F.

Bustamante National High School

Tibungco, Davao City

A Qualitative Research on Early Teenage Pregnancy: A Look into the

Struggles of Being a Mother at an Early Age.
_______________________________________
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements
In Practical Research 1
_______________________________________
A Qualitative Research
Presented to the Faculty
Of F.Bustamante National High School
_______________________________________
By:
John Mark Carredo
Sarah Sucuaje
Kenny Rey Guillen
Wilson Pesidas
Alexandre Tablate
Hurbert Jhon L. Baco
Ryan Sepe
Dave Libunao Quieta
Stephenson Genita
Alex Sarani
Brian Caduyac
To:

Ms. Amybelle Bacalla

I
 Acknowledgment
The researchers would like to offer their sincerest gratitude to the Lord our God
for giving them strength, guidance, patience, wisdom and knowledge to have this idea
of their study and to start and finish their qualitative research successfully.

The researchers would also like to thank Teacher Amybelle Bacalla for guiding
them throughout their study.

Their parents and friends who extended their help in making this study.

To give further thanks to the teenage mothers who answered our questions
sincerely, because without them, the researchers won't be able to gather the data they
needed.

I
 Abstract
The purpose of this study are to investigate the struggles of young mothers and how
they face their life’s struggles and circumstance.Through this study, students could
reflect the negative impact brought by being a young mothers.

I
Table of contents
Pages
Title I
Acknowledgment II
Abstract III
Table of Contents IV
Chapter I
Introduction 1
Statement of the Problem 2
Significance of the Study 3
Scope and Delimitations 4
Asumption of the Study 5
Definition of Terms 6
Theoretical Lens 7
Chapter II
Review of Related Literature and Studie’s 8
Chapter III
Research Design
Sample and Sampling Technique
Instrument of the Study
Validity and Reliability
Chapter IV
Presentation of Data

Chapter V
Summary
Conclusion
Recomendation

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Teenage pregnancy has become a worldwide issue that needs to be confronted

to mitigate the problems of maternal adolescent childbearing, especially in the third
world countries. In fact, it has emerged to be one of the major public health problems in
South Asia (Raj et al., 2010).

For Insatance, The incidence of adolescent pregnancy is highest in Sub Saharan

Africa (143 per 1,000 girls aged between 15-19 years). In Europe, it is well over 20 per
1,000. In the Netherlands, the percentage of teenage pregnancies ending in abortion is
high (abortion ratio 61%), but the number of abortions among teenagers is low (abortion
rate 8.6 per 1,000). Differences in the number of teenage pregnancies between
industrialized countries are mainly caused by the availability of effective contraception
for adolescents and not by differences in sexual behaviour. The main obstetric
complication is preterm birth, especially if the interval between menarche and
conception is short. Labour in teenagers is generally easier. Long-term socio-economic
consequences for mother and child are great, in both developing and developed
countries. There is an urgent need for programmes aimed at improving contraception in
adolescents, especially in developing countries (Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2003).

However , In the Philippines one in ten young Filipino women age 15-19 has
begun childbearing: 8 percent are already mothers and another 2 percent are pregnant
with their first child according to the results of the 2013 National Demographic and
Health Survey (NDHS). Among young adult women age 20 to 24, 43 percent are
already mothers and 4 percent are pregnant with their first child. Early pregnancy and
motherhood varies by education, wealth quintile, and region. It is more common among
young adult women age 15 to 24 with less education than among those with higher

I
education (44 percent for women with elementary education versus 21 percent for
women with college education). Early childbearing is also more common in Caraga (38
percent) and Cagayan Valley (37 percent) than other regions. The proportion of young
adult women who have begun childbearing is higher among those classified as
belonging to poor households than those in wealthier households (37 percent for young
women in the lowest wealth quintile versus 13 percent for women in the highest wealth
quintile) Osterman MJK, et al (2015).

Moreover , The Department of Health (DOH)-Davao reported that based on the

National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) in 2017 released by the Philippine
Statistics Authority, Davao Region has the highest number of adolescent birth rate ages
10 to 19 across the country. Davao City, as expected, topped the provinces in 2016 and
2017. DOH-Davao Family Cluster head Dr. Raquel Montejo on Monday, July 09, 2018
said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at The Annex of SM City Davao that there is an
alarming increase of teenage pregnancy, thus, they are focusing their programs on
addressing this growing problem among the youths who have already engaged in early
sexual activity. “Fourteen years old, 15 years old, we don’t consider as pre-marital sex
(PMS), we use the word early sexual activity (ESA) kasi magkaiba 'yon eh. What we are
worried is the early sexual activities that increase the risk of young men and women to
infection,” she said. Adolescent birth in 2016 was a total of 15,357. Of which, 2,594
were registered in Compostela Valley; 3,216 in Davao del Norte; 3,704 in Davao del
Sur; 4,103 in Davao City and 1,740 in Davao Oriental. They have no 2016 data yet for
Davao Occidental since it was still integrated with Davao del Sur. In 2017, they
recorded a total of 16,279 with Compostela Valley having 2,916, Davao del Norte
(3,423), Davao del Sur (2,179), Davao City (4,762), Davao Oriental (1,662) and Davao
Occidental (1,337) Revita (2018).

