THE EFFECTS OF EARLY PREGNANCY ON THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

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A Research Paper
Presented to the
Faculty of Senior High School Department
Looc National High School
Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, Philippines
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In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Subject
INQUIRIES, INVESTIGATION AND IMMERSION
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By
BENDOY, ERIKA N.
DUMALAGAN, CARLO DAVE O.
MANIEGO, SHILOU P.
MEGRINO, RENA P.
MINOZA, GILMAR
ORA, PETER
PALANGPANGAN, GERLIE
PORNIA, LORAINE GRACE
SATUROS, MARK DAVE
SOMBILLA, ELAINE

DECEMBER 2018
 Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM

Teen pregnancy is a major concern in our society, yet it evades simple solutions due

to the multidimensionality of the problem (Hockaday, 1998). The issue was rampant during

the time before and until now, the said problem is still as fresh as ever and surprisingly

increases as time passes by. In this case, the lives of the teen mothers are not the only one

who’s affected but also the lives of their children also. Lower educational attainment,

marital instability, closer spacing of subsequent children, increased family size, and poorer

mental and physical health of the mother and child and all the characteristics associated

with teen parenthood, as well as acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases (STDS), that

would give another problem to the teen mothers.

Teenage pregnancy refers to female adolescents becoming pregnant between the ages

of 13-19. These young females have not yet reached adulthood and the causes of teenage

pregnancy vary greatly.

Teenage pregnancy may be linked to things such as lack of education and information

about reproduction, peer pressure and early engagement of sexual activity [1]. Although

some teenage pregnancies are intentional, the majority of them are unintentional and lead

to many negative outcomes for the teenage mother, the child as well as other family and

peers [1]. Teenage mothers generally do not have the resources to care for a child and often

they are not able to sustain healthy habits throughout pregnancy

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to ensure they produce a healthy baby. These young females often do not complete their

education and they begin a perpetual cycle in which their child may further go on to become

a teenage parent as well.

Teenagers engaging pre-marital sex at an early age is one factor that leads to early

pregnancies. Curiosity is what drove them to experiment on such forbidden thing that led

them to their fates. Early pregnancies should be taken seriously and shouldn’t be treated as

something simple as experience through these circumstances is not as simple as we

calculate. The teens or the student mothers are the most affected ones and especially their

children. With early pregnancy the girls usually have to abandon their education to give

birth or raise 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. Sometimes they will be torn between aborting the child or making it
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live but give the child to others. Their children as well, will suffer too, as they will

experience neglection from their mother and unacceptance in the society and the world.

In the Philippines, teenage pregnancy rate has increased by 60% in the year 2000-

2010, according to the Philippines National Statistics Office. This is very alarming.

Teenage pregnancy often occurs between ages 15-19 years old and majority of these

adolescents are still studying between high school and early college. Although according

to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the Philippine

Statistics Authority (PSA), the fertility rate of women in the Philippines dropped form an

average of three children to 2.7, it will still remain as high with nine percent of women

aged 15-19 years old becoming mothers. PSA data also state that there are more than

130,000 minors giving birth every year and need family planning and adolescent health

services. Based on the population projections, the Philippine population will increase by

1.8 million by the end of 2018, growing at a rate of 1.69 percent. That means we will be

adding 4,965 Filipinos per day, or 206 every hour in 2018. In relation to this problem, our

government is now working on the Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill) as one of the most

effective solution not only to teenage pregnancy but also to the increasing population of

our country.

Today, the question on whether we should be aware of proper family planning or

should be knowledgeable about sex education and avoid pre-marital sex is impossible for

the people especially the youth to do for its integral part of uprising our economy and
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maintaining balance to the society. Though we all know the fact that curiosity may drive

us to do these unwanted actions, we should be aware to think of the consequences it will

bring us to.

Most researchers agree that the problem of teen pregnancy is multifaceted; however,

only recently have researchers begun to expand their studies to include the many variables

that are associated with the phenomenon. Furthermore, they usually use a national sample

to determine prospectively the antecedents of teen pregnancy. But in this study, the

researcher will be basing locally or using the local sectors to investigate thoroughly the

causes, and impacts to mental, social, and emotional capability of the youth, its effect to

academic performance and adolescent development, and as well as highlighting the

possible solutions to solve the pressing problem at hand - on early pregnancy among

adolescent.
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Theoretical Framework

This study will be guided by the theory of White (1991) and Ravia and Cherry

(1992), on emphasizing and explaining of the occurrence of teen pregnancy. The theory of

Brown and Amankwaa (2007), and Okeyo (2012), also emphasize on the effects, nature

and coping mechanisms of teenage pregnancy. The theory of White (1991) on Family

Development Theory stated that on social-aged norms, youth undergo transitions that led

them to be sexually active and drove them to do sexual intercourse in an early age. This

can also be out of curiosity and if this social norm is active sexually on such transitions,

they are to be considered deviant if they do not behave within the norms of sub-culture.

The theory of Ravia and Cherry (1992) of Social Bond Theory includes aspects of

attachment theory, control theory, and problem behavior theory that are the main factors

of antecedents of teen pregnancy. The bond is the mature response of the neonate's need

for physical contact. Individual and group behavior are influenced throughout life because

of an individual's need to have social bonds. The social bond theory suggests that social

bonding behaviors are created as a result of three processes (Ravia &. Cherry, 1992), which

will be discussed in the literature review section of the research.

