Poverty and adolescent pregnancy in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan
Loading...
Date
2023-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, College of Humanities and social Science
Abstract
This study aimed at assessing the effect of poverty on adolescent pregnancy in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. It was guided by three objectives of; (i) To determine the effect of illiteracy on adolescent pregnancy in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan, (ii) To examine the effect of poor standard of living on adolescent pregnancy in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan, and (iv) To establish the effect of inadequate income on adolescent pregnancy in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. The study employed a descriptive survey design which enabled assessing the characteristics of a particular individual, or of a group. It determined the effect between variables and the relationship between variables. The study was based on two approaches, and these included quantitative and qualitative approaches for the purposes of proper triangulation of data. The study though targeted a population of 13417 adolescent girls from which a sample of 323 respondents were determined using Solven’s formula, (1932). In determining the sample, the study employed both simple random sampling and purposive techniques. The study employed both questionnaires and interviews as data collection instruments for both primary and secondary data. The collected data was sorted, entered into computer package and analysed using SPSS 16. The study results shows that a positive and relatively significant relationship between illiteracy and adolescent pregnancy (Pearson correlation of .640 and P-value < 0.01), which implied that an increase in illiteracy levels resulted into high risks of adolescent pregnancy in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. The findings also shows a positive and significant relationship between poor standard of living and adolescent pregnancy in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan (r = .570, P-value < 0.01) which implied that improved standards of living will ultimately lead to reducing rates of adolescent pregnancy in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan and a moderately positive and significant relationship between inadequate income and adolescent pregnancy (r = .582, P-value < 0.01) which implied that improvement in income levels will lead to low rates of adolescent pregnancy. This meant that, women of low socio-economic status, whose mothers dropped out of high school, are more likely to give birth as a single teenager if they live in a region of high income inequality. In conclusion, the study concluded that the increasing adolescent pregnancies in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan are highly blamed on the increasing illiteracy levels in the area. Further, the study concludes that the inadequate incomes of some parents/ families partly leads to adolescent pregnancies as adolescents struggle to get a penny for their living, and hence end up into sexual dishonesty for money. The study recommends that there is a need to improve literacy to achieve the higher goal of better meeting the demand for education for children and adults. Improve the living and working conditions of literacy staff to stimulate their enthusiasm for the job and prevent brain drain; and build these players' capacities to guarantee the quality of training on the ground. Access to basic health care is another way to improve the standard of living. Financial and microfinance institutions should employ agents to at least every parish or sub-county to grant households easy access to financial services and services and assistance.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the college of humanities and social sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a master’s degree in social work and social administration of Kampala International University
Keywords
Poverty, Adolescent pregnancy