In Addition to this, The Philippines, have the same predicament regarding

teenage pregnancy. According to the official ranking of the United Nation Population
Fund Agency in 2012, the number of teenage pregnancies, aged10-19 years old, have
increased to 70% over the last ten years. As a result, this has imposed a huge problem
towards the achievement of Millenium Development Goals that puts the country in red

I
alert (Philippine News Agency, 2012). Moreover, 14% of the teenage girls in the age
bracket of 15-19 were reported for the first time to be already mothers or have had
several children in the 2014 survey of Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality as compared
to the 8% of the 2002 survey (Au-Yeung, 2014). Among the reasons identified, the
major causes of teenage pregnancies are limited access to sexual education and sexual
health services. This is contrary to the church teachings’ alternative methods of family
planning. New technology is also considered as one of the major culprits to the
increased number of teenage pregnancy cases. Occasionally, teenagers get hooked to
different social networking sites such as Facebook, Online Dating, Instagram, etc. using
their smartphones, notebooks and tablets. Due to easy access to new technology and
the curiosity of teenagers to engage in sexual activities without appropriate knowledge
about family planning and contraception’s, it often ends up with unplanned pregnancy
(European scientific journal 2016).

Another alarming fact is that the number of teenage mothers who gave birth to
their second or third child during their teenage year has increased in the last 10 years.
This is according to the data shown in the press conference in Quezon City by
Carmelita Ericta, administrator and civil registrar general of the National Statistics
Office. (Ime Morales, July 9, 2013) Teenage pregnancy is a global issue and a major
contributor to school drop-out among girls. Permanent expulsion was one of the
solutions made for teenage pregnancy but this has been proven ineffective and unfair to
the girls. Now there is a return to school policy where a student is temporarily dismissed
from school due to teenage pregnancy to further pursue their education. (Okeyo, 2012)
As stated by (Brown and Amankwaa 2010) “As more female college students are
involved in sexual relationships their risk of conception increases. However, when
pregnancy occurs it is only the woman who bears the burden and risk of the pregnancy
and in most cases child care.“ often these types of pregnancy are unplanned or planned
caring for a child becomes a full time job. Having a child while being a student becomes
stressful because child rearing consumes time and energy, with a few exeptions the
women are the primary care giver of the child. As cited by (Brown &Amankwaa, 2010).
According to (Okeyo, 2012), rearing a child while being full-time student may be

I
daunting and difficult however, it will be easier if she has a partner or a family member
who can help her in taking care of the child.

According to Josefina Natividad, YAFS coordinator and director of the

University of the Philippines Population Institute, young Filipinos have limited access to
sex education and ASRH services, especially if they are underage and unmarried.
Seventy-eight percent are not using any form of contraception or protection against
sexually transmitted diseases and infections when they are having sex for the first time.
While government programs aim to delay the beginning of childbearing and hasten
fertility decline, teenage pregnancies. (Carin van de hor 2014).

Consequently, social analysts and researchers enumerated some of the reason

why pregnacies among adolescents have been increasing in spite of interventions from
government health agencies and NGOs. Thus, the reasons varies from socio-economic
status (Dulita, Nalika, Upul, Crishantha & De Alwis, 2013), lack of education (Eloundou-
Enyegue, 2004), teenagers’ initiation to sexual activity (Grace, Ihuoma & Temitope,
2013), family history of teenage births (Wall-Wieler, Ross & Nickel, 2016), etc. The
incidence of mortality in teenage pregnacies and adverse birth outcomes is increasing
every year due to immature pre-natal care, socio-economic challenges, and inadequte
weight gained during pregnancy (Xi-Kuan, Shi Wu, Flemming Demissie & Rhoads,
2007).

The reason why the researchers conducted this research is to gather

information, the struggles of a mother at an early age. Based in our observation the
teenage pregnancy is a very outgrowth topic not only in the Philippine but also
worldwide. Also, the researchers would like the consequences and their problems of
being a mother at an early age.

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 Statement of the Problem

General Objective:

This study aims to investigate the struggles of young mothers and how they face their
life’s struggles and circumstance.

Specific Objectives:

To know the struggles they face as a young mother.

To know the main reason why they get pregnant at an early age, and

To know how they face the consequences of becoming a young mother.

Significance of the Study

This study is significant to the following:

Students – They are the mes-involved in this case. Through this study, the students
could realize the negative effects of the struggles of a mother at an early age and how it
could change their whole life.

Parents – This study will help the parents by giving a better future and more
valuable support to their children or daughters.

Society – It could lessen the percentage of single parenthood among the community. It
could orient family members on how the struggles of a young mother can affect the
family most specially the teens who engage in pre-marital sex.

