Moral challenges in handling pregnant school adolescents in Tanga municipality, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: In Tanzania, about 8,000 girls drop out of schools due to pregnancy every year and it has been reported that this group is faced with discrimination. Mishandling of pregnant adolescents may be reason for discrimination and may lead them to opt for risky actions such as unsafe abortion, abandonment of newborns and even suicide. Objectives: The study aimed to explore the moral challenges in handling pregnant school adolescents in Tanga municipality, Tanzania. Methods: This was an exploratory study which used criterion type of purposive sampling and qualitative methods of data collection. Content analysis methods ware used to obtain themes from data scripts. Results: A total of 21 participants were involved which include teachers, parents/guardians, community leaders and religious scholars. Three main themes were obtained: Parent’s decision on the fate of pregnant school adolescents; education policy and laws with regards to school pregnant cases, and discrimination in handling pregnant school adolescents. Conclusion: From the findings of this study, it is concluded that; there are moral challenges in handling pregnant school adolescents as result of implementation of education policy, laws and community culture that breach bioethical principles. The study recommended that; the government should revise the current education regulations to eliminate the sense of gender discrimination and to promote equality in education.