Health Care Program for Teenage Mothers

Abstract

The incidence of teenage pregnancy around the world is quite alarming. Adolescent mothers deal with challenges that place extra demands, not only on the stage of adolescent development, but also on their ability to adapt to their new role as a parent. The study aims to assess the correlates of the extent of effect of teenage pregnancy in San Fernando City, La Union, which serves as a basis for the formulation of a healthcare program for teenage mothers. The researcher used the mixed method research design. A self-made questionnaire was used as data gathering tool. Qualitatively, an in-depth interview with audio-recordings and structured observation were utilized. There were 165 respondents for the quantitative part and 10 teenage mothers participated in the interview. Weighted means, frequency, percentage, Pearson’s Correlation coefficient were the statistical tools used in the study. It was found out that the early pregnancy has a high extent of effect to physical, socio-cultural, psycho-emotional and economic. There was also a significant relationship between the demographic profile and the extent of effect of early pregnancy in terms of highest educational attainment, religious affiliation, residence, and parents’ occupation. A health care program was formulated to address the concerns of the teenage mothers.