Perceived Effects of Teenage Pregnancy on Academic Performance and Career Prospects of Female Students in Secondary Schools in Aba North, Abia State, Nigeria: Students’ and Teachers’ Perspectives

Background: Teenage pregnancy can disrupt girls’ schooling and long-term prospects, but little is known about how students and teachers in Aba North, Abia State, see its effects. Aim: To examine students’ and teachers’ perceptions of the effects of teenage pregnancy on students’ academic performance and its implications for women’s career development. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in two senior secondary schools between February and May 2023. A structured four-point Likert questionnaire with five effect items and four implication items was completed by 62 students (82.7% response) and 11 teachers. Data were analysed with frequencies, percentages and mean scores against a criterion mean of 2.50. Results: Pooled means exceeded the criterion for all nine items in both groups. Among students, depression and frustration (mean = 3.56; all agreed) and school drop-out (3.32) were the strongest effects, and low education status of women the weakest (2.56). Poverty (3.27) and low education status (3.16) were the strongest implications. Teachers’ means were highest for drop-out and career disruption (both 3.55). Schools differed on high maternal death (students: 3.53 at Okigwe Road, 2.47 at Girls Technical College) and, among teachers, on poverty (3.40 and 2.33). Conclusion: Students and teachers saw teenage pregnancy as damaging to girls’ schooling, emotional wellbeing and long-term prospects. The findings point to school-based psychosocial support and re-entry measures, but they reflect perceptions in two schools and should be interpreted cautiously.