Unintended pregnancy and termination of studies among students in Anambra state, Nigeria: Are secondary schools playing their part?

Ifeoma N. Onyeka, Juhani Miettola, Amobi L. Ilika, Tuula Vaskilampi

Abstract

This study evaluated efforts of secondary schools to prevent unintended pregnancy among students and their reactions to pregnant students before and after delivery. A cross-sectional survey of 46 teachers in three public and two private schools in Anambra state, Nigeria was carried out. Information was collected using self-administered questionnaire. Of all the teachers in the study, 87% reported unintended pregnancies among students in the previous 3 years. Expulsion (43%) and suspension (28%) were the most common reactions. Private schools were more likely to expel pregnant students than public schools. Following the delivery of their babies, 43% discontinued their education in the same school, whereas 37% continued their education in a different school. Counselling was given before suspension or expulsion in 4% of public schools and 15% of private schools. Majority of the schools (61%) did not have sex education as part of their schools' curriculum. Students should be re-admitted in order to ensure continuity of their academic development, prevent unemployment and mitigate poverty-induced repeat pregnancy.

Résumé

Cette étude a évalué les efforts des écoles secondaires pour prévenir les grossesses non voulues chez les étudiantes et leurs réactions envers les étudiantes enceintes avant et après l'accouchement.  Nous avons mené une enquête transversale auprès de 46 enseignants dans trois écoles publiques et deux écoles privées dans l'état d'Anambra au Nigéria.  Les données ont été collectées à travers un questionnaire auto-administré.  De tous les enseignants concernés dans l'étude, 87% ont signalé les grossesses non voulues chez les étudiants au cour de trois ans précédents.  Les réactions les plus communes ont été l'expulsion (43%) et le renvoi (28%).  Les écoles privées avaient plus la possibilité d'expulser les étudiantes enceintes que les écoles publiques.  Suite à l'accouchement de leurs bébés, 43% ont cessé de fréquenter la même école alors que 37% ont continué leurs études dans une autre école.  Avant la suspension ou le renvoi, 4% des étudiantes enceintes dans les écoles publique ont reçu des conseils d'orientation et 15% dans les  écoles privées.  Dans la majorité des écoles (61%), l'éducation sexuelle ne figure sur programmes d'études.  Il faut réadmettre les étudiantes pour assurer la continuité de leur progrès académique, prévenir le chômage et réduire la grossesse répétée causée par la pauvreté.

 

Key words: Teenage pregnancy, Cross-sectional Survey, Secondary School, Nigeria, High School Drop-out

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