Many teenage girls are getting pregnant each year. Girls have to make adjustments because of their new situation. These changes, which occur as their life starts taking a new direction, were investigated. Pregnancy us about boys, as much as it is about girls and therefore the partners of these teenage mothers are included. In this dissertation there was also an attempt to find out the different factors contributing to this phenomenon, giving particular attention to the role of P.S.D. in secondary schools. Questions were posed; such as whether P.S.D. sessions are being delivered efficiently and effectively, in such a way to reach all the learners in the classroom. There was great collaboration from the Girl Mothers' Unit, Floriana where the dominant part of our research was conducted, through questionnaires and interviews. From our collected data, it was found out that most of the young mothers engaged themselves in what in psychology is referred to as the "personal fable"; believing that getting pregnant would never happen to them. Due to this there was little use of contraception, if any at all, and all teenagers confessed that they have had sex under the influence of alcohol. The majority of fathers took the responsibility of the child and committed themselves to the mother. Most of them worked full-time, and did their best to support the child. P.S.D. teachers showed keenness towards in-service courses, which would eventually help them to keep updated with Sexual Health and sexual issues. The majority of them was in favour and promoted parental involvement in Sex Education. P.S.D. sessions on Sex Education should not only involve the delivering of facts, but should encompass the skills, which would enrich the students with the ability to make rational decisions.

B. Ed. (Hons.)
May 2004

Keywords:

Pregnancy, Sex Education, Coping, Factors, Partners, Changes