Teenage Pregnancy

1. ABSTRACT
"It's hard to raise a child when you are still a child."
- Jazmin Carrera
Adolescent is bounded by the advent of puberty at the lower end and Capacity to take an
adult responsibility at the upper end .In our society adolescents are neither fish nor fowl, the
saying as goes neither child nor adult. It is a transitional stage in life cycle linking childhood and
adult hood.
The word ‘adolescence’ is a Latin word derived from ‘adolescere’ which means’ to grow
into adulthood’. World Health Organization define, adolescence is period of life between 10 to
19 years .It is an important and sensitive period in the life of an individual.
Adolescent girls are the freshly blossomed flowers. Adolescent constitutes a very vital
age group, being an entrant population for parenthood. The complete passage from childhood
to adulthood is particularly crucial for girls. It is a period of physical and psychological
preparation for adulthood. The adolescents experience markedly accelerated growth and
during growth spurt dramatic alterations in the adolescent's body size and proportion occur.
At this time sexual characteristics develop and reproductive maturity is achieved.
Pregnancy is a period of expectant waiting and that all women aspire to experience at
least once in lifetime. As she sets her foot on the path that transmits, one from women in to a
mother, several responsibilities and concerns become her alone. It is vital, therefore, that she
prepares her body to become a suitable environment for the baby to grow in, while staying
happy and healthy, emotionally and mentally as well. Each week of pregnancy brings with it
new changes and feelings that may require some explanations and support, to the women.
Pregnancy is one of the pivotal moments of a women's life but not when they are young with
a bright future ahead. Teenage pregnancy is one of the most difficult experiences any young
women can go through. The stress of pregnancy, revelation of pregnancy to parents, and
moving on despite the shame and worry can be nerve-racking. Indeed pregnancy especially
during teen hood will never be easy.

2. India has one of the highest rates of early marriage and child bearing. In rural India,
40% of girls, aged 15 to 19 are married and 50% of married girls aged 15 to 19 had at least
one child. Latest data suggests that teen pregnancy in India is high with 62 pregnant teens out
of every 1,000 women. Adolescent pregnancy is a serious public health issue in India. It is
estimated that 17% of total fertility rate is contributed by adolescent pregnancy below the age
of 20 years and especially below this age they lead to increased maternal mortality and
increased incidence of low birth weight babies.
Teenage pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence in India, due to many factors such
as early marriages, girls reaching puberty at younger ages and high specific fertility rate in the
adolescent age group. The pregnant teenager may not be quite fit to bear the burden of
pregnancy and labor at a tender age, as efficiently as a woman in her twenties. The obstetrics
outcome of teenage pregnancy is influenced by many socio-medical factors. Maternal and
perinatal morbidity and mortality in teenagers is influenced by medical complication like
toxemia, anaemia, cephalo pelvic disproportion and social problems like unwanted pregnancy
etc.
In order to improve the quality of life of adolescent girls regarding teenage pregnancy
and its complications, provision must be made by creating awareness. Administration of STP can
promote their knowledge as well as increase their well being.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:
“A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRUCTURED TEACHING
PROGRAMME (STP) ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND ITS
COMPLICATIONS AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN SELECTED SCHOOL AT
KANPUR, U.P.”
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
I. To assess the pre-test and post-test knowledge scores of Teenage Pregnancy and its
Complications among adolescent girls in experimental group.

3. II. To assess the pre-test and post-test knowledge scores of Teenage Pregnancy and its
Complications among adolescent girls in control group.
III. To assess the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Teenage Pregnancy
and its Complications in experimental group.
IV. To compare the knowledge scores regarding Teenage pregnancy and its Complications in
experimental and control group.
V. To determine the association of the post-test knowledge scores with selected
demographic variables.
METHODS:
Conceptual framework of the study is based on Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation theory.
Based on the problem selected and objective of the study, Quasi-experimental, Non-equivalent or
Non-randomized control group design was selected.
A sample of 60 adolescent girls studying from class 10-12 at St. Mary’s Orthodox
School, Kanpur was selected by non-probability sampling technique. 30 girls each in
experimental and control group were divided by chit system. Data was collected by
administering structured questionnaire before and after the implementation of structured teaching
programme. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and represented in
graphs and tables.
RESULTS:
In experimental group, the result shows that in pre-test, only 1(3%) among the 30 girls
were having an adequate knowledge but in post-test after administration of STP the knowledge
scores shows a significant difference i.e, 7(24%) gained adequate knowledge.
In control group, the result shows that in pre-test, only 3(10%) among the 30 girls were
having adequate knowledge. The post-test was conducted without any administration of the STP.
The knowledge scores showed no significant difference from pre-test i.e, only 3(10%) again had
adequate knowledge.
The obtained ‘t’ value 3.93 statistically was found significant at 0.05 level, which showed
increase in knowledge and thus it proves the effectiveness of the structured teaching programme
for the experimental group.

4. Comparison of knowledge scores in experimental and control group showed significant
difference. For the experimental group, the overall enhancement was 11.4 % from pre-test to
post-test and for the control group, the overall enhancement was only 0.925 % from pre-test to
post-test.
In the present study, for the experimental group the post-test knowledge scores of
adolescent girls were associated with selected demographic variables like occupation of father.
Hence, it indicates association of knowledge between selected demographic variables. But for
the control group, the post-test knowledge scores of adolescent girls were found to be
unassociated with the demographic variables i.e. age, class, religion, type of family, family
income, occupation of father, place of residence etc. Hence, it indicates that there is no
association between the knowledge scores and the selected demographic variables.
INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION:
The study showed that there was a significant improvement in the knowledge scores after
the administration of structured teaching programme in experimental group than the control
group. Hence it can be concluded that the structured teaching programme was effective in
improving the knowledge of adolescent girls on Teenage pregnancy and its Complications.
KEY WORDS: Structured teaching programme, effectiveness, knowledge, Teenage pregnancy
and its Complications.