An Analysis of the Correlation between Life Skills and Self-Efficacy with the Risk of Teenage Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Approximately 21 million women aged from 15 to 19 years old in developing countries are pregnant every year. At the same time, around 16 million of women aged between 15 to 19years old give birth annually. The Age-specific Fertility Rate (ASFR) in Indonesia for 15-19 years old group is 36 per 1000 women. 13.1 % of teenage girls aged from 15 to 19 give the first birth and 36.7% have already given birth before. The reasons behind this teenage pregnancy and marriage in Indonesia are the lack of life skills and low self-efficacy. Teenagers with lack of life skills are more likely to be influenced by their peers, in this case, to have sex before marriage. Teenage pregnancy often leads to a high rate of maternal and infant mortality, and high-risk infants. Purpose: This research was aimed at analyzing the correlation between life skills and self-efficacy with the risk of teenage pregnancy. Method: This study was a quantitative correlational research with cross-sectional study approach. It involved 126 third-grade students of a senior high school in Pekanbaru, Indonesiawho were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using life skills, self-efficacy, and pregnancy prevention questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using Chi Square Results: The results showed that 71 students (56.3%) had poor life skillsand 80 students (63.5%) had low self-efficacy. 66 students (52.45%) are at risk of pregnancy.Correlational analysis between life skills and the risk of teenage pregnancy showed ? value: 0.002 < ?: 0.05 and OR: 3.433. It meant that teenagers with poor life skills had three times greater risk of pregnancy compared to the ones with good life skills meanwhile correlational analysis between self-efficacy and the risk of teenage pregnancy resulted in p value: 0.000 < ?: 0.05 and OR: 6.000. It showed teenagers with low self-efficacy had a six times greater risk of pregnancy compared to the ones with high self-efficacy. Conclusions: There is a significant correlation between life skills, self-efficacy and the risk of teenage pregnancy. Future researchers are expected to conduct a further research project using quasi-experimental design by including intervention of more innovative health promotion with more interesting media considered to be more attractive to teenagers.