Peer-reviewed article
A study to correlate the knowledge and attitude regarding teenage pregnancies among adolescent girls at selected community area (Baghanki) Gururgram
Komal Kadian, Kelvin Joseph Shajan, Aditya Aditya, Neetanshi, Neha Yadav et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined knowledge and attitudes about teenage pregnancy among 60 adolescent girls in Baghanki, Gurugram, India. Half the girls had adequate knowledge about teenage pregnancy, while most held positive attitudes toward the issue. The study found a strong positive correlation between girls' knowledge and their attitudes. Teenage pregnancy in South Asia is driven by factors including early marriage, poverty, limited education access, and weak healthcare systems.
Key points
- 50% of participants had adequate knowledge, 40% moderate knowledge, and 10% inadequate knowledge about teenage pregnancy
- 58.3% of girls held positive attitudes, 33.3% neutral attitudes, and 8.3% negative attitudes toward teenage pregnancy
- Strong positive correlation found between knowledge and attitude (r=0.76)
- WHO reports 11% of global births are to girls under 20, with 95% occurring in low and middle-income countries
- In India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, high teenage pregnancy rates are driven by cultural practices including child marriage, malnutrition, and limited support systems
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional descriptive study with a small sample size (60 girls) from one community area, so findings cannot be generalised to all adolescent girls in the region or countries. The study measures only knowledge and attitude correlations, not actual behaviours or pregnancy outcomes.
Abstract
Background: Teenage pregnancies is shaped by a mix of cultural, social, and economic factors that vary globally. In some societies, it’s seen as a natural milestone, while in others, it’s a life-altering events, often exacerbated by lack of support and preparation. Adolescent girls face health risks due to physical immaturity and limited healthcare access. Key factors include socioeconomic disadvantages, family dynamics, peer pressure, and educational barriers. In low-income countries, issues like early marriage, malnutrition, and lack of support systems worsen the problem. The WHO reports 11% of births are girls under 20, with 95% in low and middle-income countries. Countries like India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, especially rural areas, report high pregnancy rates, driven by cultural practices like child marriage. In developed countries, teenage pregnancy often relates to balancing child-rearing with education, while in developing countries, it results from early or forced marriages. This study correlate the knowledge and attitudes regarding Teenage Pregnancy among adolescent girls in a selected community area (baghanki) Gurugram, Haryana. Methods: This is a questionnaire-based study including 60 adolescent girls. Results: A majority of the participants (50%) demonstrated adequate knowledge, while 40% had moderate knowledge and 10% had inadequate knowledge regarding teenage pregnancies. Attitudinally, 58.3% of participants had positive attitude and 33.3% had a neutral attitude, and 8.3% had a negative attitude. A significant positive correlation (r =0.76) was found between knowledge and attitude.