Do family factors protect against sexual risk behaviour and teenage pregnancy among multiply disadvantaged young people? Findings from an English longitudinal study

Impact of individual and environmental factors on academic performance of pregnant adolescent

BACKGROUND

Teenage pregnancies continue to disrupt teenage girls' academic development. As a result, teenage mothers are at risk of unemployment, maternal death, and poverty. Previous research, however, has shown that both individual and environmental factors can have a significant impact on the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy. However, there has been little rigorous research on the impact of these factors on pregnant students' academic performance.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between environmental (neighbourhood) and individuals (sexual attitudes, peer attachment) factors. It also examined the influence of individual factors on the academic performance of pregnant teens.

METHODS

The study included a cross-sectional study of 400 pregnant adolescent students aged 15-19 years. The target groups were drawn from three major cities in Nigeria. Respondents were identified through targeted snowballing. Pregnant participants were a combination of married and unmarried girls attending school from home. Data were collected using a structured and self-completed questionnaire. Thus, frequency, mean and standard deviation were used for descriptive analysis. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to show the relationship between variables.

RESULTS

The study found that neighbourhood (r=-.125, p = .12) had a negative and significant relationship with peer attachment. However, there was no significant evidence of a relationship between sexual attitudes and neighbourhood (r=-.040, p = .422). There was, however, a significant relationship between sexual attitudes and academic performance (r = .236, p = .000). There was also a relationship between peer attachment and academic performance (r=-.401, p = < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the academic performance of pregnant teenagers necessitates a combination of approaches, which includes changes in personal and prosocial behaviour, and environmental reforms. This can be achieved through, peer education, school day-care, subsidised or free contraceptives, free or subsidized education, and community programmes that positively influence young adults in the neighbourhood. These approaches can indirectly boost self-efficacy, motivation, and confidence to achieve higher academic feat, while reducing school dropout rate among the target groups.

Is Sexual Abuse a Unique Predictor of Sexual Risk Behaviors, Pregnancy, and Motherhood in Adolescence?

This study tested sexual abuse as a unique predictor of subsequent adolescent sexual behaviors, pregnancy, and motherhood when in company with other types of maltreatment (physical abuse, neglect) and alternative behavioral, family, and contextual risk factors in a prospective, longitudinal study of maltreated (n = 275) and comparison (n = 239) nulliparous females aged 14-19 years old assessed annually through 19 years old. Hierarchical regression was used to disentangle risk factors that account for the associations of maltreatment type on risky sexual behaviors at 19 years old, adolescent pregnancy, and adolescent motherhood. Findings indicate that sexual and physical abuse remain significant predictors of risky sexual behaviors, and that sexual abuse remains a significant predictor of adolescent motherhood when alternative explanatory variables are controlled.

Parents' and caretakers' perceptions and concerns about accessibility of antenatal services by pregnant teenagers in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda

BACKGROUND

Uganda has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Sub-Saharan Africa and the world. About a quarter of teenagers become pregnant annually. This is much higher than the global rate of 11%. When a teenager becomes pregnant, caring responsibilities are usually shared between the teenage mother and the baby's grandmother. Previous research has largely focused on the experiences of teenagers, leaving out the parents and caregivers. This paper describes parents and caretakers' perceptions and concerns about accessibility of antenatal services by pregnant teenagers in three divisions of Mbarara Municipality in southwestern Uganda.

METHODS

This was a qualitative cross-sectional descriptive study. Thirty in-depth interviews with parents and caregivers were conducted. The study was conducted in the Nyamitanga, Kakoba and Kamukuzi divisions in Mbarara Municipality, southwestern Uganda. Data analysis was done manually by identifying emergent themes which were then coded and organized into concepts which were later developed into explanations.

RESULTS

According to parents and other caregivers, teenage pregnancy is considered a significant challenge both for themselves and for the teenagers. Often, pregnant teenagers lack information on the available antenatal care services. They struggle with stigma and also lack social and financial support from parents. In addition, the teenagers lack support from reproductive health workers. The parents and caregivers also struggle with the stigma of their children's pregnancy and are often unaware of any available teenager friendly ANC services.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents and caregivers find it difficult to cope with their children's pregnancy. They are not aware of any existing teenager-friendly antenatal services, yet antenatal services specifically targeting teenagers are necessary. In planning programs for antenatal services, parents and caregivers also need to be equipped with knowledge and skills required for them to guide and support the pregnant teenagers.