PARENTS’ PERCEPTION ON TEENAGE PREGNANCY: A QUALITATIVE

RESEARCH

A Thesis
Presented to the Faculty of
KING THOMAS LEARNING ACADEMY INC.
Malubago, Sipocot, Camarines Sur

In partial fulfilment
Of the requirements for the General Academic Strand
In Practical Research 1

Researchers:
Carla Mae S. Nazareno
Chan Chai A. Azañon
Erica Mae L. Rivarez
Lyza Isabel R. Banguiran
Alwyn D. Nabor

March 2021
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a

female under the age of 20. Pregnancy can occur with sexual intercourse after the start

of ovulation, which can be before the first menstrual period (menarche) but usually

occurs after the onset of periods.

Teenage pregnancy is a global reproductive health promotion problem that

affects teenagers, families and communities, both in developed and developing

countries, as children age 10 to 19 years, unmarried and still at school, become

pregnant. Pregnant teenagers face many of the same pregnancy related issues as other

women. There are additional concerns for those under the age of 15 as they are less

likely to be physically developed to sustain a healthy pregnancy or to give birth. For girls

aged 15–19, risks are associated more with socioeconomic factors than with the

biological effects of age.

The teenage pregnancy rate in the Philippines was 10% in 2008, down to 9% in

2017. Live birth by teenage mothers (aged 10-19) in 2016 totaled 203,085 which slightly

decreased to 196,478 in 2017 and 183,000 in 2018. Still, the Philippines has one of the

highest adolescent birth rates among the ASEAN Member States.

The main objective of the research was to explore how young women responded

to finding out they were pregnant, who they talked to, who supported them, and how

their behaviors were influenced by local services, including access to sex education and
contraception advice. If an individual is pregnant during teenage years, then this will

negatively affect their early adulthood life emotionally and financially.

 Research Objectives

The main objectives of the research are to explore how young teenage women

responded to finding out they were pregnant, who they talked to, who supported them,

and how their behaviours were influenced by local services, including access to sex

education and contraception advice and to learn about the experiences and perceptions

of mothers whose daughters became pregnant during adolescence.

 To determine the parents’ perspective about their teenage pregnant daughter.

 To determine the advantage and disadvantage of teenage pregnancy.

 To determine their decision making process.

 To determine the effects of teenage pregnancy.

 To determine how their behaviours were influenced including access to sex

education and contraception advice.

Scope and Limitations

This research was limited to only a minimal number of pregnant teenagers. The

study covered the teenager of North Centro only specifically, the researcher will look

into the number of teenager who are already experienced pregnancy.

Statement of the Problem

Teenage pregnancy is an issue that exist most commonly among adolescents all

over the world. Numerous studies have been done outside of the Philippines on the
effects of teenage pregnancy on one’s self-esteem, but studies done on this issue in the

Philippines are severely lacking. Research done in recent years has found that there is

in fact a correlation between teenage pregnancy and self-esteem. The studies show a

low self-esteem associated with teenage pregnancy, during the pregnancy and after,

ultimately affecting the young girl’s ability to achieve a higher education and puts her at

risk of poverty and unemployment.

Teenage pregnancy carries a social stigma that leads to a high risk of poverty,

illiteracy, or lower education levels and “once it happens, such a girl will forever have a

mark that hinders her progress in future”.

Health and social problems are associated with teenage pregnancy the

perspectives of parents on teenage pregnancy in the study area have not been

explored. Based on these gaps, the researchers decided to study the perception and

attitudes of parents towards teenage pregnancy in this community especially in the

North Centro.

Specifically, it seems to answer the following questions:

1. How does teenage pregnancy affect the parents?

2. What are some of the struggles that teenage mother faces?

3. Do teenage mothers get bullied?

4. What does it feel to be a teenage mother?

5. How does teenage pregnancy affect a teenager?

Significance of the Study

 The beneficiaries of the study that is going to be conducted are the following:

Parent. This study will help the parents to use the outcomes of the study to identify

the importance being a parent. To give their daughter to have a better guidance and

how being a parent is important. The result will give a great advantage in the side of

the parents to have awareness to nurture their daughter better.

