NAME: Micann Springle

SUBJECT: Social Studies

SCHOOL: San Fernando East Secondary

TEACHER:

CANDIDATE NUMBER:

CENTRE NUMBER:
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1

INTRODUCTION 2

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 3

REASON FOR SELECTING THE AREA OF RESEARCH 4

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION 5

DATA COLLECTION METHOD 6

PROCEDURES FOR DATA COLLECTION

PRESENTATION OF DATA

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENT STRATERGY

 Acknowledgements

I have put forth great effort in this project and firstly, I want to thank God for
giving me the strength to complete this SBA and make corrections within the given
time. Also, I would like to express my gratitude towards my friend, the members of
my community as well as my classmates as this would not have been possible
without them, especially the participants of the questionnaire. Special thanks to my
teacher who took time and effort to check over my SBA and ensure I get full marks
as possible. Lastly, dad, thank you for taking an interest in this SBA and for
staying up all those late nights to help calculate and analyse all the data given.
 INTRODUCTION
Growing up as a teenager I am aware of my surroundings and realize that in these
days and time, children of young ages are becoming pregnant and not finishing
school or having any skills and knowledge to know what is going on in our society.
Many youngsters are becoming more ignorant and not working for their own
things in life. I would really like to encourage many of the teenagers in my
community to excel and be more positive and stay very humble towards any of
their goals in life and teach them to never give up and to get the job done. I have
chosen to engage in this research because Im also a teenager and I am interested in
knowing more about teenage pregnancy and especially what influences teens to be
sexually active at such a young age.
 Statement of Problem

What are the effects and factors that contribute to the problem of teenage
pregnancy in the community of La Romaine?
 Reasons for Area of Research

This area of research was chosen because it is a prominent issue that should be
addressed as teenage pregnancy is at its highest peak. Statistics have shown that
between the years 2011-2014, children are being born to mothers of ages thirteen
to seventeen (13-17). These children often fall victims of severe suffering or
privation.

These young mothers tend not to finish their education; therefore they are
incapable of getting a high paying job causing even greater hardship and are likely
to be pregnant again before the age of nineteen(19).

I am interested in discovering the factors which contribute to teenage pregnancy

and its impact on the mothers as well as their children. I strongly believe that this
investigation will provide the information required to uncover the different causes
of teenage pregnancy and its effects on the teens.
 Method of Investigation

A questionnaire was used for this in investigation as it requires little time to

complete, it can be done at the convenience of the person and it also provides the
participant with a sense of guaranteed confidentiality. This was used to gather
information on the causes as well as any factors that contribute to teenage
pregnancy.

The questionnaires that I have organized consist of twenty (20) questions. Fifteen
of them were multiple choice whereas the remaining five were opened to express
their personal opinions on whatever the questions asked.

On August 12th, 2014, questionnaires were distributed to various members of my

community (La Romaine) of ages 13-17. It was handed out five (5) at a time as it
made it easier to monitor and assist the participants with any enquiries or problems
they might have encountered when attempting to answer the questionnaire.
 Data Collection Method
My name is Micann Springle and I am a fifth form student at the San Fernando
East Secondary school, and I will be most grateful if you participate in this
questionnaire. This is a study being conducted as part of my school based
assessment. This survey is being carried out to determine the effects and the factors
which contribute to teenage pregnancy. I am soliciting your assistance towards the
completion of my S.B.A. please complete the following questionnaire by putting a
tick in the box provided and writing on the lines provided for the open ended
questions. Specific instructions are given where necessary. You are advised to
answer the following questions honestly and truthfully, and remember this is not a
test so there are no wrong or right answers. Your identification is not required and
all information will be kept in confidence. I am looking forward for your kind co-
operation. Thank you

SINCERELY,

Micann Springle.

Questionnaire

Place a tick in the box of the appropriate answer

1) Gender

Male Female

2) Age

15-25 25-35 35-45 Beyond

3) Why do teenagers become pregnant

Peer pressure ignorance Drug abuse Curiosity Social issues

4) At what age do you think teenage pregnancy is most common?

12-14 15-17 18-19

5) Do you think sex education, for teenagers received at school is sufficient?

Yes No

6) Do you think parents or guardians are to be held accountable for teenage pregnancy?

Yes No

7) Do you think teenage mothers regret becoming pregnant?

Yes No

8) Do you believe that society is responsible for teen pregnancy?

Yes No

9) Do you support abortion?

Yes No

10) Do you suggest:

Keeping the baby Adoption

11) What is the impact of teenage pregnancy on a) the society and b)young teen mothers
12) What factor was most powerful in your decision to become pregnant?

13) As a soon to be/ teenage mother, what advice would you give to sexually active teenage
girls?

14) What measures can the government put in place to prevent teenagers from getting
pregnant?

