Knowledge and Perception on Causes, Social Consequences, and Preventive Strategies of Teenage Pregnancy among Secondary School Students in NorthCentral Nigeria

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy remains a major contributor to maternal and child mortality globally. This
study examined knowledge and perceptions of the causes, social consequences, and preventive
strategies of teenage pregnancy among secondary school students in selected schools in Ilorin. A
descriptive cross-sectional design was used, and 150 respondents were selected using simple
random sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The
data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of
significance. The findings revealed that 68% of the respondents were between 14 and 17 years,
64.7% were female. 66.7% of the respondents had good knowledge of the causes of teenage
pregnancy, and 72.7% had a positive perception of the social consequences of teenage pregnancy.
There was no significant association discovered between the respondents' class and their level of
knowledge regarding the causes of teenage pregnancy; similarly, no significant association was
found between the respondents' age and their perception of the social consequences of teenage
pregnancy with a P-value > 0.05. The major preventive strategies identified to curb teenage
pregnancy were seminars and advocacy, provision of adolescent-friendly health services,
development of strategies to alleviate poverty, laws and policies discouraging teenage pregnancy,
the provision of contraceptives to sexually active teenagers, and periodic sex education in schools.
It was recommended that the strategies documented in this study to curb teenage pregnancy and
its social consequences be adhered to by the government, teachers, and health care professionals
in order to promote the health and well-being of teenagers.