Situation and Measures to Solve the Problems Relating to Teenage Pregnancy in Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

Population size of the native Thai and the hill tribes are almost equal in Mae Suai district, Chiang Rai province. In 2012, the teenage pregnancy rate was 21.1% of all pregnancies. This study aimed to analyze the situation and causes which might lead to solutions that could reduce the teenage pregnancy rate in Mae Suai area. This research was conducted by structured interviewing of pregnant teenagers whose age was under 20 years old, and came for the first antenatal care (ANC) in Mae Suai hospital during July to September 2012. Descriptive statistic and content analysis were used for data analysis. It was found that there were 50 pregnant teenagers attending the ANC, with the ages between 13 years 8 months to 19 years 10 mouths, average aged 16 years 5 mouths (SD 23.23). Eighteen percent of the teenagers were native, and 66.7% of them were unwanted pregnancies and within student status. 82% were hill tribes and 87.80% of them determined to be conceived. As a result of the hill tribe laborious society, early marriage, early conceive a child, and educational ignorance are eminent. Hence, reduction rate of teenage pregnancy in Mae Suai area will take time. With the purpose for best result, the adjustment of strategic for this long term transaction by high performance of antenatal care, intrapartum care, and postpartum care are essential.