This reseach work is based on teenage/Adolescent within the range of 8 to 17 years old across the world. From historical point of view, teenage pregnancies are not new. Teenagers in underdeveloped countries are often fall victim of this circumstances today. According to reseach, three out of ten teenagers across the world fell victim of this early pregnancies today.
Definition of Adolescent/Teenage pregnancy
Adolescent/Teenage pregnancy can be defined as female between the age of 10-17 engage in sexual activity and become pregnant either intentionally or unintentionally.
It can also refers to sex out of wedlock that leads to pregnant.
THE REASONS FOR THIS WORK IS TO NOTIFY YOUNG MEN, WOMEN AND MARRIED COUPLES TO:
• Observe their girls before they start their menstrual period
• Talk to your children early and often about sex with love (Sex education)
• Abstinence messages to your teens continuously
• Parents should be aware that the solution to early pregnancy is not punishment but education
• The school, church, mosque and mostly parents should specifically provide education on consequences of teenage pregnancies, when to get marry, what diseases you will contact and disadvantages of early sex.
• Discourage early, frequent and steady dating
• Supervise and monitor your children's activities
• Take a strong stand against teens dating people who are older or younger than they are
• Help your teens have options for the future that are much more attractive than teen pregnancy
• Know your children's friends and their families.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE REASONS BEHIND EARLY PREGNANCY AMONG TEENAGERS:
• The parents: the primary causes of teenage pregnancy is the parents. Some years ago, a friend of mine cought 5-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl in the lucky place, playing with private part and the boy later removed his paint and try to have sex with a little girl. Hence, this act was new to the girl because she knew nothing. After thorough investigation, it was discovered that the parents of the boy used to have sex with each other while the boy is looking at them.
• Peer pressure: when I was serving, I thought physical and Health Education from JSS1-JSS3 and Biology in senior classes. I was very closed to my students to the extent that some of them told me "what they can't tell their parents because of fear", infact some of them told me who they are dating and why they are in love with him.
Note; these children and in the range of 8-17 years of age.
There was a day, I was talking to one of them about sex education, though I thought sex education in general but because she could influence others - whatever she said in the classroom, the rest followed.
She said, "uncle don't you know that sex is the sweetest thing i ever experienced, that you only teaching not to indulge in it," I was shocked for such statement and I used my initiative so that she would not feel guilty.
This teen waa copied by her mates, any time I want to teach sex Education, I have to be very careful and rigid to the negatives impact of early pregnancy. Some of them changed when I talked to their parents unknowingly to them and some of the did not change.
• Lack Of Sex Education: Education is power. Your 8 years old child is not small to teach about sex Education with love. If you are very closed to your children they will tell you anything. Start asking your children questions-what kind of friends he/she play with, correct them with love and care. They will love you more and ready to tell you their challenges. One of my mentors said, "my 8-year-old daughter told me that a boy is disturbing me to marry him and he bought me a gift and I refused to collect it because you thought me not to. And i went and bought exactly the gift for her and told her you have done well, and encouraged her not to listen to them".
• Lack Of moral support: In any religion, there is a moral standard. Teach you children in Godly manner. Buy them books that will encourage moral standard, take time to teach them by yourself even though 30 minutes from your time. Do not focus all your efforts in your work or business without prompt attention to you children. if you lost that position, you might not be able to recover from it again and The side effects on the children might be way-world lifestyle that may give you heart attacks or high blood pressure in the future.
• Poverty: in my research, I visited 11-year-old girl that was just put to bed, He told me that: "my parents have nothing to offer me, they knew my boyfriend and he bought many things for me and my family." The way she was speaking made me to deduced that her parents is not bouyant financially. I don't think poverty should be the bone of contention because I have seen people languishing in the ocean of poverty but yet they still maintain their dignity. I think moral standard should be thought in my own perception.
• Social Media influence: media is a powerful Weapon to influence children in this jet age, because their mind is not really matured enough. Watching phonography and program in any channel showing 13-year-old pregnant can have adverse effects in their lives. Access to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Utube, WhatsApp at tender age can result to negative lifestyle or detrimental to their lives. Researchers said, "children yield or succumbed to interested materials they see or watch and tend to practice it". If you children has Android phone, control the channel and inspect it time-to-time.
Conclusion
If you don't have sex for 10 years it won't remove I dime from your body. Tell your children to focus on their future rather than thinking of boyfriend and girlfriend. Infact, what they will still do and get tired of. Do not rush to eat the food for now, it may cause injury to your tongue and mouth but allow it to cool and you will enjoy it.
Our children is our future, let's put them to right part so that our community can be peaceful, and they can also enjoy good life. I have heard a young woman saying "my parents are responsible for the problem I am passing through now. If I have been corrected by then, my life would have been meaningful by now."
God will grant you knowledge, understanding and resources to cater for your children, so that when they see you in future, they will be able to boost that this is my parent that makes me who are mine today.
I hope you find this article useful.