Evaluation of environmental and social factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy

Abstract

The central public health concern confronting many developing and developed countries is teenage pregnancy, which sits high on the global health and development agenda. However, despite the governments’ available intervention strategies, it is estimated that 7.3 million teenage girls become pregnant in developing countries every year. It is a socio-economic predicament that affects families and governments in the 21^st century. Health and socio-economic and physiological risks associated with early childbirth and educational challenges are the harsh realities that face pregnant teenagers. The intention of this paper is to re-examine meticulously the available literature on teenage pregnancy, the efficacy of available intervention strategies, and to explore and recommend new measures that can be taken to curb teenage pregnancies. Furthermore, this study recommends multi-approach intervention measures that are co-ordinated, monitored, and evaluated to prevent teenage pregnancies and teenage girls should be at the centre of those strategies.

Keywords: Evaluation, Social work, teenage pregnancy