The level of knowledge and practice of teenage mothers regarding child care in Imus I, Cavite

The study utilized the descriptive exploratory type of research. It involved 50 or 60.98% out of the 82 estimated teenage mothers from all towns of Imus I, Cavite. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling technique. The data gathering instrument used was a questionnaire adapted from McHall and Huston’s (1984) study and developed by Cabay (1996). The researchers added a self-made section in the questionnaire to measure the level of knowledge of the respondents. Frequency, percent distribution, mean, Pearson Chi-Square Test and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient were the statistical treatments utilized. The study concluded that, 1) Most of the respondents were the eldest in the family, not married, attained high school education, not working, belong to low socio-economic status having a monthly income of below P10,000 and were supported by their parents; 2) The level of knowledge of teenage mothers in terms of physical, social and emotional, cognitive, spiritual and moral aspects of child care was 3.75 which means that they have more than enough knowledge concerning these aspects of child care. The respondents were involved the most in the social and emotional aspect of child care obtaining 3.82, followed by the physical aspect of child care obtaining 3.73 and the cognitive, moral and spiritual aspect obtaining 3.70, which means that they have more than enough knowledge; 3) The level of practice of teenage mothers in terms of physical, social and emotional, cognitive, spiritual and moral aspects of child care was 3.86, which means that they performed child care most of the time concerning these aspects of child care. The respondents were involved the most in the physical aspect of child care obtaining 4.00, followed by the social and emotional aspect of child care obtaining 3.80 and the cognitive, moral and spiritual aspect gaining 3.78, which means that they performed child care most of the time; 4) There were no significant differences in the level of knowledge of teenage mothers in terms of ordinal position in the family, civil status, educational attainment, employment status, monthly income and presence of support system of the respondents. These variables do not affect the level of knowledge of teenage mothers; 5) There were no significant differences in the level of practice of teenage mothers in terms of ordinal position in the family, civil status, educational attainment, employment status, monthly income and presence of support system of the respondents. These variables do not affect the level of practice of teenage mothers; 6) The level of knowledge of teenage mothers is directly proportional with the level of practice in all aspects of child care namely, physical, social and emotional and cognitive, spiritual and moral aspects. The level of knowledge increases as the level of practice also increases and vice versa