Senior High School Research Proposal 2024 | Qualitative Research

Republic Central Colleges, Angeles City, Philippines, May 2024

Delving Into the Realities of Pregnant Students: A Case Study

ANGELES, Andrei Josh., CANDELARIA, Kris Yuan., CARREON, Kurt Andrei.,

SANCHEZ, Justine Clement M., BANTIGUE, Fionna Lyan., MEJIA, Editha Faith., SANCHEZ,
Robyn Ayesza., SANTIAGO, Mary Joy.
11-HUMSS A | GROUP 04

Mr. Renz A. Camaya

Research Adviser

INTRODUCTION
Teenage Pregnancy has remained a of various reasons, such as; physical and emotional
persistent worldwide challenge, especially in the distress (Galabo, 2019). Aside from that, fear of
Philippines, a developing country in Southeast Asia. getting humiliated, financial strains, and the likes
In a study by Gregorio (2018), it was mentioned that are included. Moreover, the Republic Act 9710
regardless of the steps the Philippine Government known as the Magna Carta for Women Act of 2009,
makes, the Philippines still had increasing cases of states that no female student shall be declined from
teenage pregnancy, the sole country to experience it school because of her pregnancy. With that, the
among the countries in the Asia Pacific Region. Department of Education’s former secretary Leonor
Moreover, in 2019 an estimated 21 million Briones directed that pregnant women must be
pregnancies among teenagers in low and middle- allowed to continue their studies rather than
income countries (LMICs) between the ages of 15–19 expelling them (Bacelonia, 2024). With this study,
were seen; around 50% of these were unplanned, the experiences of the participants will foster
leading to an estimated 12 million births (World knowledge that can be adapt by women who are in
Health Organization, 2024). Furthermore, according the same situation and by various individuals who
to the Philippine Information Agency (2024), the rise are dealing with challenges in their lives.
in the overall number of families headed by
teenagers between the ages of 10–14 is the most As a result, the researchers are encouraged
concerning development. In the bracket, there were to conduct a study on the reasons, changes,
2,320 recorded cases of adolescent pregnancies in challenges, coping mechanisms, and support of
2021; by 2022, that number had risen dramatically previously pregnant students. Thus, the following
to 3,135 cases. literatures were reviewed by the researchers.

Adolescent pregnancy has major concerns, A study by Derasin et al. (2022), states that
such as the health of individuals, social, and pregnancy among teenagers can affect their
financial consequences (World Health Organization, physical, emotional, social, and even spiritual well-
2024). In addition, as stated by the United Nations being. It was also found out that adolescents
Children's Fund (2024), as a result of pregnancy, explored sexually because of fun resulting in
these students are being forced to drop out of school unplanned pregnancies. With that, those
which can affect their academic and job individuals have to pause going to school to focus on
opportunities. Adolescents are more likely to their baby's necessities. Being financially challenged
experience pregnancy difficulties compared to their was one of their struggles as young parents, but at
more senior counterparts. Furthermore, several least they have their parents for support.
studies demonstrate that teenagers are more prone Furthermore, with their situation, adolescents’
to bleeding, anemia, and hypertension and they parents tend to nag and hit them. However, despite
have a higher chance of contracting infections as these challenges that young parents have to go
well as problems with mental health (Philippine through, they are still enraptured by their child.
Legislators’ Committee on Population and
Development, 2020). Pregnant women may experience anxiety
and emotional distress during their pregnancy as it
Teenage Pregnancy as defined by UNICEF, will require many changes in their bodies, their
refers to pregnancy among girls aged from 13 to 19 families, finances, careers, and other areas of their
years old (as cited in Mezmur et al. 2021). Students lives (Tawiah, 2022). Those who experience stress,
who are in this kind of situation are likely to drop especially female students who get stressed by just
out from school or discontinue their studies, because being in school but seek support from their family

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Republic Central Colleges, Angeles City, Philippines, May 2024

