ABSTRACT
This study attempts
to examine Stigmatization
And Alienation Of Unmarried Teenage Mothers In Sub-Culture (Agege Lga Of Lagos
State). The study adopted a qualitative
approach. While a total of 90 respondents were selected using simple random
sampling, the research instrument was a structured questionnaire having both
open and closed ended questions. Also, three hypotheses were tested in the
course of the study. The finding reveals that Western culture fuels the
pressure of unintended teenage pregnancy, Breakdown of family and approved
societal values leads to teenage pregnancy in the society; and that there is a
significant relationship between a teenager's social and economic background
and her debut into sexual relationships. The
study recommended that the family, mosques/churches, and schools as the
first agents of socialization should provide opportunities for moral, mental,
religious, and educational dissipation of energies by the youths. Their
curriculum should be able to provide an avenue for over all development of the
youths. And Parents should be able to address their children's emotional
problems immediately they are noticed before it ruins their lives.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents Pages
Front Page i
Title page ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgment v
Table of contents vi
Abstract ix
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study 1
1.2 Statement
of the Problem 4
1.3 Research
Questions 5
1.4 Objectives
of the Study 5
1.5 Significance
of the Study 6
1.6 Scope
and Delimitation of the Study 7
1.7 Definition
of Terms 7
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Introduction 9
2.2 Literature
Review 9
2.3 Theoretical
Orientation 17
2.4 An
Overview of Adolescent Pregnancy Stigmatization in the
Yoruba Culture 20
2.5 Research Hypothesis 26
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction 28
3.1
The Study Population 29
3.2
Sample Size and Sample Procedures 29
3.3
Data Collection Method 30
3.4
Methods of Data Analysis 31
3.5
Limitation of the Research Methodology 32
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS,
INTERPRETATION AND PRESENTATION
4.0 Introduction 33
4.1
Social Demographic Characteristics
of Respondents 33
4.2
Results 50
4.3
Discussion of Findings 55
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Summary 56
5.1 Conclusion 59
5.2 Recommendations 61
References 64
Appendix 71
CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Unintended
pregnancy among unmarried female mothers is a global phenomenon. It occurs in both
developed and developing nations but with variations in degree and its
consequences on the social actor's involved. Although widely recognized as a
social problem, unintended pregnancy stigma has not been extensively studied by
social and behavioral scientists. Because labeling stigmatization and
alienation is by definition a relational construct, adequately understanding it
requires analysis at both cultural and individual levels.
Teenagers
all over the world attract attention. Unmarried teenage parenthood is by no
means a new phenomenon. In the developing world, unmarried teenage pregnancies
are very common especially in the urban areas due to differences in culture.
In
Agege Local Government of Lagos State, pre-marital sex is not encouraged
culturally. The culture is in support of sanctity of sex but with the waves of
civilization, that aspect of culture is gradually forgotten. Out-of-wedlock
teenage pregnancy has major physical, social, and psychological consequences.
In addition to the need to cope with motherhood, many unmarried teenage mothers
face stigma, lack of schooling, and livelihood insecurity.
The
labeling and stigmatization of unmarried teenage mothers have not been without
its consequences as it have caused many unmarried teenage mothers series of
personal and collective problems especially in the area of sexually transmitted
infections and unintended pregnancy (Abdulraheem, & Fawole, 2009; Atuyambe,
Mirembe, Johansson, Kirumira & Faxelid, 2005). Though unmarried teenage
mother's pregnancy prevention efforts are varied nationwide, many deal in shame
and stigma.
Unmarried
teenage mothers compared to their male partners have been reported as the most
affected with the stigma and shame associated with unwanted pregnancy in many
developing nations especially in cultures where fertility within the marriage
institution is highly valued; while the male gets away with the act, the
females are biologically meant to carry the physical evidence of their act.
(Ilika & Anthony, 2004}.
A
research carried out by World health Organization (WHO, 2009) indicates that 16
million girls aged between 15 and 19 give birth every year. Within this figure,
95 per cent of them occur in developing countries. Across cultures, just seven
countries namely: Bangladesh, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and the United States of America are responsible for
half of all adolescent births (WHO. 2009).
The
normative picture of unmarried teenage mothers in the sub-Saharan Africa is
that of an unhealthy looking girl with an unhealthy child, poorly educated,
suffering from poverty, unemployed, shattered future, lacks access to
reproductive health services and stigmatized for having unintended pregnancy
(WHO,2007). Although significant drop have occurred in some countries within
the past 20 to 30 years, emerging findings still shows that unmarried teenage
mother's
account for 15 per cent of the global burden of disability for maternal
conditions, and 13 per cent of all, maternal deaths (WHO, 2006:). Earlier
studies have shown that unmarried teenage mothers are at disadvantage
especially in terms of qualitative reproductive health services available to
them when compared to adult mothers (Creatsas, 1991; Galal, 1999; Atuyambe,
Mirembe. Tumwesigye, et al. 2008).
Unintended
pregnancy among unmarried adolescents and its stigmatization are not peculiar
to sub-Saharan region (Warenius, Faxelid, Chishimba, et al, 2006; Cuffee,
Hallfors, & Waller, 2007). Largely, unintended pregnancies, safe delivery
and care of their babies have not received the needed attention (WHO, 2007).
However, how unmarried teenage mothers cope with the challenges of unintended
pregnancy have not received research attention in the sub-Saharan Africa,
Nigeria inclusive (Atuyambe, et al, 2005). In reality, there are those whose
health and well-being and those of their children has grown worse due to
unintended pregnancy. Similarly, there would be some, though they might be few
in number but who have survived the phenomenon of unintended pregnancy.
