Peer-reviewed article
A Study to Assess the Knowledge on Teenage Pregnancy Among Adolescent Girls Studying in Government High School Bagalkot
Varsha Rathod Miss, Dr Praveen S Patil, Ms. Yashoda, Ms. Preeti, Mr. Ramesh et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study assessed knowledge about teenage pregnancy among 60 adolescent girls in a government high school in Bagalkot, India. The researchers found that 86% of girls had poor knowledge about teenage pregnancy, 11% had average knowledge, and only 3% had good knowledge. The study highlights that teenage pregnancy is driven by cultural practices like child marriage, socioeconomic disadvantages, and limited access to healthcare and education. The findings suggest a critical need for educational interventions to improve adolescent girls' understanding of pregnancy risks and prevention.
Key points
- 86% of adolescent girls surveyed had poor knowledge about teenage pregnancy
- Only 3% of participants demonstrated good knowledge on the topic
- WHO reports 11% of all births are to girls under 20, with 95% occurring in low and middle-income countries
- Key drivers of teenage pregnancy in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal include child marriage, malnutrition, and lack of support systems
- Adolescent girls face health risks due to physical immaturity and limited healthcare access
Limitations
This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with no comparison group, so it cannot establish causation or evaluate intervention effectiveness. The findings are limited to one government high school in Bagalkot and may not be generalizable to other populations or regions.
Abstract
Introduction: 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 teenage pregnancy [1]. Method: The present study is a descriptive study design. A purposive sampling technique was adopted to select samples in the present study. The sample comprises of 60 adolescent girls were selected from Government High School Bagalkot. Written consent was taken from participants for the study. Socio demographic variables, self-structured questionnaire. were used as tool for data collection. The data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistical in terms of mean, frequency, distribution, percentage, and chi square. Result: The Percentage wise distribution of knowledge of adolescent girls studying in Government high school Bagalkot scores reveals that out of 60 adolescent girls’ highest percentage (86%) found with poor knowledge, (11%) noticed with average knowledge and in the present study sample shows only (3%) of adolescent girls has good knowledge. The overall knowledge Mean score was 4.2833 with SD 1.9579. Conclusion: This study reveals that the most of the adolescent girl