CxC

Social studies

School Based Assessment

Name: Gary Fletcher

School: Godfrey Stewart High School

Teacher: Mrs. Thompson

Topic: An investigation into the major causes and effects of teenage pregnancy in
the community of Mt Peto.

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 Table of contents

Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………..3

Introduction………………………………………………………………….……………4

Statement of the problem………………………………………………………….5

Research Question………………………………………………………………….….6

Reason for selecting area of research…………………………………………7

Method of investigation………………………………………………………………8

Instrument used to collect data…………………………………………………..9

Residents questionnaire………………………………………………………………10-12

Procedures used to collect data…………………………………………………14

Presentation and explanation of data…………………………………………15-19

Interpretation of data…………………………………………………………………20

Findings………………………………………………………………………………………21

Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………..22

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 Acknowledgements

The completion of this study would not have been possible without the guidance and
cooperation of a number of people. The researcher would like to thank the residents of Mt Peto
and Golden Grove for their support and their time spent on answering the questionnaire given.
The researcher would also like to thank his mother, sister and friends who were a great source
of help in distributing questionnaires and collecting data. Finally thanks to my teacher who
guided me every step of the way.

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 Introduction

Mt peto is a small community in the parish of Hanover which consists of approximately 90

households. The researcher has been a resident of Mt peto for about 18 years. During this time
I’ve observed that a number of girls were kicked out of their homes due to teenage pregnancy. I
have therefore decided to conduct a survey to investigate reasons why these children are being
thrown out of these homes.

The researcher has therefore decided to conduct a survey to investigate reasons why these
teenagers are being thrown out of these homes. I choose this topic to accomplish my three
major objectives which are:

1 To find out the major causes of teenage pregnancy

2 The effects that teenage pregnancy has on the community

3 What can be done to prevent teenage pregnancy?

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 Statement of the problem

What are the major cause of teenage pregnancy in the community of MT Peto?

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 Research question

Title: The main causes of teenage pregnancy

What are the main cause of teenage pregnancy?

How does the problem impact the lives of the residents?

What can be done to correct this problem?

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 Reason for choosing this topic
There are many reason why I chose this topic these are

1 It is a reality in today’s world

2 I wanted to know what the main causes of teenage pregnancy and what can be done to
prevent it.

3 How does it affects the community?

4 What can the government and residents do to solve the problem

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 Method of investigation

I have decided to use printed questionnaire has my method of investigation. Why did I choose
this questionnaire as my method of investigation? Because it has certain advantages, some of
them include:

1 It is less time consuming

2 it can be done any time and is convenient to the persons who are required to answer them.

3 It provides certain confidentiality.

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 Instrument used to collect data

A printed questionnaire

A survey of the main causes of teenage pregnancy in the community of Mt Peto.

Dear Residents

This is a survey being conducted in Mt Peto Hanover to research the main causes of teenage
pregnancy. This research is to gather information for a social studies course the researcher is
pursuing at the moment.

I take these questionnaires very seriously and each person receiving a copy should also answer
the question very seriously and with nothing but the truth. Your identification will remain
confidential.

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 Residents Questionnaire

This study is being conducted as an assignment for a social studies course I am pursuing. It is
being carried out to determine why there are so many pregnant teenagers in the community.

Place a tick beside the option you want to select

1 Sex

Male Female

2 What is your occupation?

3 How long have you been residing in MT PETO

Over 10 years

6-10 years

1-5 years

Under 1 year

4 Were you a victim of teenage pregnancy?

Yes

No

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5 How do you view the level of teenage pregnancy in the community?

High

Moderate

Low

6 What type of family type do you mainly see teenage pregnancy occurring?

Extended

Nuclear

Single Parent

7 What is the main cause of teenage pregnancy?

Peer Pressure

Lack of parental support

Dysfunctional homes

8 Why do teenagers start having sex early?

Force

Wanted to gain experience

Encouragement

Satisfying their needs

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9 What can the government do to help prevent teenage pregnancy?

Issue condoms in school

Educate teens about safe sex in school

Encourage family planning

Encourage abstinence

10 How can parents deal with teenage pregnancy?

Counseling

Send them to women center

Abandon them

Care for them

11 Do you know of any child been pregnant while in school?

2-5

6-10

10-20

None

12 What are the consequences’ of teenage pregnancy?

Drop out of school

Increase in population

More unemployment

Increase in social problems

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 Procedures used to collect data
In Mt Peto Hanover there are approximately 90 houses. I calculated that a sample of 30% was
relevant in order to ensure a conclusion on the main causes of teenage pregnancy in Mt Peto a
total of 50 Questionnaires were prepared for distribution to the residents.

