Teenage Pregnancy in Secondary Schools: A Multiple Case Study

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to describe the teenage pregnancy in secondary schools in the Philippines and delve into the lived experiences of the participants involved in the study. Five secondary school students who experienced early pregnancy without the benefit of marriage were chosen through purposive sampling. In-depth interview, observations, and field notes were utilized in the gathering of data. Using thematic analysis, major findings disclosed that pregnant students experienced physical and emotional distress, anxiety of the unknown, shame and humiliation, changes and prohibitions, love and support of significant others. Pregnant students tried to cope the situation by means of apathy, tenacity and turning to support systems. Along with the realizations of pregnant students, the study highlighted that regrets and remorse always come to fore, early pregnancy is a momentary setback, young girls should know better about life, love and sex, and that love and acceptance prevail in the end.