The Consequential Effect of Unplanned Pregnancy on Adolescent Girls in South West Nigeria (Published)
This study examined the consequential effect of unplanned pregnancy on adolescent girls in South West, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the factors responsible for unplanned pregnancy among adolescent girls, the consequences of unplanned pregnancy on adolescent girls, the possible control measures to adolescent girls’ unplanned pregnancy and the relationship between unplanned pregnancy and psychological wellbeing of adolescent girls in South West, Nigeria. Descriptive research design was adopted for this study. The population of the study was all the adolescent girls in the South West, Nigeria but a total of 1200 between the ages of 12 and 19 years and selected using multistage sampling technique, participated in the study. A self-design questionnaire titled “Unplanned Pregnancy and Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire (UPPWQ)” was the instrument used to collect data. The instrument was validated by various experts using face and content validity. For the reliability of the instrument, test-retest method was employed which yield a reliability coefficient of 0.79. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that adolescent girls’ unplanned pregnancy remains a critical issue among South West, Nigeria, and there are severe consequences including permanent school dropout, health complications, social rejection, and significantly diminished future opportunities for affected girls. The study also revealed negative correlation between unplanned pregnancy and psychological well-being among adolescent girls. Based on the findings, the study recommended the implementation of a comprehensive approach that combines improved family engagement and parental communication, coordinated prevention frameworks involving schools and community organizations, school-based programs integrating sex education with community involvement, and psychological support services to effectively address adolescent pregnancy and its associated consequences.
Keywords: Nigeria, South-west, adolescent girls, consequential effect, unplanned pregnancy