CONSEQUENCES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY ON ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN MAKURDI AND TARKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS Of BENUE STATE NIGERIA

Teenage pregnancy is a major Public Health and social problem the world over and its incidence is on the increase. Concern about the increase in unmarried adolescence pregnancy has been worrisome throughout Africa. Taken as a region, the countries of the sub-Saharan Africa have the highest level of early child bearing in the world (WHO, 2015). Teenage pregnancy has become a public concern which has generated a great deal in Nigeria. In the same light, an NGO (African health programme) based in Makurdi that works with vulnerable children and the out of school youths asserted that a close look at statistics shows that many vulnerable children are dropped by teenage parents who in one way or the other gets pregnant, deliver and sooner or later abandon the children to go in search of greener pastures. According to the NGO, many out of school youths dropped-out vrom school. Youths dropped from school when they discover that there are pregnant aid in most cases never return back to school.