and friends are less likely to experience negative significant role of parents in guiding their children.
outcomes whereas those who do vices that affect Thus, the researchers aim to explore also the
their health are more likely to engage in detrimental reasons, changes, challenges, coping mechanisms,
effects. Therefore, Tawiah concluded that the most and support of previously pregnant students which
usual way of coping mechanisms of pregnant female are not mentioned in the reviewed literatures,
students is resorting to their friends and relatives. making it a gap in research.
It was proven that the mentioned coping strategy
does not vary in age, college, and year of study of Statement of the Problem
pregnant students. This case study aims to explore the reasons,
changes, challenges, coping mechanisms, and
In the same light, a study by Galabo (2017), support of previously pregnant students.
discussed that the physical and emotional distress
experienced by the participants are caused by This study aims to answer the following:
constant tiredness and dizziness, pain caused by the
movement of the baby, sensitivity, and irritation 1. What are the reasons that pushed the
over little things. The participants are said to cope participants to continue their schooling
with the situation by not concerning themselves despite being pregnant?
with the judgment of the society, but rather make
their current situation a motivation to study harder,
and lastly seeking support from their significant 2. What changes do participants observe?
others, family, and friends is found to be the most
helpful for them. Galabo also mentioned that they 3. What challenges do participants experience
have felt regret at the end, promising not to be while continuing their schooling despite
engaged in such activities again. Furthermore, being pregnant?
Galabo described the pregnancy of the participants
as a momentary setback wherein these teens halted
4. What are the coping mechanisms of the
from going to school to focus on their pregnancy and
return after giving birth. In the study, it is also said participants?
that teens should listen to the advice of their parents
and teachers in order to have a better understanding 5. What support do participants receive?
about life, love and sex. In the end, love and
acceptance prevails as these teens experience
support and love from their family and peers. Significance of the Study
This study aims to explore the reasons,
Thobejane (2017), states that teenage changes, challenges, coping mechanisms and
pregnancy frequently results in young moms support systems of students who were previously
quitting school because of a variety of difficulties. pregnant while studying. This study will benefit the
Teens who are pregnant often experience high levels following:
of stress, limited resources, and a lack of support, all
of which can make it difficult for them to finish their Students. This study will provide
education. Parenting obligations frequently collide awareness for students who tend to show a negative
with academic achievement and attendance at attitude towards their co-students who are
school. Discrimination and stigma from society experiencing this kind of challenge during the
towards pregnant teenagers can worsen the issue by academic year. In addition, it will guide students in
fostering feelings of loneliness and low self-worth, exploring sexual matters.
which in turn raises the risk of dropout rates.
Students experience a lack of concentration that has Parents. This study holds immense
a detrimental effect on their academic performance, significance for parents of pregnant students who
hence, students lose focus since are not capable of chose to continue their education. By delving into
having enough time to rest due to the stipulation of the experiences, challenges and coping mechanisms
their school responsibilities and the condition of encountered by these individuals, this research will
being pregnant. (Thabethe et al., 2020). provide invaluable insights that empower parents
with a profound understanding of their child's
These several related literatures showed unique circumstances, equipping them with the
that pregnancy among adolescents causes health knowledge and tools to nurture aspirations and
problems and it affects them psychologically, create an environment conducive to academic,
emotionally, mentally, and socially. Even the personal and emotional growth throughout their
academics of these individuals can be affected. The journey.
related literatures above also highlighted the

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Republic Central Colleges, Angeles City, Philippines, May 2024

Teachers. This study will help teachers Participants

better understand the difficulties pregnant students In the study, the participants are set in a
face. With that, teachers can create much better qualification of (1) a female student who goes to
teaching methods and a safe and supportive school despite pregnancy. To support this idea,
environment to properly accommodate the students’ former secretary of the Department of Education
needs which will contribute to their academic (DepEd) Leonor Briones noted that the DepEd
success and overall well-being. allows pregnant learners— particularly in public
schools— to continue their studies. “We do not
Future researchers. This study will provide encourage schools to expel them,” Briones
additional knowledge to future researchers that can mentioned (Nazario et al., 2019); (2) the age
be used as a reference. It will also serve as a guide qualifications for participants will be adopted from
for future researchers to keep on finding more Banico and Manaig (2019), revised the qualifications
related studies for them to be able to fill the gaps based on the researcher's study, the age should
and improve the data that they will be using. delimit from 19-25 years old.