Government – They could implement and facilitate projects concerning the high rate of
teenage mothers so that the other youth in our society will be made aware.

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 Scope and Delimitation

The scope of this qualitative research will be about the struggles of young
mothers who are found in Davao City Philippines. It focuses on what are the struggles
that these young mothers experience. Factors apart from the struggles of the
respondents are out of the study scope.

Assumption of Study

The researchers assume that through having an interview with young mothers,
the researchers will be able to gather enough data for their study and for the objectives
to be answered.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Adolescent - transitional phase of growth and development between childhood and

adulthood.

Mitigate - to become milder; lessen in severity.

Pregnancy - can occur with sexual intercourse after the start of ovulation, which can be
before the first menstrual period (menarche) but usually occurs after the onset of
periods.

Teenage pregnancy- also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female

under the age of 20.

Young mothers - A young mother is: "any woman (under 30) who is actively involved in
parenting a child (or expecting to be within 8 months)"

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 THEORETICAL LENS

Social-cognitive theory contends that people observe important role models,

make inferences and attributions and acquire scripts, schemas and normative beliefs
that then guide their subsequent behavior. This theoretical perspective would predict
that adolescents learn sexual behaviors and their likely consequences by watching
television. To the extent that adolescents acquire favorable beliefs about sex and
confidence in their own sexual abilities as a result of viewing sexual content on
television, they become more likely to attempt the modeled behaviors. In this study,
other contributing factors could be also explored. (Galabo 2017).

Furthermore, the social cognitive theory would support this study. Social
cognitive theory emphasizes behavior, environment, and cognition as the key factors in
development. The social cognitive model is concerned with ways in which mental
representations of social events, societal, and cultural norms, and personal
characteristics influence behavior, reasoning, emotion, and motivation. Specifically, the
approach addresses acknowledgment, self and social goals, mental representations of
self and others, and the role of social facilitation in decision-making, memory, and
judgment. Social cognitive theory, complex cognitive functioning involved in coping,
everyday problem-solving, and decision-making in health as well as in social situations
depends on basic cognitive methods. Furthermore, it depends on the organization of
existing knowledge structures and socially-derived emotional and motivational
influences on performance (Galabo 2017).

Social cognitive theory will support of this study, based on our observation
that some people or respondents that they influenced by their friends and mere curiosity
on sexual practices. Also some of the respondents are emotional when they question
about our study so that social cognitive theory will support this study.

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Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Teenage pregnancy is mostly unplanned, and as a result, people react to the

experience differently. The teenager has to come to terms with the unexpected
demands of being an adult, and in some cases, she may also have to deal with
disapproval and dissatisfaction shown by significant others like parents and relatives
(Kim C, 2008).According to (Minnis 2013), teenage pregnancy is a social problem that
leads to the disruption of schooling; poor obstetric outcomes, inadequate mothering;
poor child outcomes; relationship difficulties with relatives, partners and peers; and
demographic concerns about increasing population numbers. In major cases, teenage
mothers are not in a position to go back to school after delivery as they are forced to
look after their children. In some cases, these young mothers’ physical health conditions
do not make it conducive for them to go back to school. While some young women may
be prevented from going back to school as a result of these factors, (Ochiog 2011 )
found that there are some cases of teenagers who may use their pregnant status to
deliberately escape the demands of high school education. Depression is one of the
problems that results to teenage pregnancy of the women. According to the
psychodynamic theory, depression is presented as a disorder that can be linked to real
or imagined object loss ( Pogoy 2014).

From 2000 to 2010, the number of live births by teenage mothers in the
Philippines rose by more than 60 percent, latest data from the National Statistics Office
showed.Another alarming fact is that the number of teenage mothers who gave birth to
their second or third child during their teenage year has increased in the last 10 years.
This is according to the data shown in the press conference in Quezon City by
Carmelita Ericta, administrator and civil registrar general of the National Statistics
Office. ( Ime Morales, July 9, 2013) Teenage preganancy is a global issue and a major
contributor to school drop-out among girls. Permanent expulsion was one of the
solutions made for teenage pregnancy but this has been proven ineffective and unfair to
the girls. Now there is a return to school policy where a student is temporarily dismissed
from school due to teenage pregnancy to further pursue their education (Okeyo, 2012).

I
 As stated by (Brown and Amankwaa 2010) “As more female college students
are involved in sexual relationships their risk of conception increases. However, when
pregnancy occurs it is only the woman who bears the burden and risk of the pregnancy
and in most cases child care,“ Often these types of pregnancy are unplanned or
planned caring for a child becomes a full time job. Having a child while being a student
becomes stressful because child rearing consumes time and energy, with a few
exeptions the women are the primary care giver of the child. According to (Kidwell
2013), rearing a child while being a full-time student may be daunting and difficult
however, it will be easier if she has a partner or a family member who can help her in
taking care of the child. With the increase of higher education students, 10% of this
population are parents or mothers who are hoping to give their children a better future
and attending to their needs through receiving a degree.

