Factors Influencing Gravidity among Teenage Mothers in La Trinidad

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy is an important public health issue: it is becoming common, largely preventable and associated with negative sequelae, both for the teenagers who become pregnant and for their children. The general content of the study is to determine the factors present in teenage mothers that drive them to have repeated pregnancy. Specifically, it seeks to profile the level of influence of Family Dynamics, Peer Dynamics, Personal Behavioral Dynamics, cohabitation and Family Type on multi gravid teenage mothers. A questionnaire was used to gather pertinent data. The level of influence of the three factors to the primi gravid teenage mothers is high. Its mean was 2.64 and is interpreted as factors with “High Influence”. Further, of the three factors, Personal Behavioral Dynamics gained the highest level of influence. While on the other hand the level of influence of the three factors to the multi gravid teenage mothers is high. Its mean 2.58 and is interpreted as factors with “High Influence”. Amon the the three factors, Personal Behavioral Dynamics gained the highest level of influence. Two among the factors, Family and Personal Behavioral Dynamics has levels is interpreted as factors with “High Influence”. Meanwhile, Peer Dynamics gained 2. 47 which is interpreted as factors with “Low Influence”. This implies that the factors under family and personal behavioral factors has highly influenced this mothers to engage themselves to sex again, thus leading to multi teenage pregnancy. Furthermore, the factors which influenced the teenage mother to have multi pregnancy are Family and Personal Dynamics. Peer Dynamics, somehow, had low influence on these mothers. Also, the proportions of mothers with multi gravid teenage pregnancy in each family type are uniform, it shows no significance. However, most of the mothers belong in the extended family shows the higher number of mothers who has multiple teenage pregnancies. Based on the findings of this study, it is deduced that the factors which discuss about the family, the peer and the behaviors did influence these primi gravid teenage mothers. The values that the family, peer and the teenager have high impact on the occurrence of teenage pregnancies. Moreover, the factors under family and personal behavioral factors has highly influenced this mothers to engage themselves to sex again, thus leading to multi teenage pregnancy. Furthermore, parents and behavior of the teen moms have highly influenced to the cause of their multi gravid teenage pregnancy. Teenagers will continue to practice what they tend to do when no one is stopping them. When no one corrects what they do, they will think that those practices are not prohibited. It was observed that parents do not usually discuss teenage pregnancy to these teen moms. Those who do not know the effects would still continue with their practices. Also, teenagers with extended family type have higher risk of becoming multi-gravid teenage mothers. Further, teen moms who cohabitate has a possibility of having multi-gravid teenage pregnancy. Thus, it is recommended that, family as the first companion of the child should be the role model. They, therefore, must be aware that children are sensitive. Teenagers will continue to practice what they tend to do when no one is stopping them. Family as one of the highly influential factor to the cause of the multi gravid teenage pregnancy of the child must give time to their children. It is certain also that teenagers must know that living with a partner places them at greater risk of teenage pregnancy and family should also work with youth to plan accordingly. Moreover, extended family members need to give attention to their children to prevent the risk of involving into such activity.