Student. This study will help and teach the students to know what is the true

definition of teenage pregnancy and how huge impact it will bring in our life.

Society. This study will help the society to open their eyes when it comes to teenage

pregnancy, to achieve the presence of acceptance and good judgement towards

women who got pregnant in an early age.

Future Researchers. This study will help the future researchers to compromise

topics and ideas related to their research wants to carry out and implement in the

future generations and it will also help the researchers to improve their skills,

strategy, and knowledge in engaging research.

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Perception of teenage pregnancy by parents the news of teenage daughter’s

pregnancy is unpleasant to parents. Some authors found that mothers described their

feelings resulting from the discovery of the pregnancy of their adolescent daughters as

devastating. The news was difficult to believe, welcome or accept. Many demonstrated

that they had not liked receiving the news. Some added that it took them a long time to

accept the reality. Some other mothers described the situation as a fearful and shocking

one that caused discontentment (Fernandes et al., 2012; Gilbert, 2011).

Some fathers were also equally disappointed and expressed their difficulty in

accepting the pregnancy and the arrival of a new baby while some acknowledged it as a

mistake (Fernandes et al., 2012).

While some parents would grief and worry about the future of such girls (Nava,

2010), some other parents would feel a sense of guilt at the thought that they had failed

in their responsibility and could have done more to protect their child from this

predicament. On the one hand, some parents felt embarrassed by their teen’s

pregnancy and worried about how family, friends and neighbors would react. This

position was consistent with that of Nava (2012) who found that such teen’s parents

were gossiped about and the affected teens seen as bad influence. On the other hand,

others were happy about the news of a soon to-be grandmother especially if the teen is
older and in a mature relationship. They may also expect a great deal of pleasure from

their new grandchild (Health Direct, 2012).

A study showed that mothers of pregnant adolescents, who had also

experienced adolescent pregnancy were more understanding of the problems

experienced by their daughters. Such mothers also expressed that they accept the

situation and give their daughters the required support (Health Direct, 2012).

It has been identified that pregnancy in adolescence brings significant changes

in behaviour of families, with the mother figure being highlighted as a source of support

and maintenance of the family structure. The importance of emotional support, affection

and information throughout the gestational process has also been recognized. These

factors are considered to be decisive for the adjustment to pregnancy and the maternal

role by the affected adolescent (Fernandes et al., 2010).

Attitude of parents towards teenage pregnancy in a study, it was observed that

despite the mothers’ initial discontent, criticisms and sadness, some mothers accepted

the fact, still exercised their roles, accompanying and guiding their adolescent

daughters during this new phase. They provided support for adolescent to care for their

child both financial aspects and with household chores (Fernandes et al., 2012; Coster,

2013).

It was further noted that many accept the situation and overcame the initial

conflict. Overwhelming as the situation may be, Coster (2013), recommended that

affected parents should keep their calm; try to understand how the girl is feeling and try
to deal with the situation in a positive manner that would result in a favorable outcome

for the teenage mother. It is also documented that contrarily, some fathers would not

accept such shame of adolescent daughter’s pregnancy. They broke contact with their

daughters and stopped telephoning and visiting those (Fernandes et al., 2012). In

another circumstance, though there was an initial resentment, family involvement

occurred in a positive manner after the birth of the baby.

Synthesis

Previous research on teenage pregnancy suggests that there are distinct

profiles of pregnancy intent among adolescents, reflecting differences in young people’s

understanding and endorsement of the concept of pregnancy extendedness.

This systematic literature review comprehensively examines qualitative studies

of intended teenage pregnancy. Several online databases were searched for

publications on attitudes towards adolescent’s pregnancy intentions.

Six dominant themes emerged pregnancy desire, negative and positive

perceptions of pregnancy, ambivalence and fatalism, other people’s views, and

common characteristics of adolescent mothers. The findings of the study synthesized

here are highly relevant to my search idea.

 Theoretical Framework

Theory about Teenage

Pregnancy is faced with
the dilemma of the high
Parents’
number of girls in their perspective
early teens who are Literary Criticism: about their
becoming pregnant,
teenage
experts have come A profound study on
forward with a theory pregnant
Teenage Pregnancy daughter.
that these young
mothers are
responding to a
pattern in human
evolution that induces
people.