When pregnant students and student mothers are expected to subordinate their
needs and desires to those of their children and families, they are forced to grapple with
the conflicting roles of motherhood and studentship.Brown &Amankwaa(2010) stated
that parenting is very stressful and some women cannot handle all the tasks involved
especially the first time mothers and need help or assistance from the people around
them. Although having someone help the mother is good but the expectation of
receiving support after giving birth to a baby often causes Stressors that may lead to
depression during postpartum period. Many student mothers have expressed feelings of
guilt, worry and inadequacy in both as a student and as a mother (Thompson 2010).

On the other hand being a student mother also has positive effects. As cited by
(Brown &Amankwaa 2010), student mothers are more responsible than those of regular
students. He has seen that girls who were irresponsible before pregnancy has become
more responsible after pregnancy and is more less likely to drop out of College than the
regular students.

For women who juggle family and student responsibilities, the lack of time is one
of the major issues faced (Liversidge, 2009). Many student mothers use different coping
strategies to adjust to their situation. As stated by (Brown &Amankwaa 2010), student
mothers depend on time management to handle the many different tasks of a student

I
mother. Another coping cited by Brown &Amankwaa (2010) is managing tasks to handle
the things needed to be done as both student and a mother as well as emotional and
physical support from both the partner and parents of the student mother.

Okey (2012) stated that student-mothers go through a number of challenges as

they live double lives as mothers and students. Often challenges are faced like lack of
support due to other factors like lack of finances and time being limited.Due to student
mothers’ situation being difficult they have adapted coping mechanism. According to
Kidwell (2013), Their coping mechanisms included: problem-focused, avoidance and
emotion-focused strategies and the support they received upon resuming studies were
spiritual and social support.

It was argued that raising a child involves a great deal of financial, emotional, and
practical planning.It is necessary to make sure that there are adequate child care
resources available. This may be very difficult to do if the student is going to school full-
time. However, if the student decides to remain in school and take care of the child it
may be more possible if she has a partner or family member who will provide additional
help to care for the child (Kidwell, 2013). Parenting is very stressful and some women
cannot deal with all of the tasks that are involved. It is best if there are people around
who are there to assist. Although it is best to have family, friends and spousal support
after giving birth to a baby this expectation often causes Stressors that may lead to
depression during the postpartum period (Brown &Amankwaa, 2010).

The National Youth Commission, supported by the Department of Health and the
World Health Organization, convened the 2014 National Summit on Teen Pregnancy
last April 24. This summit, which saw the active participation of adolescent youth,
delivered a clear message: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH), or the
lack thereof, is fast becoming the defining issue of this generation of young Filipinos.
Without a robust response from all stakeholders, the Philippines is on track toward a
full-blown, national teenage pregnancy crisis. (Carin van de hor 2014).

The teenager has to come to terms with the unexpected demands of being an
adult, and in some cases, she may also have to deal with disapproval and
dissatisfaction shown by significant others like parents and relatives ( Pogoy 2014).

I
 In the Philippines, according to the 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality
Study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (Uppi) and the
Demographic Research and Development Foundation, 26 percent of our Filipino youth
nationwide from ages 15 to 25 admitted to having a premarital sex experience. What’s
worse is that 38 percent of our youth are already in a live-in arrangement. The 1998
National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reveals that 3.6 million of our
teenagers (that’s a whopping 5.2 percent of our population!) got pregnant. In 92 percent
of these teens, the pregnancy was unplanned, and the majority, 78 percent, did not
even use contraceptives the first time they had sex. Many of the youth are clueless that
even on a single intercourse, they could wind up pregnant (Singson 2010).

The sexual revolution has ushered in a period in which the average adolescent
experiences tremendous pressures to have sexual experiences of all kinds. Filipino
teens get a higher exposure to sex from the Internet, magazines, TV shows, movies and
other media than decades ago, yet without any corresponding increase in information
on how to handle the input. So kids are pretty much left to other kids for opinions and
value formation when it comes to sex. Sexual misinformation is therefore equally shared
in the group. Parents at home and teachers in school feel equally inadequate or uneasy
to discuss the topic of sex with youngsters. The problem mounts because the barkada
(gang) has a more profound influence than parents do and they exert pressure and
expect the adolescent to conform to the rest of them (Carin Van der Hor 2014).

This problem is both concrete and practical. Teen pregnancy is a growing

problem in this country. Between 2000 and 2010 there was more than a five fold
increase in teen births, from 91,700 to 500,000 (Dash 1989, p. 24-25; Los Angeles
Times 2000). These births cost the federal government over $21 billion annually in Food
Stamps, Aid to Dependent Children, Medicaid, and other social service offerings
(Chicago Tribune 2005). One in six children of teenage mothers has a low birth weight
and is more likely to experience physical and cognitive problems (Barnett 1999). In
addition, teen mothers are half more likely to graduate from high school than the rest of
the teen population, and, if they are married, they are 3 times more likely to be divorced
or separated than couples who married in their 20's. One study showed that

I
approximately 90% of the inmate population at Attica State Prison was born to teenage
mothers (Evans 2002).

