountered criticisms from the community.

On the other hand, schooling mothers – participants K1 and K5 were confronted

with the challenges in Their relations to some of their family members and even to their
partners or spouse. As to the participants’ view on the emotional challenges they encountered,
it is narrated by most of the participants that they were feared a miserable life after they got
pregnant. They fear that they will not be accepted or of the hatred of their family and other
people (K3, K6, K7, and K9). It is further elaborated by participants K3, K4, K5, K6, K7, K8, and K9
in their narratives that many of Them tried to hide their pregnancy from their family for some
time. This behavior reflects the immaturity or unpreparedness of mothers in this unintended
phenomenon. These kinds of behavior of mothers are the reasons their health with their child
at their womb were at risk. These were the times that mother supposed to avail health and
maternal care services.

Teenage mothers regretted most the loss of their opportunity of finishing their
schooling (K1, K2, K6, and K10). Losing education according to participants K2, K3, K4, K5, K6,
K7, and K9 follows the loss of the opportunities of getting employment or fulfilling their dreams.

On the other hand, these experiences made a girl a more mature person and ready to
face the new stage of their life as they learned lessons from their way as they share their
narratives that there is always a right time for being a mother (K1, K3, K5, K4), they have to face
the problem instead of running from it (K2), to value our parents and their advice, and to focus
on schooling instead of focusing in love life.

The government, parents, educators, helping professionals and social workers in

particular are concerned about the high rates of teenage pregnancy in South Africa. Teenage
pregnancy is defined by the United Nations Population Fund as the pregnancy of teenage or
underage girl between the ages of 13 and 19 years (UNFPA, 2002). In the United States of
America nearly one million teens become pregnant each year (Meade & Ickovics, 2005:661;
Sarri & Phillips, 2004:538). Various psychosocial, economic, cultural and family-related factors
have led to the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy in this country, which remains high by
international standards.

An increase in teenage pregnancies from 1169 in 2005 to 2336 in 2006 was noted
in Gauteng, while in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) more than 17000 teenagers fell pregnant in 2010
(Kyei, 2012:134; Rangiah, 2012:1). However, an analysis of provincial trends showed a greater
number of learner pregnancies in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo Provinces
(Panday, Makiwane, Ranchod & Letsoalo, 2009:11). In 2009 the Limpopo Provincial Department
of Social Development (DSD) reported an increase in pregnant teenagers from 6965 to 7754
(DSD, 2011:12). Conversely, in 2010 a 30% decrease in teenage pregnancy in KZN was reported
(Radebe, 2013:1). A rate of 13%, twice the national average of 6.5%, was reported in Taung, a
rural area in North-West Province (Kanku & Mash, 2010:563). Nearly a third of women have
children before they reach the age of 19 or 20 (Department of Education, 2010:1; Mothiba &
Maputle, 2012:2).

Teenage pregnancy has an adverse effect on the wellbeing of teenagers, including a high
rate of infant and maternal mortality as well as sex-related diseases such as infection by the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (Kyei,
2012:143; Sodi, 2009:51). Noticeable consequences of teenage pregnancy include dropping out
of school, truancy, abortion, child neglect and poverty (Kanku & Mash, 2010:564; Kyei,
2012:143; Sayegh, Castrucci, Lewis & Hobbs-Lopez, 2010:94).

As a result of dropping out of school prematurely, teenagers may only be able to find
temporary or unskilled jobs and have to rely on welfare to survive (Doğan-Ates & Carrión-
Basham, 2007:555). In some instances they may not find or keep a job because of a lack of the
necessary skills (Genobaga, 2004:138).
 Pregnant teenagers should be viewed as adolescents who experience “the usual
turbulence of development and need support and assistance” (Sarri & Phillips, 2004:538). Social
workers utilise multilevel intervention strategies through primary and secondary methods to
assist pregnant teenagers, who face multiple challenges. Group development comprises five
stages: pre-affiliation, addressing issues of power and control, dealing with intimacy,
differentiation and separation (Sheafor & Hortense, 2012:240). Group work is a method of
social work practice which recognizes and uses processes that occur when two or more people
work together towards achieving a common goal (Doel, 2000:148). Toseland and Rivas
(2012:11) define group work “as a goal-directed activity” with lesser treatment and task groups
“aimed at meeting socio-emotional needs and accomplishing tasks”. This activity is directed at
individual members of a group as well as at the group as a whole within a system of service
delivery. Lindsay and Orton (2012:7) add that group work is a method of social work that “aims,
in an informed way, through purposeful group experiences, to help individuals and groups to
meet individual and group needs, and to influence and change personal, group, organisational
and community problems”. Different groups such as therapeutic, psychoeducational, and
support groups may be utilised to address the challenges faced by pregnant teenagers.

