EXPLORING THE FACTORS AND UNVEILING THE SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Teenage pregnancy remains a pressing public health and social issue, particularly in developing countries where adolescents face significant challenges related to education, poverty, and access to reproductive health services. This study aims to explore the factors, processes and consequences of teenage pregnancy. Specifically, it investigates how socioeconomic status, parental involvement, peer influence, exposure to media, and access to sex education interact with behavioral processes like decision-making, communication, and risk-taking behavior, ultimately leading to the outcome of early pregnancy. A mixed-methods approach in interviewing was used to gather comprehensive data from adolescent respondents, revealing that teenage pregnancy is influenced by a complex interplay of personal, social, and environmental factors. Lack of parental guidance, inadequate sex education, peer pressure, and misinformation from media significantly increase vulnerability to early pregnancy. In many cases, the pregnancy results in educational disruption, strained family relationships, economic hardship, and long-term emotional and health challenges. By understanding the root causes and processes leading to teenage pregnancy, stakeholders can design more effective prevention strategies and provide appropriate support systems for affected teens.