In fact, female adolescents whose friends engage in sexual behavior were

found to be more likely to do the same compared to those who do not associate with
such peers. If the teen perceives her peers to look negatively at premarital sex, she was
more likely to start sex at a later age (Singson 2010).

REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIE’S

According to the 2014 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) study, around
14 percent of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 are either pregnant for the first time or are
already mothers—more than twice the rate recorded in 2002. Among six major
economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines has the
highest rate of teenage pregnancies and is the only country where the rate is
increasing, per the United Nations Population Fund. Reasons for becoming pregnant
among teenagers include: unplanned sexual encounters (“getting caught up in the
moment”) and peer pressure; lack of information on safe sex; breakdown of family life
and lack of good female role models in the family; and absence of accessible,
adolescent-friendly clinics (Carin Van der Hor 2014).
Another study related with this issue investigates the impact of adverse childhood
experiences of females on adolescent pregnancy. It also explores long term
psychosocial consequences and. The participants were 9159 women older from who
attended a primary care clinic in San Diego, California in 1995–1997. The adverse
childhood experience was scored by Adverse Childhood Experience Study
questionnaire which investigates verbal, physical, and sexual abuse, battered mother,
household substance abuse, mental illness in household, parental separation and
divorce and criminal household members. In the study, it was found that there is a
strong relationship between adverse childhood experiences and teen pregnancy. In
addition, the association between adverse childhood experiences and the risk for fetal
death (Anda, Chapman, Felitti, Edwards, Williamson, Croft and Giles, 2002).

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 Staggering facts support this call for concern. Recent (2014) data from the
Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) reveal that every hour, 24 babies are delivered by
teenage mothers. According to the 2014 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS)
study, around 14 percent of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 are either pregnant for the first
time or are already mothers—more than twice the rate recorded in 2002. Among six
major economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines has the
highest rate of teenage pregnancies and is the only country where the rate is
increasing, per the United Nations Population Fund.(Carin van de hor 2014).
Since most of the teen mothers are impoverished, they can't pay for the services
of a lactician or other medical professionals while in the hospital to teach them how to
breast feed or what to expect during the engorgement process. It appears as if the goal
of the health care system is to get the teen mothers in and out of the health care system
as fast as possible since their stays are usually being paid for by Medicaid, the state
supported health care plan for economically disadvantaged residents, and the hospitals
are losing money on each teen birth. There is also evidence that since teen births were
usually traumatic and painful, health care workers want to spare them the further pain of
engorgement and breast feeding (Newell D. Wright and Jon Shapiro 2010).
Breast Feeding. Teen mothers are unlikely to breast feed their babies. They don't
feel it is important, they feel uncomfortable with large breasts, and they often rely on
others to help tend the children while they work or go to school. Also, since they are
sexually active, they feel some role conflict between "sharing" breasts with babies and
boyfriends (Newell D. Wright and Jon Shapiro 2010).
Teen mothers are treated like children, but they have an adult job to do. These
two legal constraints may prevent the teen mother from obtaining the shelter and/or
medical services needed to care for herself and her child ( Newell D. Wright and Jon
Shapiro 2010).
Several recent studies have assessed the risk factors for depression during
pregnancy, including socio-demographic characteristics, such as less education, lower
socioeconomic status and the lack of a supportive partner, obstetric variables, such as
prior pregnancies, unintended pregnancy and obstetric complications; and psychosocial
conditions, such as previous depressive episodes, stressful life events, intimate

I
violence, and lack of social support. Among these, prior episodes of depression, the
experience of intimate violence and the level of perceived social support appear to be
the most relevant risk factors.
Burton (1990) studied multigenerational factors that influenced adolescent
childbearing in an African-American community. Participants viewed adolescent
childbearing as a normal alternative life course strategy. Components of the alternative
life course strategy, described as interrelated factors with general references to themes,
included accelerated timetables related to family development and childbearing, low
prevalence of marriage among African-American females, age-condensed family
structure, and intergenerational care giving. The short age distance (approximately 12
to 17 years between generations) resulted in a varied group of familial caregivers and a
grandparent childrearing system. Within this African-American community, adolescent
mothers relied on female family members for material and emotional support.
In Ghana, adolescent childbearing has potentially negative demographic and
social consequences, and births to teenage mothers have been found to have the
highest infant and child mortality. A study in a small rural town in Ghana revealed that
19% of junior high students had already given birth.
Much attention is paid to teen pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and contraceptive
use among teenagers. Consequently, several studies done in Ghana have identified the
correlates and determinants of early sexual activity, pregnancy, contraception, and
unsafe abortions. However, only a few have explored the experiences of adolescent
mothers. The main objective of this paper, therefore, is to use qualitative data to explore
the experiences of unmarried teenage mothers in relation to pregnancy, delivery, and
early motherhood.
Philippines is one of the Asian countries which shares similar situation. In a
study conducted by the National Demographic and Health Survey in 2013, one out of
every young Filipino women age 15 to 19 is already a mother or pregnant with a
first child. Therefore, the government in partnership with the different non-
government agencies should exert efforts in resolving this issue .

