TITLE:
Knowledge of Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy among Junior High School Students in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region of Ghana
AUTHORS:
Odalys Rivera Hernandez, Bernard Nyaaba Akolbire, Ana Maria Simono Charadan
KEYWORDS:
Knowledge, Teenage Pregnancy, Peer Pressure
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.12 No.12,
December
29,
2022
ABSTRACT: World
Health Organization (WHO) defines teenage pregnancy as occurring between the
ages of 10 and 19. Although teenagers make up just 22% of the Ghanaian
population, in 2014, a Demographic and Health Survey report indicated that
teenagers account for 30% of all births recorded. Pregnancies and births during
the teenage period are associated with higher risks than older women. This
study aimed to identify and establish the knowledge of factors linked to
teenage pregnancies among junior high school students in the Talensi District Assembly in the Upper East of
Ghana. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 95
Junior High School students from January to February, 2022 for a period of six
weeks. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants. Primary data
was obtained using a structured questionnaire; secondary data was obtained from
the Talensi District Health Directorate and the Talensi District Assembly. Data
were analysed using SPSS Version 22. Results. Thirty-six (36, 25.2%) of
the respondents intimated that curiosity was a significant cause of teenage
pregnancies in the Talensi District, which recorded 19.6% in 2021, an increase
over the 2020 figure of 17.7%. Reasons why teenagers would want to engage in
sexual activities, included curiosity about sex—36 (27.17%), social media
influences—8 (19.58), peer pressure—27 (18.88%) and favours to partners—19
(13.29%). Concerning their knowledge about contraceptive use, the participants
mentioned friends (32.26%) as being the prime informants, parents and relatives
(17.74%) and radio broadcasts (12.10%). Conclusion: The Talensi District
Assembly is entreated to roll out poverty alleviation programmes for families
in the area with teenage girls attending school and to enact legislation
prohibiting early marriage. Measures that will help reduce teenage pregnancies
in the district should include adequate financial support by parents of their
wards, sex education in schools and various houses, and schooling of the
teenagers to resist peer pressure.