Teen Pregnancies Among Day Government Secondary School Students in Ruvuma Region Tanzania

Social Science

This study examined the underlining factors contributing to teen pregnancy among day government secondary school students with a great focus on adolescents in secondary schools within the Ruvuma region. The study was meant to identify factors for early pregnancy among students in day government schools; establish the relationship between factors and early pregnancy; among girls in day government secondary schools in the Ruvuma region. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Seventy (70) participants were involved in the study from five randomly selected secondary schools which were determined well in advance taking into account the errors anticipated from the instruments used and the possibility of obtaining feedback from participants. The study revealed that the underlying factors for early pregnancy in day government schools in the Ruvuma region include poverty and economic status; peer pressure; Lack of parental guidance and counseling; and Lack of reproductive health education. Regarding the findings of the study, it was found worth recommending that the government in collaboration with parents and other stakeholders should discourage the traditions, customs, and taboos for early pregnancies, especially for schooling girls. The government should provide reproductive health education in secondary schools in the country by establishing a course of its own with its curriculum at all levels of education.

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