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Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS FINDINGS OUTPUT

Profile of teenager Self-Structured Identified Numbers Coping mechanism

students engaged in Questionnaire of teen aged students and interventions to
teenage pregnancy Gathering Data from indulged in teenage solve the problem
teen aged students pregnancy

Figure 1 shows the conceptual framework of this study

The study is also being based on gathering the profile of teenager students engaged in

teenage pregnancy then constructing self-made questionnaire and pilot testing it for

acceptance, then the results will be the identified numbers of teen aged students indulge in

teenage pregnancy and giving possible coping mechanisms and interventions to solve the

problem at hand.
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Statement of the Problem

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 during pregnancy and after birth. 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 research will ask the following questions:

1. What are the contributing factors for engaging in early pregnancy?

2. What are the coping strategies used be student mothers in dealing the situation?

3. How can the problem be addressed?

4. What are the effective interventions available?

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Scope and Limitation

This study will be conducted in determining the impact and the coping strategies

done by student mothers in their pregnancies and students in Grade 9 and Grade 10 in their

studies in Looc National High School during this school year 2018-2019. Test of

hypotheses for the significance of the study is being based on coping strategies and

interventions applied by the teen mothers and students, as well as the antecedents of teen

pregnancy: peer pressure, curiosity, sexual abuse, the social bond theory factors-

attachment theory, control theory, and problem behavior, educational development, under

the inhibition of alcohol and drugs, media influence, and lack of supervision by adults, to

be able to determine the possible solutions to be used. It will only focus on impact and

awareness towards the research. It will focus inside the campus and exclude those who are

outside the school institution.

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Significance of the Study

This study will be conducted to find out the extent of how extreme are the major

causes and effects of teenage pregnancy to the educational, emotional, mental, and

behavioral development of the students and out-of-school youths in the place the research

is being conducted to.

The results of the study will be beneficial to student mothers, students, out-of-school

youths, parents, teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, researchers and other

interested individuals as this will serve as an empirical data where suggestions and

measured actions to reduce teenage pregnancy will be taken.

Student Mothers. The study will be a great endeavor in considering positivity among

student mothers amidst the challenge they’re facing to, and gaining insights about their

current situations and be aware of their responsibilities as a parent and a student.

Students and Out-of-School Youth. This will also benefit the students and out-of-school

youth in gaining deeper understanding about the real world and gaining lessons and learn

from the experiences of the student mothers and not let the same thing to happen to them.

Parents. This study will also benefit the parents to enable them to realize their great role

in educating their children and diverting them from indulging and experiencing pre-
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marital sex at an early age. This will also bring awareness to them that the use of protection

and contraceptives is a must and should always start at home.

Teachers/ Guidance Counselors/ School Administration. This study will also benefit

the teachers, guidance counselors, and school administration because this will give them

information to promote, enhance understanding and support to programs and seminars

concerning student mothers to help them cope up in their situation, provide relevant data

that can be utilized in their counseling interventions, and help deal well with students to

avoid early pregnancy at an early age.

Future Researchers and Other Interested Individuals. This study will also benefit the

future researchers and other interested individuals in garnering more data in knowing the

causes and effects of teenage pregnancy and broaden their knowledge about the topic
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Definition of Terms

There are terms that are used throughout the literature review that are needed to be

defined for clarity of understanding. The words below are defined according to its legal

definition of terms that will be used in the study to understand what they really mean:

Teenage/ Early Pregnancy - is defined as females between the ages of 13-15 who engage

in sexual activity and become pregnant either intentionally or unintentionally [2]

Adolescent - a young person who is developing into an adult: one who is in the state

of adolescence

Pregnancy - also known as gestation, is the time during which one or

more offspring develops inside a woman.[4

Student Mother- they are the students that are currently studying but are now under the

stage of motherhood.

Pre-marital Sex - referred to sexual relations between two people prior to marrying each

other.[3]

Curiosity - one that arouses interest especially for uncommon or exotic characteristics

Academic Performance - The academic performance is defined by students’ reporting of

past semester CGPA/GPA and their expected GPA for the current semester.
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Adolescent Development -is a process that prepares a young person to meet the

challenges of adolescence and adulthood and achieve his or her full potential. Adolescent

development is promoted through activities and experiences that help youth

develop social, ethical, emotional, physical, and cognitive competencies.

Intervention - An intervention is a combination of program elements or strategies

designed to produce behavior changes or improve health status among individuals or an

entire population. Interventions may include educational programs, new or stronger

policies, improvements in the environment, or a health promotion campaign. Interventions

that include multiple strategies are typically the most effective in producing desired and

lasting change.

Antecedent- something existing or happening before, esp. as the cause of

an event or situation

Awareness – is a state or level of consciousness where sense data can be confirmed by an

observer.

STDS – or Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Any of various diseases or infections that can

be transmitted by direct sexual contact including some (such as syphilis, gonorrhea,

chlamydia, and genital herpes) chiefly spread by sexual means and others (such as

hepatitis B and AIDS) often contracted by nonsexual means

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RH Bill - The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (Republic

Act No. 10354), informally known as the Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, is a law

in the Philippines, which guarantees universal access to methods on contraception, fertility

control, sexual education, and maternal care.

Abstinence – the fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something.

Sex Education – Sex education is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality,

including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity,

sexual reproduction, age of consent, reproductive health, reproductive rights, safe sex, birth

control and sexual abstinence.

Birth Control – the practice of preventing unwanted pregnancies, typically by use of

contraception.