THE PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACT OF TEENAGE MOTHERHOOD IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the psychosocial impact of teenage motherhood in Egor Local Government Area. the study adopted the survey research design which was used to gather data from a sample of 100 respondents. The hypothesis were tested using chi-square statistical technique, the result revealed that teenage motherhood exhibits negative parental outcomes that affect child development in Egor Local Government Area; the result also shows that teenage mothers suffers from poor socioeconomic consequences in Egor Local Government Area; the result indicated that teenage motherhood has physical and psychological effect on the teen mother in Egor Local Government Area and the result father shows that teenage motherhood can disrupt educational attainment of the teen mother in Egor Local Government Area. the study recommends that the provision of economic opportunities to young girls, promoting education of girls and using mass media to increase the awareness of the whole community about the consequences of early marriage on girls themselves, their family and on the community as a whole. Government should make policy for the education of all Nigerian girls at least to have secondary education. Tertiary education is actually the best since this is the level where a girl will have all-round development and maturity to give her free and full consent to a marriage proposal, set up her own business and contribute to her personal and societal developments. Women are more likely to control their own destinies and effect change in their communities when they have higher levels of education. There should also be a programme to encourage parents’ involvement with children to foster healthy academic morale and discipline to the children. There should be effective child educational policy by the government and other policymakers to encourage well performing children in school and special educational programme tailored to uplift academically non-performing child students. Early intervention also helps increase teenage mothers’ take up of work, education or training. If young parents are offered the right support at the right time – for example supported housing – it can increase their rates of participation in society and improve the longterm outlook of both parent and baby. Many local area projects have evidence to show that early intervention has been a success.