A Study to Assess the Knowledge regarding Complications of Early Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy among Parents of Teenage Girls at selected Community

 

M. Deepica1, Aparna Bera2, Pratiksha Pradhan2, Sayani Dutta2, Reshmi Pradhan2,

Nabanita Samanta2, Saba Nissar2, Sushama Chandran2

1Asociate Professor, Dept of OBG, GEMS College of Nursing, Srikakulam.

2IV Year BSc (N), GEMS College of Nursing, Srikakulam.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: deepicadivya@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND: Early marriage refers to any marriage happens under the age of 18 years, where the girl is not ready for the marriage and childbirth. Teenage pregnancy is defined as pregnancy in a female adolescent as the period between the age of 13 to 19 years. Over 700 million women were married before being 18 years old in the World. This research study was conducted to assess the knowledge regarding complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls at selected community, Srikakulam, Andhra pradesh. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: A descriptive study to assess the knowledge regarding complications early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls at selected community, Srikakulam, Andhra pradesh. METHOD: A descriptive research design was used and a total of 30 parents of teenage girls in selected community at Srikakulam were selected by using non-probability convenience sampling techniques. Data was collected by using structured interview questionnaires by using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. RESULTS: The study revealed that among 30 parents, 0(0%) had inadequate knowledge, 23(76.6%) had moderate knowledge and 7(23.3%) had adequate knowledge regarding complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Findings of the current study revealed that the knowledge regarding the complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls was not satisfactory and had to improve significantly.

 

KEYWORDS: Knowledge, Complications, Early Marriage, Teenage Pregnancy.

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

Early marriage has various consequences on the health and social outcomes of women and their children1,2. These include increased risk of depression and suicidality, compromised sexual, reproductive and mental health, greater risk of intimate partner violence, decreased physical and social mobility and decreased autonomy in decision making within and outside the household3,4.  

Teenage pregnancy also effect young women education and economical opportunities5,6. Health related consequences of teenage pregnancy include risk of maternal death and it also contributes to illness and disability, related to fistula, unsafe abortion, STD and HIV7,8.

 

According to WHO 2004, complication of teenage pregnancy and delivery are the main cause of death for girls aged 15 to 19 years. Each year almost 5.5 million girls aged 15 to 19 give birth. They have higher levels of unwanted pregnancy and more than 1 billion have unsafe abortion9,10.

 

According to Demographic and health survey 2006, mortality and morbidity rates are higher among infants born to young mothers; especially those under 15 years have higher rates of premature labour spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and low birth weight infants 11.

 

According to NFHS-5, A women Centric Analysis 31st December 2021, teenage pregnancy has declined only marginally by 1% point and 7.9% of women in the age group of 15 to 19 years were already mothers or pregnant at the time of the survey 12,13.

 

According to NFHS-5, 17th May 2022, 23.3% of women surveyed got married before attaining the legal age of 18 years, down from 26.8% reported in NFHS-514.

 

According to NFHS-5, 31st October 2023, it is estimated that there are around 24 million child brides in India. The National Family Health Survey estimates that 40% of the 60 million child marriages worldwide occurs in India 15.

 

During the community posting, the researcher had seen so many teenage girls getting married and teenage parents in those areas, which provoked the investigator to conduct the study on complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A descriptive study to assess the knowledge regarding complications early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls at selected community, Srikakulam, Andhra pradesh.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To assess the knowledge regarding complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls.

2. To find out the association between the level of knowledge with selected demographic variables.

 

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

Descriptive research design was used for the study to achieve the study objectives. The population included the parents who have teenage girls between ages of 13-19 years at selected community area, Srikakulam. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used for sample selection and the total sample size of 30 parents of teenage girls were selected. The parents who were willing to participate and who were available at the time of data collection was the inclusion criteria for the study. Structured knowledge related questionnaires were used to collect the data by using interview method. The content validity of the research instruments was ascertained before the data collection by nursing expert's suggestions. The reliability of tool was determined by pre-testing it in 3 samples(10% of total sample) was tested by using Chi-Square test and the degree of freedom value was 9.49 . The data collection period was from 2nd January 2024 to 7th January 2024. The collected data was entered in MS Excel 2000. The analysis was done by using Statistical Software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) 23 version. Chi-Square test was applied to find out the association between level of knowledge and demographic variables. The probability of occurrence by chance is significant if P<0.05 with 95% level of confidence interval.