Scope and Delimitation Sampling Technique

The scope of this study focuses on the extent For this study, the researchers will utilize
of challenges and changes the participants snowball sampling techniques to determine the
experienced while studying during their pregnancy. participants. The snowball sampling technique also
It will tackle the reasons that pushed the known as “ referral sampling” usually starts with a
participants through and the coping mechanisms small group of people with particular characteristics
they did in overcoming the situation. It includes the that the researcher allotted. This sampling approach
support the participants are receiving as they go allows researchers to access hard-to-reach
through their pregnancy while schooling. populations by taking advantage of participant’s
social life. Still, it may also lead to biases if the
Therefore, the researchers delimit this referral chain becomes too restricted (Parker et al.,
study to the previously pregnant students who had 2019). Participants will be chosen in the
been pursuing their studies despite the presence of qualifications of: (1) a female student who continues
the child inside their womb. This study is bounded attending school despite pregnancy. In addition to
within the school divisions of Angeles City, this, former DepEd secretary Leonor Briones
Pampanga. mentioned that DepEd allows pregnant students to
still attend school; (2) should age from 19–25 years
METHODS old as adopted from the study of Banico and Manaig
In this part of the paper, the researchers (2019).
will present and discuss the Research Design,
Participants, Sampling Technique, Instrument, Instrument
Data Gathering Procedure, Data Analysis and The study will utilize interview guide
Ethical Considerations accordingly. questions that will be used in gathering data and
information from selected participants. According to
Research Design Mcleod (2023), interview guide questionnaires are a
The researchers will determine the reasons, series of questions whose purpose is to gather useful
changes, challenges, coping mechanisms, and information from different participants.
support of previously pregnant students while Additionally, this tool is being used to guide the
attending school in spite of their pregnancy which researchers to properly conduct the interview and
may illustrate their way of living as they go from organize their thoughts to ask follow-up questions in
school to home with the responsibility of a soon-to- a discussion format, and it has open-ended questions
be parent. This study would like to seek information (Singh & Shareef, n.d.). This tool will focus on the
on the participants’ experiences from the beginning participants’ reasons, changes, challenges, coping
up to their ongoing journey. Case Study as the mechanisms, and support of previously pregnant
method will be applied in this qualitative research. students who chose to continue their education
As for MSED Cherry (2024), a Case Study is an in- rather than staying at home. The questionnaire will
depth study of someone, an event, or a unique be validated by experts in the field of qualitative
situation that includes a perspective to seek further research.
to a newly discovered phenomenon. For this study, a
case study will help the researchers delve deeper Data Gathering Procedure
into the participant's reasons, changes, challenges, The study will make use of semi-structured
coping mechanisms, and support that would help the interviews on a one-on-one interview basis. Semi-
researchers attain their desired goal. structured interview refers to the flexibility and
efficiency of this method in gathering information. It

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 Senior High School Research Proposal 2024 | Qualitative Research
Republic Central Colleges, Angeles City, Philippines, May 2024

also highlights that researchers could change their Data Analysis

study topics while staying on course, and the In analyzing the collected data, the
primary goal of this is to produce strong results researchers will utilize content analysis. According
(Ruslin et al., 2022). Usually, this approach entails to Luo (2019), a technique used for finding patterns
a conversation between the participant and the in recorded communication is content analysis. You
researcher, aided by an adaptable interview protocol must methodically gather information from a
and enhanced by comments, follow-up questions, collection of texts, which may be written, spoken, or
and probes. With this approach, the researchers can visual-in order to perform content analysis. Content
gather raw information, investigate participant analysis is a tool used by researchers to investigate
ideas, opinions, and sentiments regarding a specific the objectives, themes, and outcomes of the
subject, and go deeply into private and occasionally communication content. Upon transcribing the
delicate matters. (DeJonckheere & Vaughn, 2019). interview, assessment of data will take place and
The researchers shall have to ask for the patterns and themes will be identified which will be
participants’ permission before proceeding with the grouped and counted as how many times themes are
interview. With that, the researchers will schedule a stated.
face-to-face or a Google Meeting if the situation will
require the researchers to do so wherein the Ethical Considerations
participants will be asked for permission to record The researchers will take consideration
the entire conversation. After that, the transcription while conducting this study. The participants will be
of the interview will follow. When the participants given a consent form before the interview. Any
agree to partake in this study, the researchers shall personal information of the participants will be kept
follow and conduct these procedures. confidential. Participants will have the prerogative
to refuse to share information or withdraw if they
Informed Consent. This should be obtained are not comfortable. For instance, the researchers
before the participant participates in the research will make sure that the participants are well-
study voluntarily with full information about what informed about the processes that will involve them.
are the consequences and considerations for them to The researchers will ensure the participant's
take part. ( University of Oxford, 2021). According to confidentiality is maintained throughout the study,
a study by Shah et al. (2023), It educates the with strict adherence to ethical guidelines. To
participants about the proposed procedure's risks, authorize individuals participating in the study, the
benefits, and alternatives. It allows participants to study will be guided by the Republic Act No. 10173,
make a voluntary decision about whether to undergo known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA). This
the procedure or not. Obtaining informed consent is will serve as a protection of data and to ensure the
an ethical and legal obligation for a researcher to participants’ information will be kept confidential
respect the participant's rights. and used only for research purposes.

Interview Process. The researcher of this

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