A Review on the Impact of Teenage Pregnancy on Students’ Academic Performance

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy has been reported to be rampant among secondary (high) school girls across the world, especially in developing countries. Low self-esteem, poor social-economic standards, poor parenting and peer influence, lack of age-appropriate sex education and poor knowledge of the apparent use of contraceptives are among the leading causes of teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy has become a global concern as a result of its multifaceted consequences on the girl child and the general society. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of teenage pregnancy on the academic performance of students. Teenage pregnancy has overwhelming detrimental impacts on the academic achievement of the girl child. It has been listed as a major factor responsible for the majority of school dropouts by female students. It is characterized by low self-esteem, isolation and psychological effects, which may make the pregnant student skip classes and miss assignments, projects and exams, resulting in poor academic performance, which may ultimately lead to the student dropping out of school. The study recommends that deliberate efforts should be made by society to prevent teenage pregnancy, and if teenage students get pregnant, efforts should be made to improve their mental health and self-esteem. They should be given adequate support and not be isolated or thrown out of school.