Psychosocial Experiences and Challenges of Pregnant Teenagers in GA South Municipality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/japsy.1299Keywords:
Teenage Pregnancy, Psychosocial Challenges, Counselling, Contributing FactorsAbstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the psychosocial challenges of pregnant teenagers in Ga South Municipality. The specific objectives were to: explore the nature of teenage pregnancies, assess psychological challenges affecting pregnant teenagers, assess social challenges of pregnant teenagers and suggest counselling interventions that can ameliorate identified challenges.
Methodology: The research design used in this study was qualitative because the study aimed to understand the psychosocial experiences of teenage mothers in schools. The study used a purposive sampling method which is an example of non-probability sampling technique. Pregnant teenagers between ages 10-19 were recruited and in-depth interview (IDI) was carried out. The IDI was chosen because it gives more information on sensitive issues. Data processing and analysis started on the day of the in-depth interview.
Findings: The study revealed that multiple factors contribute to the high levels of teenage pregnancy in the Ga South Municipality and most pregnant teenagers go through a lot of psychosocial challenges. The results and findings show that the canker of teenage pregnancy requires a multi-faceted approach at both structural and individual levels to tackle the challenge. Furthermore, poverty and low levels of living conditions in rural areas contributed greatly to high incidence of teenage pregnancy as observed in Ga South Municipality Area. It is recommended that; Ghana Education Service will need to revise its curriculum and enable teachers enhance their knowledge and skills in teenage sexual health and values clarification sessions.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Churches and other religious bodies should educate their members about the effects of teenage pregnancy and its impacts on children through counseling and also plan for activities that mostly involve marriage couples.
Downloads
References
(summary). American Journal of Health Education, 32(6), 348-355.
Annual Report. Accra. Http://www.ghanahealthservice.org/ downloads/GHS-REproductive_and-Child-Health-Annual-Report-2013.pdf.
Accra, Ghana: Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana Health Service, and ICF International.
Adolesc Gynecol, 27, 138.
Amoah, E. (2013). Psychosocial Experiences Of Pregnant Teenagers: A Study At The Tema
Amoah, E. (2013). Psychosocial Experiences of Pregrant Teenagers: A Study at the Tema
among African-American urban youth: a propensity score matching approach. J Adolesc Health, 56, 529.
as confidants, sources of support, and mentors. Family relations, 63(2), 232-243.
Assini-Meytin, L. C., & Green, K. M. (2015). Long-term consequences of teenage parenthood
Baafi, D. (2015). Teenage pregnancy in an urban community: a study in the sunyani municipality. This dissertation submitted to the University of Ghana, legon, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree.
Babafemi, A. A., & Adeleke, A. J. (2012). Health and Social problems of Teenage Pregnancy and Future Childbearing in Amassoma Community, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 6(5), 251–260.
Beers, L., & Lewin, A. (2013). Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Pregnant and Parenting
Birhanu, Z. (2010). Unintended pregnancy in the ho municipality of the volta region. this
Buckingham, D. (2013). Beyond technology: Children's learning in the age of digital culture. John Wiley & Sons.
Chan, A. M., & Ahmed, F. (2006). The Use of Secondary Data in Unveiling the Potential of Ethnic Market. Contemporary Management Research, 31-42.
Chetty, S. (1996). The case study method for research in small- and medium-sized firms.
Chirkut, S. (2016). ETHICO-LEGAL CONCERNS IN RELATION TO ADOLESCENT SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.
Contraception to Decrease Unintended Pregnancy. Contraception, 78(3), 197–200.
Dare, A. A., Omolade, D. G., Samuel, A. E., Folashade, W., & Adaku, O. G. (2016). Psychosocial effects of pregnancy on teenage mothers in Angwan Rukuba community, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 10(2), 72–77.
Dellinger, A. B., & Leech, N.L. (2007). Toward a United Validation Framework in Mixed
Depressive symptoms and birth outcomes among pregnant teenagers. . J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol., 23(1), 16–22.
Dick, B., & Ferguson, B. J. (2015). Health for the world‟s Teenagers: A second chance in the
dissertation is submitted to the university of Ghana, Legon in part fulfillment of the requirement for award of master of public health (MPH) degree.
