Abstract
Adolescent childbearing remains a challenge requiring urgent resolution worldwide, it is considered socially problematic in most cultures. In view of this background, this study has empirically examined the childbearing among unmarried adolescents female in Kaduna North Local Government Area Kaduna State. To address the problem of study, three research questions were raised. The researcher adopted a survey research design and in-depth interview. A total of one eighty-six (86) respondents comprised the target of the study. Questionnaire and in-depth interview guide were the instruments used for data collection. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), frequency tables and percentages (%) were employed in the data analysis. Findings of the study indicate that the level of child bearing among unmarried adolescents is high. peer pressure, poverty in the family, broken homes, moral sexual abuse and rape are some of the causes childbearing among unmarried female adolescents. Most of the respondents agree that the socio-economic consequences of child bearing among unmarried female adolescents are great, not only for the adolescent but also for society. Greater emphasis is needed on providing adolescents with the skills to postpone sexual activity until they are able to practice responsible sexual behavior. The problem of child bearing among unmarried female adolescents needs to be addressed with a multifaceted approach. Not only do unmarried female adolescents need comprehensive sexuality education that encourages them to remain abstinent and provides instruction on appropriate use of birth control but they also need ready access to affordable contraception. Education regarding the negative consequences of adolescent parenthood, encouragement to practice healthy behaviors, and help finding emotional support are also essential.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study - - - - - 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem - - - - - 3
1.3 Research Questions - - - - - - - 4
1.4 Objective of the Study - - - - - - 5
1.5 Significance of the Study - - - - - - 5
1.6 Scope of the Study - - - - - - - - 6
1.7 Definition of Terms - - - - - - - - 6
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
2.2 The Nature Of Childbearing Among Unmarried Female Adolescents - 8
2.3. Causes of Childbearing Among Unmarried Female Adolescents- - 14
2.4 Socio-Economic Consequences of Childbearing among Unmarried
Female Adolescents - - - - - - - - - - - - 23
2.5 Theoretical Framework - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -40
2.5.1 The Health Belief Model (HBM) - -- - - - - - - - - - -40
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 47
3.2 Location of the Study - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 47
3.3 Population of Study - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 48
3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Technique - - - - - - - - - - - 48
3.5 Types and Sources of Data Collection - - - - - - - - - - - 49
3.6 Methods of Data Collection - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -50
3.7 Method of Data Analysis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 51
3.8 Problems Encountered in the Field - - - - - - - - - - - - - 51
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
4.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 53
4.2 Socio-Demographic Data of the Respondents - - - - - - - - - 53
4.3 Nature of childbearing among unmarried female adolescents - - - 55
4.4 Causes of Childbearing among Unmarried Female Adolescents- - - 58
4.5 socio-economic consequences of childbearing among unmarried
female adolescents - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 62
4.6 Discussion of Major Findings - - - - - - - - - - - - - -67
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 81
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 83
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -83
References - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 86
Appendices - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -96