Presentation of Findings
 Question 3: Why do teenagers become pregnant?

Figure one: Pie chart showing what the respondents think is the causes of teenage
pregnancy

```

12% Peer pressure

36% Drugs
24% Ignorance
Curiosity

12% Other
16%

Figure two: Column chart showing what the respondents think are the causes of teenage
pregnancy

Column Chart showing what the

respondents think are the causes of teenage
pregnancy
10
Number of persons

8
6
4
2
0
Peer Pressure Drugs Ignorance Curiosity Others
Causes of pregnancy

Question six: Do you think parents or guardians are to be held accountable for
teenage pregnancy?

Figure 3: Chart showing who the respondents believe are to be blamed for teenage
pregnancy
 Column chart showing who the
respondents believe are responsible
for teenage pregnancy
100%

90%

80%

70% No
Yes
60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
Parents/Guardians The society

Question four: At what age do you think teenage pregnancy is most common?

Figure 3: Bar graph showing the age category in which the respondents think teenage pregnancy
is most common
 Bar Graph showing the age category in which the
respondents think teenage pregnancy is most
common

18 to 19
15 to 17
Age Groups 12 to 14
(x axis)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Number of respondents (y axis)

Question five: Do you think that sex education for teenagers received at school is sufficient?

Figure 4: Column graph showing whether respondents believe that sex education for
teenagers in schools is sufficient
 Column graph showing whether the
respondents believe that sex education for
teenagers is sufficient in schools
16
14
Number of respondents

12
10
Yes
8
No
6
4
2
0

Analysis and Intepretation of Data

In figure one and three, the pie chart and column graph
was used to present the reasons why teenagers become
pregnant. Of the 20 persons that answered this
questionnaire, 9 or 36%, of the respondents which is the
highest figure, believed that peer pressure is the major
reason as to why teenagers become pregnant. 6 or 24% of
the respondents stated that curiosity was another reason
for teenage pregnancy in the community of La Romaine.
Whilst both drugs and other essentials were thought as
being the reasons for teen pregnancy by 3 or 12% of the
respondents whereas 4 or 16% thought curiosity was the
reason. It is evident that the major reason behind teen
pregnant is a result of peer pressure. Majority of girls
ranging from ages 12 to 17 are being influenced by society
meaning their friends as well as the media especially
dance hall songs of Vybz Kartel, RDX, Aidonia and
Movado of Jamaica. Therefore the influence of friends and
media are pushing theses girls to believe that sex is a
must and the only way to possibly blend in with their
peers, thereby wanting to try it for the first time an due to
lack of experience and knowledge resulting in pregnancy.
The column chart in figure three conveys that 60%
think that the parents /guardians are responsible for
teenage pregnancy as sometimes they tend to let their
child or children do as they please. Furthermore, some
parents may be facing both social and financial issues and
may permit their daughter to involve in sexual relations
with boys/men who are financially stabled and in return,
he provides for the family. In addition to this 75% of the
respondents believe the society is to be blamed for the
high influence of teenage pregnancy; possibly and most
likely because of the media especially that of music and
the yearning to fit in.

In figure four, the bar graphs shows that teenage

pregnancy is most prominent among the ages 15-17 stated
by 12 of the respondents followed by 5 of the respondents
who thought that teenage pregnancy was most common
for ages 18-19. Also only three of the respondents believe
that teenage pregnancy was least prevalent for the age
group 12-14. In relation to the data in the bar graph
presented, it is apparent that most teenagers become
pregnant at the ages of 15-17 possibly because it is the
age of consent for legal sex.

The column graph demonstrated in figure four shows 14

of the respondents assume that the sex education received
by teenagers in schools is inadequate which six of the
respondents think the sex education is sufficient.
Therefore from the data, it is distinct that the sex
education in schools is distinct that the sex education in
schools is deficient hence greater actions is required to
improve this situation.
Statement of findings

1. Peer pressure is the leading cause for teenage

pregnancy.
2. Both society and parents/guardians to some extent
are to be held accountable for teenage pregnancy.
Recommendations

1. Parents should pay a lot of attention to their children

even the type of friends there associate them Selves with
what there are doing after or before school ,what kind of
songs they are listening to .

(2)Parents should take the time off To Sit and Talk To

Their children about sexual abuse,which include sexually
transmitted diseases ,and most important teenage
pregnancy and etc

(3) The Government should look into this matter and find
many ways in which to help educate teenagers about sex
and issues that drive many of them to have sex at and very
early age

(4)Schools need to improve on their sex education

programmes taking into consideration the growing
influences from the internet ,television and artists and their
music.

(5) More programmes should be introduce to get the

attention of teenagers into doing more positive things with
their time, this can get the attention of other young mothers
to share the experience of what they been through