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 Chapter III

Research Design
The research design for this study is the Phenomenological Qualitative
Study since the researchers aim to understand the struggles of being a mother at a
young age. The main purpose of this study is to know about the struggles of a mother at
a young age and how they face this kind of problem.
Sample and Sampling Technique
The researchers used non-probability sampling specifically purposive
sampling since the target respondents solely have to be the struggles of young mothers
in Tibungco Davao City. A total of five female respondents were interviewed to achieve
the needed data to answer the objectives.
Instrument of the Study
The researchers used survey questionnaires that contain the questions
that are needed to be answered by the respondents. These questions were study about
knowing the struggles of young mothers. Their asnwers have to be brief but still able to
hit the core of the total issue of the study. The questions didn’t have choices since it
focuses more on the respondents ‘ own experience.

Validity and Reliability

The researchers ’ survey questionaires has been approved by their
research adviser and has been carefully checked before it was used in the actual
gathering of data. It is reliable because the answers from respondents were recorded
through a mobile recorder.

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 CHAPTER IV
PRESENTATION OF DATA

RESPON QUESTIONS ANSWERS

-DENTS BISAYA TAGALOG ENGLISH

KR1 Why did you I engaged in

engaged in sexual practices
sexual maybe because, I
practices? let my emotion
takes over and I
didn't control
myself and
blinded by the
idea of love.
What was your Of course they
parent’s reaction are disappointed
when they found in me..
out you’re
pregnant?
What was your ‘‘Uhmm, I feel
KR1 reaction when Nervous and
you found out scared.
you’re pregnant?
What are the The struggles I
struggles that face is the
you faced as a feedbacks by the
mother at an people around
early age? me, and raising
my child because
my parents are
helping me with
that..
Are you happy In my current
with your situation I am
situation now? happy, yes,
Yes or No? because even
Why? though I, ahh..
Even though I
disappointed my
parents, I still
continue my life
and focus my
priorities.

I
 How did you Of course by
overcome your simply ignoring it..
problems as an
early mother?
What would you My advice to
KR1 advice or them is, in making
suggest should discission must
be done to ahh... Get your
reduce the rates parents advices in
of unplanned order for them to
teenage be guided..
conceptions.
When you My reason is..... I
decided to feel guilty
continue your
pregnancy, what
were your
reason?
What are your My realization in
realization in life is.. Life is
life? unpredictable

RESPON- QUESTIONS ANSWERS

DENTS BISAYA TAGALOG ENGLISH
Why did you I engaged at
engaged in sexual practices
KR2 sexual because of
practices? curiosity and
explore more
about our
private part.
What was your Their reaction is
parent’s reaction happy and
when they found excited but the
out you’re other side is sad
pregnant? cause I got
pregnant at
early age.
What was your I was shock and
reaction when happy because I
you found out feel the baby
you’re pregnant? growing inside
my tummy.
What are the The struggles
struggles that that I face as a

I
 you faced as a teenage mom
mother at an was difficult
early age? because there
are many
people judging
about what you
did and gossips
about what
you've done to
yourself.
Are you happy Yes, Im happy
with your because I
situation now? conceived a
Yes or No? baby and she's
KR2 Why? a blessing from
above.
How did you My partner and
overcome your family help me
problems as an to overcome
early mother? those problems.
And God is
always there for
me when I need
him the most.
What would you I advice to those
advice or teenager's, if
suggest should you and your
be done to partner want
reduce the rates some fun use
of unplanned condoms for
teenage contraceptives.
conceptions.
When you When I found
decided to out that Im
continue your pregnant I told
pregnancy, what myself that the
were your human living
reason? inside my
tummy is a
blessing from
above so why
should I abort
her/him? The
reason is I want
to see the
human inside

I
 my tummy and I
dont want to kill
a innocent angel
just because of
our did's.
What are your My realization in
realization in life is you
life? should respect
and say thank
you to your
parents
because they
give you a life
and that's not
easy.

