Abstract:

Teenage pregnancy remains a challenge requiring urgent resolution the world over (United Nations Population Fund, 2013). In 2014 the World Health Organization reported that 11% of all births were due to women aged 15- 19 years (World Health Organization, 2014). Approximately 95% of teenage pregnancies occur in developing countries with 36.4 million women becoming mothers before age 18 (United Nations Population Fund, 2013) (Mkwananzi and Odimegwu).

All teen pregnancies are dangerous because every teen lacks the skills that are needs to handle oodles of stress that pregnancy brings along. All teen pregnancies are dangerous because every teen lacks the skills that are needs to handle oodles of stress that pregnancy brings along(Social Dynamics of Adolescent Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa).

Main objective: The key objective of this formative research study was to compare the response got from the target audience (youth aged 15-19 years) at St Charles catchment area and St Peter H/C catchment area on the challenges they are facing with after conceiving at an early stage of life. The study also seek to find out number of teenagers delivered at the facility with or without complications.

Method: The study was quantitative descriptive cross sectional where the emphasis is on comparing groups. The study aimed to identify the relation of responses from the respondents. Data on teenage pregnancy were compiled for 2 facilities namely; St Charles Hospital and St Peter Health Centre

Results: A sample of 35 questionnaires distributed at St Charles Hospital, returned 33. St. Peter H/C (25) questionnaires were distributed to the youth who came for health services. 24 were returned of which all of them were returned. For St Charles hospital, 13.64% were those 15 and 19 years, 22.73% were between 16-17 years, 27% were 18 years at the time of delivery of first kids. At St Peter H/C, 23.81% were 15 years, 14.29% were at 16 and 17 years, 19% were 18years, and 28.57% were 19 years old when they gave birth to their first kids.

Conclusion: The results clearly indicate that teenage pregnancy occurs equally to married and unmarried females. The difference is one to make both parameters equal. 27% of the respondents gave birth at the age of 18 years. At the remote areas, teenage pregnancy is more prominent as the study shows that 23.81% had their first kids at the age of 15 from the catchment area of St Peter Health Centre.

Teenage or adolescent pregnancy is noted as a major public health and demographic problem with medical, psychological, social and demographic implications. (Shaw and McKay; 1942).

Keywords: Teenager, Pregnancy, challenges, unplanned marriage.

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