Social Economic Status and Early Pregnancy in Primary School Children in Northern Uganda: A Case Study of Zombo District.

ABSTRACT

 The study was Social economic status and early pregnancy in primary school children in northern Uganda carried out in zombo districtThe purpose of the study was to see how low socio economic status of a family leads to early pregnancies in primary children in northern Uganda.The study was governed by general, specific objectives and well structured questionnaire and the general objective was to establish the factors of the socio economic status that lead to early pregnancies in primary school children and some of the specific objective included to find out how the impact of high numbers of children in the family has led to early pregnancies, to find how the impact of low financial income has led to early pregnancies in primary school children and to find out how parents’ attitude towards girl child education has led to early pregnancies in primary school children. The study population was constituted of those who were mainly the victims of early pregnancy when in primary school and key stake holders like the community leaders (religious leaders, community workers) and the school administrators The study was carried had 25 participants, some of whom were the girls who were victims of early pregnancy and all had different reasons to give for this predicament and eventually dropping out of school. But above all, most ofthem became victims because of the poor financial income of their parents, who could not meet all their needs.In the findings the study shown that the girls who were victims of early pregnancy were mostly as a result of broken homes whereby they had to live with their fathers’ wives, the age distribution showed that more respondents were of 16-17 years. Inquiry into the area of residence showed that the majority of respondents came from urban communities. The researcher recommends that there should be community integration and social control of early pregnancy. Everyone should feel responsible for guiding children into the path of good behavior. This requires massive campaigns, sensitizations. Parents should be taught how to maintain a harmonious atmosphere in the family. Among the recommendations cited by the respondents are; reconciliation and forgiveness on the part of the parents, avoid harsh punishments all of which promote hannonious relationships in the family.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

DEDICATION ii

APPROVAL iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

LIST OF TABLES viii

ABSTRACT ix

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 2

1.3 Purpose of the study 2

1.4 Objectives of the study 2

1.4.1 General objective 2

1.5 Significance of the study 3

1.6 Research questions 3

1.7 Scope of the study 3

1.7.1 Subject scope 4

1.7.2 Geographical scope 4

1.8 Conceptual frameworks 4

CHAPTERTWO 5

LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.0 Introduction 5

2.1 Theoretical perspectives 5

2.2 Socio economic status factors leading to early pregnancy of primary school children 6

2.2.3 Effects ofearly pregnancy 8

2.2.4 CHALENGES/CONCERNS 9

2.3 Summary 9

V

CHAPTER THREE .10

METHODOLOGY 10

3.0 Introduction 10

3.1 Research design 10

3.2 Research population 10

3.3 Sampling size 10

3.4 Sampling techniques and procedures 11

3.5 Data collection method 11

3.6 Data presentation and analysis 11

3.7 Limitations ofthe study 11

3.8 Current problem 12

CHAPTER FOUR 13

4.0 Introduction 13

4.1 Back ground information of family 13

4.2 Current problems 13

4.2.1 Proposed solution to avoid the above mentioned problem 13

4.2.2 Performance of the system 14

4.3 Home situations 14

4.3.1 Incidence of quarrels 14

4.3.2 Socio Economic Status 15

4.4 Housing 16

4.4.1 Parent- child Interaction 17

4.4.2 Parenting behavior among respondents 17

4.4.3 Parent assistance 18

4.4.4 Religious Devotions 18

4.4.5 Prayers at home 19

CHAPTER FIVE 20

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 20

5.0 Introduction 20

5.1 Summary 20

5.2. Recommendation for intervention 21

vi

REFERENCE .23

APPENDICES .24

QUESTIONNAIRE 24