An Assessment of Teenage Pregnancy and Single Parenthood among Female Adolescents in Selected Churches in Liberia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the teenage pregnancy and single parenthood among female adolescents in selected churches in North Paynesville, Liberia. Teenage pregnancy deters female adolescents not just from achieving their life educational goals and from maximizing their human capital, but equally prone them to single parenthood.

This study used a cross sectional design. Two hundred and fifty (250) respondents participated in the study from ten different denominations. Data were collected structured research questionnaire. Three research questions were raised to guide this study, while Analysis of data was done using both descriptive and inferential statistics.

This study found out that the 176 (70.4%) of the respondents had high knowledge level of teenage pregnancy, 50 (20.0%) of the moderate knowledge and the remaining 24 (9.6%) had low knowledge level. Also, two hundred and twenty-four (224) out of the 250 respondents consented to the prevalence of single parenthood among the female adolescents, which shows a very high prevalence of single parenthood among the female adolescents as a result of high incidence of premarital sex. Equally, a significant relationship between the teenage pregnancy and single parenthood among female adolescents in selected churches in North Paynesville, Liberia (r = .719, p = .000).

The study concluded that in order to improve sex life, marriage and education in Liberia, the realities of adolescent sexual behaviour must be accepted. It is imperative for their health and the health of the nation to build a sexuality education program with adolescents' best interests in mind.