Perceptions of Accredited Social Health Activists Regarding Teenage Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study in a Rural Area of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is one of the most important social and public health problems all over the world. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) may play a substantial role to reduce the magnitude of the problem. Aim: To understand the perceptions of ASHAs regarding teenage pregnancy and its preventive measures. Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative study which included 10 ASHAs in Singur block. A focussed group discussion guide was prepared with following themes-Theme 1: Knowledge of teenage pregnancy, legal age of marriage and pregnancy, Theme 2: Burden of teenage pregnancy, Theme 3: Reasons behind teenage pregnancy, Theme 4: Harmful effects of teenage pregnancy, Theme 5: Role of health workers in reducing burden of teenage pregnancy, Theme 6: Role of government in reducing burden of teenage pregnancy and Theme 7: Suggestions for reducing burden of teenage pregnancy. The analysis of the reports was done thematically. Results: It was found that teenage pregnancy though reported less in past few years still exist in the rural society. The main reasons reported for such finding was lack of education, lack of awareness about ill effects of teenage pregnancy, lack of women empowerment, early marriage, poor knowledge of family planning services etc. ASHAs said that it may be reduced by means of personal counselling, women empowerment, monthly awareness meetings, provision of sex education at school level, intersectorial coordination at all levels of health care delivery system and provision of more stringent law against early marriages. Sociogram shows fair amount of participation that strengthen the study results. Conclusion: The study revealed that burden of teenage pregnancy is though low but still exists. ASHAs highlighted facts regarding teenage pregnancy and their laid suggestions which may help policy makers to design suitable interventions and conduct further study with broader conceptual framework in future.

Keywords

• focussed group discussion
• preventive measures
• sociogram