An Investigation of the Church’s Response to Teenage Pregnancies: A Case Study of Kiyunga Archdeaconry, Central Busoga Diocese.
Date
2023-08-28
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uganda Christian University
Abstract
This study investigated the Church’s Response to Teenage Pregnancies: A case study of Kiyunga Archdeaconry, Central Busoga Diocese. The study was guided by three specific objectives; to assess the causes of teenage pregnancies in Kiyunga Archdeaconry Central Busoga Diocese; to assess the effects of teenage pregnancies on the people of Kiyunga Archdeaconry Central Busoga Diocese, to find out how the church has responded to the problem of teenage pregnancies in Kiyunga Archdeaconry Central Busoga Diocese. The study employed a cross sectional design both purposive and simple random sampling procedure were used to select respondents. A sample size of 160 respondents was used including Mothers Union members, Fathers’ Union members, Lay Readers, Teachers, and Church community members whose views were investigated using questionnaires, and focus discussion guides.
The findings revealed that teenage pregnancies are a real challenge in Kiyunga Archdeaonry. The causes range from poor parenting, covid-19 lock down, poverty and teenagers not fearing God, among others. The effects include; Dropping out of school and others like Death cases, Early marriage, Poverty, Conflicts and depression, Health problems, Poor child care, Dropping out of church among others. The Church has intervened in different ways such as formation of ‘Ekisagati’ for youths, Sensitizing them about PIASCY messages and different society issues and how to maneuver around them, teaching them new income generating projects to avoid being idle and many more, but more needs to be done, especially Fellowships with parents to be encouraged to realize their parental roles in nurturing the youths through proper and exemplary parenthood and emphasizing mindset shift from child/ early marriage to proper education as emphasized in Proverbs 13: 24, 29:15, 22:3, 30:7-17.
Description
This is a dissertation