RESPON- QUESTIONS ANSWERS

DENTS BISAYA TAGALOG ENGLISH
KR3 Why did you When I commit
engaged in into relationship
sexual specially to a
practices? man older than
me, I knew I
won't be excuse
to this matter.
And maybe
because of
curiosity also.
What was your As far as I
parent’s reaction remember,
when they found before I choose
out you’re to enter into a
pregnant? certain situation,
KR3 I want an
assurance of
everything. So
my pregnancy
was really a
plan. In Fact,
that was two
months after my
marriage. Of
Course my
parents are
happy for me.
What was your At first, there is
I
 reaction when a doubt. But
you found out since we all
you’re pregnant? know that this is
really
embedded in a
KR3 married life, I
handle my fear
with the help of
my partner.
What are the Raising a child
struggles that is really a
you faced as a challenge
mother at an specially to
early age? young mothers.
I'm also
struggling on
how to bath the
baby, how to
care his
sensitive parts
like his chord,
and of course
on planning how
to take care of
him as a real
sense of being a
good mother.
Are you happy Yes I am,
with your because God
situation now? gifted me an
Yes or No? awesome
Why? partner in life
and I can't thank
God enough
about it.
How did you I just look in a
overcome your positive side of
problems as an everything or
early mother? the silver lining.
Maybe that was
really the secret
of overcoming
hard times in
life. It's just like
believing that
there is

I
 sunshine after
the rain.
What would you Advices are vital
advice or for them to
suggest should make a
be done to realization in
reduce the rates life. But of
of unplanned course it is still
teenage varies to the
conceptions. situation. It was
every girls
responsibility to
secure
themselves like
avoiding things
which may
leads into it, be
aware of the
consequences
behind it, and
be strong to
stand and
handle the
curiosity
towards pre-
marital sex.
When you This is my
decided to destiny, so full
continue your well I accept it. I
pregnancy, what have also
were your people who
reason? support my
pregnancy
financially and
sympathetically
so I have no
reason to
decline the
blessing at all
because I got
everything I
need.
What are your Be an individual
realization in longing for a
life? brighter future.
Because this

I
 principle will
guide you to do
better in the
present in order
attain such
vision in life.
And also, there
must be an
awareness of
responsibility in
every decision
we're about to
choose.

RESPON- QUESTIONS ANSWERS

DENTS BISAYA TAGALOG ENGLISH
KR4 Why did you First, kids
engaged in nowadays is too
sexual aggressive, and
practices? I don't know
what's wrong or
right when I was
14, grade 9 and
becoming age
of 15, then I
have friends
that influenced
me to do it and
because of
curiosity.
What was your Of course they
parent’s reaction are angry at me
when they found because I get
KR4 out you’re pregnant and
pregnant? they want me to
finish my study.
What was your First of all, I
reaction when didn't want to
you found out accept and I am
you’re pregnant? so depressed
before, and
when I accepted
to become a
mother, I can't

I
 think straight
and it came to
the point that I
want to die.
What are the It is not easy,
KR4 struggles that because being a
you faced as a mother, you
mother at an need to feed
early age? your baby any
time and you
need to wake up
early even if you
didn't have
sleep just to eat,
it is not easy.
Are you happy Im happy.
with your Maybe, yes
situation now? because I learn
Yes or No? from the things
Why? that must not
do.
How did you I overcame my
overcome your problem thanks
problems as an to my family.
early mother? Even if it is my
fault, they still
help me in my
problems.
What would you The only thing
advice or that I can advice
suggest should to them is, don't
be done to do things that
reduce the rates are regrettable
of unplanned enough to
teenage destroy your
conceptions. future if you
have a
boyfriend, and
make sure to
use
contraceptive
like condom.
When you In my part that
decided to time, I was
continue your thinking about
pregnancy, what my pregnancy,

I
 were your but I realized,
reason? why should I
abort it? There
so many
teenage mother
in the society,
So im not the
only one. I need
to accept the
consequence
because it is my
fault.
What are your My realization in
realization in life is I need to
life? accept the
reality that it
happened, then
just move on.

RESPON- QUESTIONS ANSWERS

DENTS BISAYA TAGALOG ENGLISH
KR5 Why did you I engaged in
engaged in sexual practices
sexual because of the
practices? word of love.
What was your My parents
parent’s reaction reaction when
when they found they found out
out you’re im pregnant is
pregnant? angry.
What was your My reaction
reaction when when I found
you found out out that im
you’re pregnant? pregnan is fear,
because. I cant
imagine those
KR5 things I’ve done.
What are the The struggles
struggles that that I faced as a
you faced as a mother at an
mother at an early age are
early age? pain,needs for
my child/baby
and etc.

I
 Are you happy Yes, I’am happy
with your because I see
situation now? my child now
Yes or No? healthy and
Why? happy.
How did you I overcome the
overcome your problems as an
problems as an early mother is
early mother? to smile,fight for
my baby and
KR5 also be strong
and think
positive all the
time.
What would you As my advice
advice or for the teenager
suggest should now adays is to
be done to follow your
reduce the rates parents
of unplanned because our
teenage parents know
conceptions. what is the best
for us.Also
study hard so
that your
parents will
proud of you.
When you I decided to
decided to continue my
continue your pregnancy when
pregnancy, what my parents
were your know that I’am
reason? pregnant
because I know
my baby is able
to live and
happy with a
porpuse here in
this world.
What are your I realized that it
realization in is not easy to be
life? a teenage
mother because
the
problems,the
struggles all

I
 those I’ve
encounter but
I’m happy that
Ive found out
my baby boy is
good and
handsome and
also he has a
fear in god.