In distributing the questionnaire, the researcher went to the nearest 50 households to his
home, so that he can have an easy access to the residents. The researcher also made sure to
put his name and address to show that the questionnaires were from him. The residents then
could easily return the questionnaire to the address. By the way it provides a level of
confidentiality.

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 Presentation of data

A total of 50 questionnaires were distributed to the residents out of which 40 were returned. Of
these respondents, 30% were female and 10% male.

How long has the residents been living in the community

35%
30%
25% Series 1

20% Column1
Column2
15%
10%
5%
0%
1-5 years 6-10 years Over 10 years Under 1 year

Fig1 shows how long respondents were residing in MT PETO. It can be seen that 10% were
residing in the area for around 1-5 years 5% 6-10 years 30% over 10 years and 20% under 1
year.

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 The main type of family in the community of Mt Peto showing family of the most pregnant
teenager

16%

14%

12%

10%
Series 1
8%
Series 2

6% Series 3

4%

2%

0%
Nuclear family Extended family Sibling family Single parent family

From the bar chart shown above 15% of the residents said that the main family type in the
community that had the most teenage pregnancy was the sibling family, 3% said single parent,
15% said nuclear family and 10% said extended family.

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 The main causes of teenage pregnancy

16%

14%

12%

10%
Series 1
8%
Series 2
6% Series 3

4%

2%

0%
peer pressure lack of parental Dysfuntional homes
support

The bar graph shows the residents respondents to the questionnaire what is the main cause of
teenage pregnancy. 15% says it’s because of peer pressure, another 15% said because of
dysfunctional homes and the other 10% were of dysfunctional homes. Both peer pressure and
lack of parental support had the same percentage of responses.

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 What are the effects of teenage pregnancy?

1%

15%
14% Drop out of school
Increase social problems
Increase in population
More unemployment

10%

From the chart above shows data on the effects of teenage pregnancy. The residents
respondents said that 15% of the teenagers drop out of school, 10% increase in social
problems,14% due to increase in population and 1% promotes to unemployment.

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 What can the government do to help teenager in this situation?

Option percentage
Provide educational institutions for pregnant 20%
teenager so they can still go to school
Provide more jobs so they can support/take 10%
care of their unborn baby
Table 1

The table shows the answer to this question “What can be done to help teenagers in this
situation? 20% of the residents said that the government should provide educational
institutions for pregnant teenager so they can still go to school and 10 percent said that
government should provide more jobs so they can support/take care of their unborn baby.

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 Interpretation of data
During the research the residents interpreted a number of things: pie charts, bar graphs and a
table was used to show visual interpretation of the researcher data. Firstly, the first graph
shows how long the residents were living in the community. It is stated that 10% of the
residents were living in the community around 1-5 years, 5% 6-10 years, 30% over 10 years, and
20% under 1 year.

Secondly, the second data was interpreted using a bar graph showing the family type with the
most teenage pregnancy. Clearly it can be seen that 15% of the residents said that sibling family
the most pregnant teenagers, 3% said single parents, 15% said nuclear family and 7% said
extended family.

Thirdly a bar graph showing the main causes of teenage pregnancy. Interpreted that 15% said
that it was caused by peer pressure, another 15% said because of dysfunctional homes and 10
percent for lack of parental support.

Fourthly a pie chart showing the effects of teenage pregnancy. The residents questionnaire
stated that 15% of the teenagers drop out of school, 10% increase in social problems 14% due
to increase in population and 1% promotes to unemployment.

The final presentation was done in a table form showing how the government can help
affected teenagers 20% of the residents said the government could provide educational
institutions for pregnant teenager so they can still go to school and 10 percent said that
government should provide more jobs so they can support/take care of their unborn baby.

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 Findings

From the research done on the major causes and effects of teenage pregnancy in
the community of Mt Peto. The researcher found out several things on his
objective and what can be done to prevent it.

The researcher had gathered that the main causes of teenage pregnancy were
either peer pressure or lack of parental support.

In additional to that these teenagers they will drop out of school moreover also
there are also more effect of teenage pregnancy.

Finally what can we do to prevent teenage pregnancy? From the respondents the
best ways to prevent teenage pregnancy are either emphasize on abstinence in
school, or encourage family planning and also to educate these teenagers about
safe sex or they can issue condoms in schools which residents mostly choose.

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Appendix

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