CONCLUSION:

Teenagers are potentials of development; on the other hand, it becomes potential

losses when girls become a mother at an early age. This is based on the own perspective of
teenage mothers that they opted to quit their schooling the same as with the potentials of
quality of life through employment. Adolescent mothers who want to continue their schooling
may Be confronted with different challenges as to time management, Finances, or even their
marital relationships. From the narratives of the teenage mothers, it is obvious that their
willingness to engage in premarital sex causes their early pregnancy. Family, friends, and other
people surrounding teenage girls or mothers are important factors that affect their pregnancy.
On the other side, these were also important factors that can Prevent teenagers from being
pregnant. After hearing the narratives of teenage mothers, two major recommendations can be
drawn from this paper. First, put those neglected players on the right track again to regain their
potentials.

Being a teenager and finding out you are expecting a baby, especially if the
pregnancy is unintended and not wanted, can put enormous stress on you and your family.
However, there is support available to help you to make the wisest choice for you at this time.
Finding out you are pregnant — or that you will become a teenager father — can bring up many
different emotions. You might feel confused and scared, or happy and excited. All these feelings
are normal and okay. Your feelings will probably also change while you are thinking about your
options.

Teenage pregnancy is the biggest problem women and girls face in the Philippines.
Based on data from the World Bank, as seen in the United Nations Fund for Population
Activities’ (UNFPA) January 2020 Policy Brief on Eliminating Teenage Pregnancy in the
Philippines, there are “47 annual births per 1000 Filipinas (aged 15 – 19)” with the global
average being 44, and “everyday 500 adolescent girls are either getting pregnant or giving
birth.”
 Having a child so young could rob these adolescents of a better future. Filipinos
strongly believe in owning up to their own problems. If these girls unfortunately have no
support system who would be willing to help them raise the child, they could be thrown out or
forced to stay home and care for the child. These girls would be told, “Problema mo, ikaw mag-
ayos” which means “It’s your problem, so it’s your responsibility to fix it.” They’re likely to drop
out of school which leads to having no diploma thus being immediately disadvantaged when
applying for jobs in the corporate world. They might resort to illegal means, such as prostitution
and drug pushing just to make ends meet, and it is a struggle, close to nearly impossible, to see
the light at the end of the tunnel as the cycle of poverty repeats itself once again. It’s not only
the parents’ lights who dim, but also the child’s. Teenage pregnancy will not be an issue,
someone will finally be there to hold her hand, and not let it be her downfall.

NOTE:

Teenage mothers face many challenges throughout their lives, challenges that prove to
be both positive and negative. This study examines the lived experiences of seven women who
were teen mothers. They have shared their stories here and reveal their experiences. Data was
obtained through semi-structured qualitative interviews with seven women who became
pregnant at age 20 or younger and who have been parenting for at least five years. Themes
emerged from the interviews such as: family structure, education, personal goals and values,
circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, support, the relationship and role of the father, the
experience of becoming a young mother, resiliency, and thoughts on pregnancy prevention and
sex education. Findings indicated that the women had a similar positive outcome to becoming
teen mothers, that support was found to be the most important factor in obtaining goals and
success, and the need for open communication regarding sexual activity between parents and
their children. Findings also indicated a discrepancy between general perceptions of women
who become teen parents and the reality of the women represented in this study.

Furthermore, the importance of sharing her experience was found to be powerful,

having someone to listen to her story and to be able to contribute her thoughts to this project.
This study reveals the need for future research and focus on supporting the strengths of teen
mothers rather than treating teen pregnancy and parenthood only as a social problem; another
need is education on effective communication between parents and children regarding sexual
activity and pregnancy and breaking the barriers that create an uncomfortable atmosphere
regarding the subject of sex and teens.

Keeping Things in Perspective

Although some things are unsafe during pregnancy, try not to spend too much
time wondering and worrying. When in doubt, just use common sense — if it seems like a bad
idea, doesn’t need to be done right now, or might be risky, hold off at least until you’ve talked
with your doctor about it. He or she can likely help ease your mind and may even say it’s fine to
do something you never expected to be able to do until after your special delivery.

Above all, make sure to follow the most important healthy pregnancy habits —
eat right; get plenty of rest; steer clear of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco — and you’ll be well on
your way to keeping both you and your baby healthy.