Teenage Pregnancy: Its Effects and Their Coping Strategies

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy has been a societal problem over the last decades in various provinces in the Philippines. These incidents categorically hampered teenagers’ lives as they affected their wellbeing on becoming the young mother of their children. The study utilized a qualitative research design specifically a phenomenological approach. The selected pregnant teenagers of Barangay Lucena, Prosper dad, Agusandel Sur served as the Key Informants. The researchers used an interview guide questionnaire in the conduct of the interview. Then, it was recorded through an audio tape. Transcription and translation of the information were made. The information gathered was then interpreted through thematic analysis. Furthermore, the study revealed that teenage mothers experienced humiliations and criticism among their family, peers and people in the community. Most of them resorted into dropping out from school and others asserted that they chose to stay at home and avoided their common friends. Consequently, most of these teenage mothers were able to overcome the situation by accepting the responsibility as parents. They have asserted that they were willing to do everything for the welfare of their children. Indeed, one of the most emphasized factors was due to low family income. The families with low economic status were more vulnerable into teenage pregnancy incidents. Other factors were peer influence, lack of awareness on sex education and other family problems.