 

RESULTS:

SECTION – A

Frequency and distribution of demographic variables of complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy

Table-1 : FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLE

S.
No.

DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES

NUMBER

(n)

PERCENTAGE

(%)

1.

Age of

child

a)   13-15 years

15

50

b)  16-18 years

10

33.3

c)   19 years

5

16.6

2.

Type of Family

a)   Joint

11

36.6

b)  Nuclear

18

60

c)   Extended

1

3.3

3.

No. of Teenage girl in Family

a)   1

18

60

b)  2

8

26.6

c)   3

4

33.3

4.

Monthly Income of Family

a)   Rs. 10,000-20,000/-

18

60

b)  Rs. 21,000-30,000/-

8

26.6

c)   > Rs. 30,000/-

4

33.3

5.

Educational Qualification

a)   Class 1-10

16

53.3

b)  Intermediate

12

40

c)   Graduation

2

6.6

6.

Occupation

a)   Unemployed

16

53.3

b)  Employed

9

30

c)   Self employed

5

16.6

7.

Religion

a)   Hindu

27

90

b)  Muslim

2

6.6

c)   Christian

1

3.3

8.

Education level of child

a)   Class 8-9

10

33.3

b)  Class 10

8

26.6

c)   Intermediate

12

40

9

Marital age of parents

a)   Before 13 years

0

0

b)  13-18 years

11

36.6

c)   After 18 years

19

63.3

 

 

The table 1 shows the frequency and percentage distribution on demographic variable of complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among 30 parents of teenage girls at selected community, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. 15(50%) of child were in age group of 13-15 years,10(33.3%) of child were in the age group of 16-18 years and 5(16.6%) were 19 years old. Regarding the type of family 11(36.6%) were from joint family, 18(60%) were from nuclear family and 1(3.3%) were from extend family. Regarding number of teenage girl in family 18(60%) family had one teenage girl,8(26.6%) family had two teenage girls and 4(13.3%) had three teenage girls. Regarding monthly income of family 18(60%) parents had monthly income of Rs.10000- 20000/-, 8(26.6%) parents had monthly income of Rs.21000-30000/- and 4(13.3%) parents had monthly income of more than Rs.30000/- . regarding education qualification of parents 16(53.3%) were in class 1-10, 12(40%) were intermediate and 2(6.6%) were graduate. Regarding occupation 16(53.3%) were unemployed, 9(30%) were employed and 5(16.6%) were self-employed. regarding religion 27(90%) were Hindus, 2(6.6%) were Muslims and 1(3.3%) was Christian. Regarding education level of child 10(33.3%) were in class 8-9, 8(26.6%) were in class 10-11, 12(40%) were intern. Regarding age parents get marriage 0(0%) got before 13 years of age, 11(36.6%)got between 13-18 years of age and 19(63.3%) got after 18 years of age.

 

SECTION – B

Data on level of knowledge regarding complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls

 

Table 2: Frequency and percentage distribution of level of knowledge regarding complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls

LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE

NUMBER

PERCENTAGE

Inadequate knowledge

0

0%

moderate adequate knowledge

23

76.6%

adequate knowledge

7

23.3%

 

 

Fig No. 2 : shows the frequency and percentage distribution of level of knowledge regarding complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls

 

 

The above graph represent the frequency and percentage of level of knowledge regarding complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls in selected community, Srikakulam, Andhrapradesh. Among 30 parents 0(0%) had inadequate knowledge, 23(76.6%) had moderate knowledge and 7(23.3%) had adequate knowledge.

 

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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330873057

 

 

 

Received on 03.05.2024         Modified on 12.06.2024

Accepted on 26.07.2024       ©A&V Publications All right reserved

Int.  J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2024; 12(3):107-109.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2024.00024