Chapter One
ALCOHOL ABUSE, SELF ESTEEM AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY AMONG ADOLESCENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Teenage pregnancy is the pregnancy that occurs under twenty years of age. In Uganda, the teenage pregnancy rate stands at 31% according to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey of 2006(UDHS, 2006). Regarded as the most troubling aspect of adolescence, teenage pregnancy is gradually on the increase and about 60-70% of teenagers are sexually active and due to this in most parts of Africa 70% of girls have ever been pregnant before or are pregnant (Arkutu, 1995). According to the population and housing census of Uganda of 2002, 24.7 million people (57%) are below the age of 18
In a study carried out in 1991 by Bagarukayo in kabala district among primary school pupils between the age of 11 and 18,59% with in that age bracket were sexually active,36% had already engaged in sexual intercourse for the first time, about 45% had already engaged in sexual intercourse more than once between the ages of 16-18.
In Uganda, little change in curbing teenage pregnancy has been realized, moreso several countries in Africa report 40% of girls getting pregnant before the age of 18(UNICEF report, 2001). This is a problem that cuts across the developed and the under developed countries, and although there is a decreased number in the rate of teenage pregnancies, the number of those who conceive during their adolescence stage remains high.
Teenage pregnancy has been attributed to low self esteem and alcohol abuse. Later or early adolescence has affected girls more negatively than boys in that girls who are physically mature are generally less satisfied with their appearance and body image hence feel out of place among their female and male counterparts hence low self esteem, depression and anxiety(Brooks Gunn and Ruble,1983,Simmons and Blyth,1988)
More so adolescents who are developmentally advanced especially after their first menstrual period have a poor and less
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Teenage pregnancy is the pregnancy that occurs under twenty years of age. In Uganda, the teenage pregnancy rate stands at 31% according to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey of 2006(UDHS, 2006). Regarded as the most troubling aspect of adolescence, teenage pregnancy is gradually on the increase and about 60-70% of teenagers are sexually active and due to this in most parts of Africa 70% of girls have ever been pregnant before or are pregnant (Arkutu, 1995). According to the population and housing census of Uganda of 2002, 24.7 million people (57%) are below the age of 18
In a study carried out in 1991 by Bagarukayo in kabala district among primary school pupils between the age of 11 and 18,59% with in that age bracket were sexually active,36% had already engaged in sexual intercourse for the first time, about 45% had already engaged in sexual intercourse more than once between the ages of 16-18.
In Uganda, little change in curbing teenage pregnancy has been realized, moreso several countries in Africa report 40% of girls getting pregnant before the age of 18(UNICEF report, 2001). This is a problem that cuts across the developed and the under developed countries, and although there is a decreased number in the rate of teenage pregnancies, the number of those who conceive during their adolescence stage remains high.
Teenage pregnancy has been attributed to low self esteem and alcohol abuse. Later or early adolescence has affected girls more negatively than boys in that girls who are physically mature are generally less satisfied with their appearance and body image hence feel out of place among their female and male counterparts hence low self esteem, depression and anxiety(Brooks Gunn and Ruble,1983,Simmons and Blyth,1988)
More so adolescents who are developmentally advanced especially after their first menstrual period have a poor and less