IMPACT OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy is one major contemporary social problem confronting most countries in the world, including Nigeria. This despicable situation has created several problems, most especially for teenage females in their health and academic endeavours. Thus, this study investigated the impact of teenage pregnancy on the academic performance of female secondary school students in the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The study adopted functionalist theory as its theoretical foundation, and it employed a cross- sectional survey design and multi-stage sampling technique, where a total of 171 Senior Secondary Students aged 15–17 were randomly sampled using a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews. The collected data were presented and analysed using descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequency distribution tables, and charts. Interviews were transcripted and analysed with the thematic method of data analysis. Findings revealed that there is a higher prevalence of teenage pregnancy in rural secondary schools than in urban secondary schools as a result of a lack of access to sex education in rural families, a lack of sex awareness in rural secondary schools, the influence of bad friends, and poor parenting among others. A number of implications for female secondary school students include stigmatisation, suspension or expulsion from school, missing classes, and repeating classes. In conclusion, it was recommended that there is a need to develop effective measures to enhance the transition of teenage mothers from one class to another in all secondary schools.