Impacts of adolescent pregnancy in rural Thailand | |
| Author | Nantawat Rujiratpichathorn |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-16-10 |
| Subject(s) | Pregnancy in Adolescence--Thailand Adolescent--Psychology |
| Note | 192 leaves : ill. |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. RD-16-10 |
| Abstract | The research analyzed psychological, social and economic impacts of adolescent pregnancy in rural Thailand. Adolescent pregnancy has been a significant social problem of the country for a long time. The objectives of this research were to identify risk factors causing adolescent pregnancy, to study the role of partner and their relationship, to assess impacts of adolescent pregnancy, to examine interventions and social services supported by organizations and satisfaction of adolescent pregnancy and to give recommendations to reduce impacts to adolescent pregnancy. Adolescent pregnancy in this research covered teenagers, who got pregnant aged be tween 13 to 19 years old both intentionally and unintentionally. The research was an explanatory type explaining a relationship between risk factors of adolescent pregnancy and its impacts. It was primarily based on quantitative approach with the support of qualitative aspects. A survey questionnaire with a total of 67 sampled adolescent pregnancies was conducted as a prime method for data collection. Also field observation, key informants interview and focus group discussion were also applied. The research found that risk factors of intended and unintended pregnancy were varied according to individual, family, peer and environmental dimensions. Most of unintended pregnancies lacked of knowledge in contraception, had early sexual behavior and used social media and network improperly more than those from intended pregnancies. They also lacked of parental interaction and had low education of parents more than those from intended pregnancies. They imitated their peer’s behavior and got sexual pressure from peers more than intended pregnancies. Most of unintended pregnancies lived closer to areas easily accessible to alcohol than intended pregnancies. The impacts of the intended and unintended pregnancy were also varied. Unintended pregnancies suffered from psychological aspects more than the intended pregnancies. These include depression, stress, embarrassment, feeling unready to be a mother and having an idea to commit suicide. Social impacts affected them regarding drop - out from the school, defamation to family and risks to the newborn’s health more than the other group. Also, they faced with economic impacts more than intended pregnancies on limited employment opportunity after pregnancy, insufficient income, inadequate family labor to work in agriculture of their household and high expenditure on healthcare and medical treatment. The interventions used to overcome psychological and social impacts were consulting with parents and partner and got assistances from Somdejprasangkharach XVII hospital and Tambon Hea lth Promoting Hospitals. They got parental and partner’s financial support to reduce their economic impact. A set of recommendations are given to reduce unfavorable impacts of adolescent pregnancy. These consist of raising awareness and enhancing knowledge on adolescent pregnancy prevention to teenager, encouraging continuing education of dropped-out adolescent pregnancy and providing skill training to enhance job opportunity for adolescent pregnancy. |
| Year | 2016 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. RD-16-10 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Soparth Pongquan; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko; Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Thailand (HM Queen); |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2016 |