Reconciling theory 

Although teenage mothers have lower education attainment and earnings than women

who delay fertility, causal interpretations of this relationship remain controversial. 

Scholars argue that there are reasons to predict negative, trivial, or even positive effects

and different. 

Contribution from attachment theory  

Theory preventing teenage Pregnancy 

Contributions from Attachment Theory M. Carole Pistole efforts to prevent unintended

teen pregnancy seem to have ignored emotional motivations in romantic relationship to

clarify the motivations, this article examines love as the confluence. 

Theory of ghettos and neighborhood effect  

It examine the effects of neighborhood quality on dropping out and teenage

childbearing parent’s marital status, the presence of a sister who was a teen mother

herself for the probabilities.

Analytical Framework

This framework benefit and support researchers in improving knowledge and

logical thinking. The purpose of it is to regulate and influence the creativity and

understanding. This framework enables to provide deeper perception about the study.

This will lead as guidelines in making research study. This analytical paradigm

illustrates the following steps in managing and presiding the study as shown in figure.

This process includes: Problem, Methodology, Familiarization, Thematic

analysis, and Interpretation.

The process of the study consists of statement of the problem and objectives

with regard to study. Various literature related to study convey accuracy and
organization of the results. This will help to show off the researcher’s clearness and

quality of the focus of the study.

Methodology comprised of the discourse analysis. The discourse analysis serves

as method of the researchers. Through discourse analysis researchers enable to

determine opposition by the help and cooperation of respondent’s. The statement of the

respondents will provide necessary information’s to conduct and complete the study.

Familiarization is a process which researchers become familiarized the entire

passage of data and information’s gathered from the response of respondents that will

rectify all relevant thought in the study. Each response will combine and compared the

answers of respondents. Expectedly, the respondents have varied perception about

teenage pregnancy. Perhaps, researchers will use the copies of the answer and view of

the respondents to analyze all data and have a better transcription. Researchers will

understand the proven information’s and its purpose. Researcher should make

credibility to research study.

Thematic analysis, after the researchers studied all data basis from the answers

of respondents through help of transcription, they will initiate to the judgment and

making them with regard to relevancy of ideas and knowledge collected. Researchers

should recognize the message sense, and importance even the problem that possible to

appear in study of teenage pregnancy.

 Chapter III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the research design, research setting, participants,

research instrument, participants recruitment, validity, and data gathering procedure

used in making this study. It aims to give an adequate knowledge on how the

researchers choose the participants and strategy in gathering data from the participants.

Research Design

This research study will be conducted using the phenomenology. A

phenomenological approach, in the form of focus group discussions, is a fitting

qualitative research method that allows this study to explore parental perceptions in a

community which currently has a high rate of adolescent pregnancy in comparison with
other communities. The goal of this research study was to explore the perceptions and

attitudes of parents toward teenage pregnancy.

Research Setting

The setting will be conducted at North Centro located at the municipality of

Sipocot in the province of Camarines Sur. It has a population of approximately 3,503

represented the 5.40 % of the population of the Sipocot. North Centro is situated at

approximately 13.7712, 122.9781, in the island of Luzon. Elevation at these coordinates

is estimated at 18.5 meters or 60.7 feet above mean sea level.

Participants

The participants of the study will be the selected parents in the said institution.

The distribution of the participants were two (2) parents, a 43 years old mother and a 64

years old grandmother. Convenience sampling will be used to select the participants.

Research Instrument

The main instrument that will be use in this study is an interview method.

Participants Recruitment

The researchers will send first a letter of approval to the principal of the Senior

High School Department of King Thomas Learning Academy Inc. This is also to request
a list of teachers that handles the Senior High subjects. Once approved, the

researchers will select the participants from the list. Once the target participants are

selected, a letter of consent will be given to them. The researchers will assure the

confidentiality of information given by the participants.

Validity

The researchers choose the record and data document data to ensure its idea

and details. Researchers conclude to use and document to secure the validity and

appropriateness of the intention to strengthen the output of the study.