PERCEIVED CAUSES AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF UNINTENDED PREGNANCY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ILORIN SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KWARA STATE

Unintended pregnancy is associated with increased risk for the mother and child, especially when the mother is under-aged. This study examined the perceived causes and health implications of unintended pregnancy among secondary school students in Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State. The study investigated mass media and the influence of peer groups as perceived causes of unintended pregnancy as well depression and reproductive health problems as perceived health implications of unintended pregnancy among secondary school students. A descriptive research design of survey type was employed for the study. Population for the study comprised all-female secondary school students in Ilorin south local government area put at 7,378 students. A multistage sampling technique of purposive, simple random and proportionate sampling techniques was used to select 150 female respondents across selected secondary schools. A researcher structured questionnaire validated by three experts in the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education and tested for reliability was used for data collection. Frequency count and percentages were used to analyze demographic information while Chi-square was used to analyze hypotheses set at 0.05 alpha level. The findings from the study revealed that: mass media and influence of peers were perceived as causes of unintended pregnancy among secondary school students of Ilorin South Local Government, Kwara State with calc. 𝑥 value of 128.40 ˃ table value of 16.92 and calc. 𝑥 value of 43.07 ˃ table value of 16.92 respectively at the df 9 and 0.05 alpha level; depression and reproductive health problems were perceived as health implications of unintended pregnancy among secondary school students in Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State with calc. 𝑥 value of 121.412 ˃ table value of 16.92 and calc.𝑥 value of 100.95 ˃ table value of 16.92 respectively at df 9 and at 0.05 alpha level. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that mass media and the influence of peer groups were perceived as causes of unintended pregnancy while depression and reproductive health problems were perceived as health implications of unintended pregnancy among secondary school students. It was thus recommended among others that appropriate subjects about sexuality should be aired on the broadcast systems as well as enlightenment programs be organized to educate adolescents on health risks associated with unintended pregnancy among secondary school students.