Dobson, J. C. (2013). Raising Teenagers Right. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Envuladu, E. A., Agbo, H. A., Ohize, V. A., & Zoakah, A. I. (2014). Determinants and Outcome of Teenage Pregnancy in a Rural Community in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, 1(1), 48–52.
Essau, C.A. (2004). Risk-taking behavior among German teenagers. Journal of Youth Studies.
Fergusson, D. M., & Woodward, L. J. (2011). Suicidal behavior in pregnant teenagers in southern Brazil. Social, Obstetric and Psychiatric Correlates, 147–161.
Genobaga, J. (2004). Teenage girl: What I want to know without asking. Australia: Signs
Ghana Statistical Service, & Ghana Demographic Health Survery. (2014). Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2008: Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana Health Service, Ghana AIDS Commission. Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) Ghana Demographic and Health Survey.
GHS (Ghana Health Service). (2013). 2013 annual reproductive and child health report.
GSS, GHS, ICF International. (2015). Ghana demographic and health survey 2014.
handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed.) (pp. 443-466). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hodgkinson, S. C., Colantuoni, E., Roberts, D., Berg-Cross, L., & Belcher, H. M. (2010).
International Small Business Journal, 15(1), 73-85.
Killoren, S. E., & Roach, A. L. (2014). Sibling conversations about dating and sexuality: Sisters
Kirby, D. (2001). Emerging answers: Research findings on programs to reduce teen pregnancy
Knopf, J. A., Finnie, R. K., Peng, Y., Hahn, R. A., Truman, B. I., Vernon-Smiley, M., ... & Community Preventive Services Task Force. (2016). School-based health centers to advance health equity: A community guide systematic review. American journal of preventive medicine, 51(1), 114-126.
Lozano, R., Naghavi, M., Foreman, K., Lim, S., Shibuya, K., Aboyans, V., ... & Remuzzi, G. (2012). Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The lancet, 380(9859), 2095-2128.
Luttrell, W. (2014). Pregnant bodies, fertile minds: Gender, race, and the schooling of pregnant
Merriam, S. B. (2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation (2nd ed.). San Francis-co, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Metropolis (Doctoral dissertation, University of Ghana).
Metropolis. This Thesis Is Submitted To The University Of Ghana, Legon In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirement For The Award Of Mphil Nursing Degree.
Mpolokang High School in the North-West Province (Doctoral dissertation, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus).
Newman, B. M., & Newman, P. R. (2017). Development through life: A psychosocial approach. Cengage Learning.
publishing company.
Research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1(4).
Reyes, J. W. (2015). Lead exposure and behavior: Effects on antisocial and risky behavior among children and teenagers. Economic Inquiry, 53(3), 1580-1605.
Schalet. A., T. (2013). Not Under My Roof: Parents, Teens, and the Culture of Sex. University of Chicago Press.
second decade. J Adolesc Health, 56(1), 3–6.
Sedgh, G., Finer, L. B., Bankole, A. M., Eilers, A., & Singh, S. (2014). Teenage pregnancy, birth and abortion rates across Countries: Levels and recent trends. J Adolesc Health, 56(2), 223–30.
Siegel, R.S., & Brandon, A. R. (2014). Teenagers, pregnancy, and mental health. J Pediatr
Speidel, J. J., Harper, C. C., & Shields, W. C. (2008). The Potential of Long- Acting Reversible
Stake, R. E. (2005). Qualitative case studies. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage
Teenagers. http://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-0927.
teens. Routledge.
Tsebe, N. L. (2012). Factors contributing to teenage pregnancy as reported by learners at
Vandenbosch, L., & Eggermont, S. (2015). The role of mass media in teenagers sexual behaviors: Exploring the explanatory value of the three-step self-objectification process. Archives of sexual behavior, 44(3), 729-742.
World Health Organization. (2015). Family planning/Contraception: Fact sheet. WHO, Geneva.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Courage Jerry Worlanyo Mawutor, Rejoice Ama Setsoafia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this journal.
