Implications of Early Pregnancy among Primary School Girls on Social-Economiic Transformation in Kakooga Cell, Kyaterekera Town Council, Kagadi District

Abstract

This action research was aimed at finding the implications of early pregnancy among primary school girls on social-economic transformation in Kakooga cell, Kyaterekera Town Council. The study pursued to find out why the girls got pregnant when they were still studying and ended up dropping out from school. Method: Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FDGs) to allow the researcher a stand to ask questions and to explore the people ‟ factors of early pregnancy among primary school going girls‟‟. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel, including frequencies, percentages and pie charts to identify the implications of early pregnancy among the school going girls. A total of 144 people, 21 teachers, 68 young 30 parents, and guardians, 15 young parents and 10 leaders from Kakooga Cell purposively participated in this study. The study revealed that early pregnancy had a negative effect on the school attendance, academic performance, emotional behavior and relationships between pregnant girls, their peers and family friends. It recommended that sex education should be taken seriously in primary schools thus teachers should mediate it with health professionals in the community; pregnant learners to be supported and not being stigmatized by school stakeholders, parents to encourage girls use preventive and protective measures and encourage them to delay engaging themselves in sexual intercourse. Conclusion: Peer pressure was the major factor that led to early pregnancy among the primary school girls followed by poverty in Kakooga Cell. Key words: Early Pregnancy, Peer Pressure, Poverty, young girl