What
are their experiences like during pregnancy and how did they resolve the
challenges that emanated from their unintended pregnancies? What socio-cultural
factors are responsible for their enablement to live out of the stigma?
An
exploration of the phenomenon of unintended pregnancy and their survival
strategies will not only improve our understanding of `their world', but will
also be relevant in policy formulation and working out effective programmes
that may better improve the socio-economic status of unmarried teenage mothers
in Agege area of Nigeria.
These
are some of the issues addressed in this study. Hence, this study explores the
experiences of unmarried teenage mothers with unintended pregnancies and how
they addressed their psychological and social consequences of their pregnancy
and motherhood, strategies adopted in resolving the stigma in Agege Local
Government Area of Lagos State.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM
The
social stigma associated with being an unmarried teenage mother is so much that
it may lead some women to attempt or commit suicide. In our social setup,
pregnancy outside marriage is considered a humiliation that will affect not
only the mother but also her family. It is no longer news in our society that
young girls are being given out in marriage at early ages by their parents or family
members due to pregnancy, financial difficulties or other reasons like cultural
inclinations.
Onigu
(1978) pointed out that this causes decline in the childhood as these girls
become pregnant mothers in their teens. Unintended teenage pregnancy threatens
the objectives of the millennium development goals (MDGs) as posited by Mathur
(2003) which include; eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achieving
universal basic education, promotion of gender equality and empowering the
women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating
HIV/AIDS, malaria other disease; United Nations (2007).
Bayinsenge
(2010), is of the view that early marriage occasioned by unintended pregnancy
cut-off educational and employment opportunities and chances of personal
growth. A large proportion of unmarried teenage mothers face emotional,
physical, psychological, and social problems after pregnancy and childbirth, such
as obstetric complications, lack of education, and stigmatization by parents,
brother and sisters, relatives, etc. in their communities. Another critical issue is
that the responsibility of a child born outside marriage rests solely on the
mother. The lack of support from family, relatives, society, etc. makes her
living quite hard and sometimes unbearable. Today we are faced with the erroneous
notion that unmarried single mothers are considered as `available' or `someone
easy to gain access to'. In this study the problems of stigmatization of
unmarried teenage mothers in Agege Local Government Area will be looked into.
1.3 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
The
following research questions would be answered in the course of this study.
1. What
are the influence of the unfavourable reactions faced by unmarried teenage
mothers and their integration back into the larger society?
2. Is
there any significant relationship between teenage sexual behaviour and teenage
pregnancy?
3. Should
teenage girls be allowed better access to contraceptives and option for an
abortion in cases of unplanned pregnancy?
1.4 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
In a
bid to ensure that this study is relevant in the field of academic profession
certain aims have been designed for this research work. The aims that this
research was carried out have the following objectives in mind;
1. To
examine and determine the extent of problems facing unmarried teenage mothers
in Agege in Local Government Area of Lagos State.
2. To
examine the impact of stigmatization faced by unmarried teenage mothers in
Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State.
3. To
determine the cultural barriers that influence access to birth, control drugs
and programmes.
4. To
study how media awareness, family, religious institutions, etc. has created the
needed information that will help unmarried teenage mothers plan their future.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The
outcome of this study will be of immense importance to those who are directly
involved in managing unplanned teenage pregnancy issues, especially those who
handle training and development functions of NGO organizations. It would give
insight into the coping strategy methods and how best to overcome stigmatization
and alienation in the society.
Not
only this the study will look into the benefits which accrue from giving the
girl child help and access to duality information and care when needed, it will
also lead, to a better understanding of those factors such as family planning,
use of contraceptives, abortion, sexual transmitted diseases, communication and
safe sexual relationships.
More
importantly, the study will help us to know if developing good framework that
can transform the quality of life of the girl child and enhanced her overall
performance.
1.6 SCOPE
AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This
study focuses on the causes and challenges of stigmatization and alienation
faced by unmarried teenage mothers who were actually involved in the area of
study. It will be open to female victims of teenage motherhood for a comparative
analysis. The location under study will be restricted to some selected villages
under Agege Local Government of Lagos State. In all, the study will be useful
to health planners to fashion out better ways to project quality of safe life and
living for the women and children population in setting achievable standards
concerning issues of stigmatization and alienation of unmarried teenage mothers
in the society.
1.7 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
·
ALIENATION: The
condition of being estranged or disassociated from the surrounding society.
·
DISCRIMINATION:
Discrimination is an action, a process in which members of one or more groups
is a form of racism which those discriminated is a minority. The process of
denying opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups because of
prejudice or other arbitrary reasons. Cashmor, (1996) defined discrimination as
the unfavourable treatment of all persons socially assigned to a particular
category.
·
FAMILY:
Family
is a social group whose members are related by ancestry, marriage, or
adoption and live together, cooperate economically, and care for the young
(Muddock, 1949).
·
LABELING: the
process whereby some individuals come to be tagged as deviants, begin to think
of themselves as deviants, and enter deviant careers Howard S. Becker (1963).
·
SOCIETY: A
fairly large number of people who live in the same territory, are relatively
independent of people outside it and participate in a common culture (Lenski et
al. 1995).
·
STIGMA: A
label used to devalue members of deviant social groups. The phenomenon whereby
an individual with an attribute is deeply discredited by his/her society or
rejected as a result of the attribute. It is a process through which normal
identity is influenced negatively by the reaction of others (Goffman, 1963).
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