I
 DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION

YOUNG MOTHERS

7%
25%
Physical
Emotional
24% Intellectual
Social
Psychological
37% 7%

Basing on the results gathered through the survey interviews, the researchers were able
to know the struggles of being a young mother at an early age.

Majority of the respondent’s answers are classified as emotional 'cause most of

them are happy, some of them are sad and mostly are full of fears. The second
highest percentage recorded was intellectual , because most of the respondents
stated that because of curiosity they were engaged in sexual practices.The third
highest percentage recorded was psychological , because some of the
respondents stated that because of the deep sadness that they felt, that might
lead to depression. The fourth percentage was social because some of the
respondents stated that they were being influenced by thier friends . Lastly ,
physical because some of respondents stated that they were only focused to
their baby and abandoned themselves.

I
 Chapter V
Summary of Findings
Why did you engaged Most of our respondents engaged on premarital sex answered that
in sexual practices? “they do it out of curiousity”.
What was your All of our respondents said that their parents is mad and disappointed
parent’s reaction when at them, but their parent support them till the end.
they found out you’re
pregnant?
What was your Most of our respondents feel nervous and scared but they accepted it
reaction when you later on.
found out you’re
pregnant?
What are the struggles Most of the respondent feel anxious about their surroundings and
that you faced as a gossips about what they’ve done to theirselves.
mother at an early
age?
Are you happy with All of our respondents said that they are happy because they have a
your situation now? beautiful baby.
Yes or No? Why?
How did you overcome Most of our respondents have overcomed their problem through the
your problems as an help of their family and husband.
early mother?
What would you advice Most of their advices is to think a million times before you do some
or suggest should be crazy things.
done to reduce the
rates of unplanned
teenage conceptions.
When you decided to Most of our respondents said that the kid/baby in their tummy is a
continue your blessings from god.
pregnancy, what were
your reason?
What are your Most of them realized that the thing that they’ve done is too early for
realization in life? them, and still they not regret any of it.

In summary basing on their answers from the survey interview conducted by the

I
researchers, most of the respondents that got pregnant in early age, have done such

thing as premarital sex, because of a mere curiousity and because of the thing they
called love.They were affected a lot emotionally and because of this, they also
disappointed their parents. They did’nt regretted it, considering everything they’ve been
through, just because they love their children and they are supported by their parents.

Conclusion
Based on the result and findings that were gathered by the researchers, the following
conclusions were made:

1. We see human beings at the an early age playing games, exploring one self,
making new friends and the same time finding their own identity. In some cases,
teenage girls become more conscious of what other people will say unto them
particularly in the way they dress up or the way they look. Teenagers wanted to
try things that they think many mold their character or be the reason to fill the
missing piece in their lives. In addition, it causes them to engage or to any stuffs
which are making decision are easily for them, because they don’t think about
the effect of their decision not appropriate not for the age.
2. They are expected to follow whatever their parents say. A person in the age of
15-19 years old are full of excitements, they like to envolve their relationship, but
afraid of consequences. They are curios of many things and they always have
enthousiason to try everything.On along decision are easily for them they don’t
think about the effect of their decisions.
3. Based on the findings of the study of curiosity peer preasure, their judgement in
life are affected around for that reason they get their self into relationship and
make things prohideted for their age just like involving their self into love making.
They just want pleasure. They only want to fill in water in their cups without
thinking about the water that is feeling over. Therefore curiosity is one of the
reason why they get pregnant at an early age at some point guidance of some
parents had a big part of why teenager get into this problem.

I
 Based on the findings of the study of theoretical lens in social cognitive theory, that
people observe important role models, make inferences and attributions and acquire
scripts, schemas and normative beliefs that then guide their subsequent behavior.
This theoretical perspective would predict that adolescents learn sexual behaviors
and their likely consequences by watching television. To the extent that adolescents
acquire favorable beliefs about sex and confidence in their own sexual abilities as a
result of viewing sexual content on television, they become more likely to attempt the
modeled behaviors. In this study, other contributing factors could be also explored.

Recommendation
The researchers would like to recommend this study to everyone as they could use this
to be more aware of the teenage pregnancy and the experience of being a mother at an
early age. The researchers would also like to recommend to the future researchers that
would like to further develop this study that they would have better results and findings
than what the researchers had, maximize the target respondents, and go beyond the
topic that we focused on like the effects if it succeeded, for example.

1. The researcher would like to recommend this study to the teenager as they
could use this to be aware the difficulties and struggles of young mothers.

2. The researchers would also like to recommend to the future researchers that
would like to develop this study that they research more so that they would have
better result and findings than what the researchers had.

I
I
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