CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION
The Philippines teenage pregnancy rate has increased by
60% in the year 2000- 2010, according to the Philippine
National Statistics Office. This is very alarming. Teenage
pregnancy often occurs between the ages of 15-19 years
old, often in this age the girls are still studying.
With early pregnancy the girls usually have to abandon
their education to give birth or raise their child. Girls who
become pregnant are expelled from school especially in a
Catholic School like Lourdes College because it goes
against the moral teachings of the school thus delaying
the chance of earning a degree that will help them in
providing for their child. Education becomes a lesser
priority and is often delayed until they are able to leave the
children at home are financially stable. But there are girls
who are studying as well as taking care of their child and
they are who we call Student Mothers. The burdens for
these girls have double as to they have to take care of
school as well as their child at home.
The life of a Student Mother is no easy feat they have to
juggle their time between attending their classes, making
their requirements, taking care of their child and taking
care of the house. They become the primary caregiver of
their child and are expected to rear their child well. Many
of these student mothers also engage in working part-time
to help in the financial burdens of both studying and caring
for the child. But, this becomes another disadvantage as it
takes up time and effort on the part of the Student Mother.
Statement of the Problem
1. This study aims to understand how student mothers
cope with their situation towards their studies and as
well as child rearing. More specifically, what are the
problems they have encountered in studying while
nurturing their child at home.
The study also seeks to find the coping strategy used by
Student Mothers in their circumstances.
With these in mind the purpose of the study is to help the
readers understand the endeavors experienced by student
mothers.
the following questions:
1. The research will ask What are the learnings of
student mothers from their situation?
2. What has helped them most in their situation?
3. What are the experiences student mothers?
4. What are the coping strategies used by student
mothers?
Significance of the Study
The results of the study will then be beneficial to the following
persons and institutions:
Student Mothers. They could gain insight about their situation and
be aware of their responsibilities as both parent and student.
Students. They will gain deeper understanding about the reality of
student mothers and most importantly for them to learn about the
experiences of student mothers.
Researchers. They will broaden their knowledge about the
experiences of student mothers in a college.
Guidance Counselors. The findings and observations would
provide them relevant data that can be utilized in their counseling
interventions.
Administration and Faculty. This will provide them information to
promote, enhance understanding and support to programs
concerning student mothers to help them cope in their situation.
Scope and Limitation
The study covered three (3) student mothers of Lourdes
College Higher Education Department, enrolled in the
second semester of S.Y. 2014-2015. The study was
mainly focused on the student mother challenges, coping
strategies and realizations. These student mothers were
classified as students of Lourdes College that have a child
under seven (7) years of age.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
From 2000 to 2010, the number of live births by teenage mothers in the Philippines rose by more
than 60 percent, latest data from the National Statistics Office showed.
Another alarming fact is that the number of teenage mothers who gave birth to their second or third
child during their teenage year has increased in the last 10 years. This is according to the data
shown in the press conference in Quezon City by Carmelita Ericta, administrator and civil registrar
general of the National Statistics Office. ( Ime Morales, July 9, 2013) Teenage preganancy is a
global issue and a major contributor to school drop-out among girls. Permanent expulsion was one
of the solutions made for teenage pregnancy but this has been proven ineffective and unfair to the
girls. Now there is a return to school policy where a student is temporarily dismissed from school due
to teenage pregnancy to further pursue their education.(Okeyo, 2012)
As stated by Brown and Amankwaa (2007) As more female college students are involved in sexual
relationships their risk of conception increases. However, when pregnancy occurs it is only the
woman who bears the burden and risk of the pregnancy and in most cases child care. often these
types of pregnancy are unplanned or planned caring for a child becomes a full time job. Having a
child while being a student becomes stressful because child rearing consumes time and energy, with
a few exeptions the women are the primary care giver of the child. ( Hofferth, Reid, & Mott, 2001 as
cited by Brown &Amankwaa, 2007). According to Kidwell (2004), rearing a child while being s full-
time student may be daunting and difficult however, it will be easier if she has a partner or a family
member who can help her in taking care of the child.
With the increase of higher education students, 10% of this population areparents or mothers who
are hoping to give their children a better future and attending to their needs through receiving a
degree. These nontraditional students are often Student Mothers and should be given special
attention because aside from their role as student they are also mothers and care givers at home.
Many see or consider their families a hindrance to their education which is wrong they should see it
as a motivator because primarily, Student mother go back to studying because they want to provide
for their child. (Wilsey, 2013)
When pregnant students and student mothers are expected to subordinate their needs and desires
to those of their children and families, they are forced to grapple with the conflicting roles of
motherhood and studentship (Berg &Mamhute, 2013). Brown &Amankwaa, (2007) stated that
parenting is a very stressful and some women cannot handle all the tasks involved especially the
first time mothers and need help or assistance from the people around them. Although having
someone help the mother is good but the expectation of receiving support after giving birth to a baby
often causes Stressors that may lead to depression during postpartum period. Many student
mothers have expressed feelings of guilt, worry and inadequacy in both as a student and as a
mother.( Thompson, 2004)
Though not always does being a student mother have negative effect, it also has positive effects.
Story (1999), as cited by Brown &Amankwaa (2007), has found out that student mothers are more
responsible than those of regular students. He has seen that girls who were irresponsible before
pregnancy has become more responsible after pregnancy and ismore less likely to drop out of
College than the regular students.
For women who juggle family and student responsibilities, the lack of time is one of the major issues
faced. (Liversidge, 2004) Many student mothers use different coping strategies to adjust to their
situation. As stated by Grohman (2009), student mothers depend on time management to handle the
many different tasks of a student mother. Another coping cited by Grohman&Renelamn (2009) is
managing tasks to handle the things needed to be done as both student and a mother as well as
emotional and physical support from both the partner and parents of the student mother.
O