TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND IT’S EFFECTS ON THE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE GIRL CHILD IN BENIN CITY

Teenage pregnancy remains a critical social issue that significantly affects the educational development of the girl child, particularly in urban areas such as Benin City, Nigeria. This study examines the causes, prevalence, and consequences of teenage pregnancy and its impact on girls’ access to and participation in education. The research identifies key contributing factors such as inadequate sex education, poverty, peer pressure, and poor parental guidance. The study further highlights the major educational challenges faced by pregnant teenagers, including school dropout, poor academic performance, interrupted learning, and social stigma. These challenges often result in limited opportunities for higher education and future employment, thereby perpetuating cycles of poverty and gender inequality. Using a descriptive research approach, data were gathered from secondary sources including journals, reports, and relevant literature. The findings reveal that teenage pregnancy has a significantly negative effect on the educational attainment of the girl child in Benin City