International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue IV, April 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Challenges Faced by Pregnant Students at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana and Strategies for Supporting Them.

Gifty Nordzi¹, SeyramDusu², Dr. Hinneh Kusi^3
1St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe Education Department, Post Office Box 100, Hohoe
²Mampong Technical College of Education, Department of Education and Professional Studies
Post Office Box 31, Ashanti Mampong
³Department of Educational Administration and Management, Faculty of Educational Studies.
University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.

Abstract: This study explored the challenges faced by pregnant students at the University of Education, Winneba and strategies for supporting them. It was a qualitative study underpinned by interpretive philosophical thought. The study employed a case study approach and collected data using the semi-structured interview. Snowball sampling strategy was employed to select thirty (30) pregnant students, maximal variation sampling technique to select five (5) counsellors, and convenient sampling technique to select five (5) lecturers for the study. The study revealed that the social challenges faced by the students were related to the attitudes of lecturers and students towards them, while the academic challenges included slow pace of studying, which affected their performance negatively. The study pointed out that the pregnant students coped with their social challenges mainly through the avoidance coping mechanism and the academic challenges by managing their time effectively and joining group discussions. It was concluded, among others, that the pregnant students at the university experienced some difficulties in their academic work because the available facilities as well as their colleagues and lecturers in the institution do not support their condition or situation. It was recommended, among others that, the university’s counselling centre should educate students and lecturers on how to handle and associate with the pregnant students and treat them as individuals with special needs.

Key words: pregnant students, coping strategies, academic, social and psychological challenge

I.INTRODUCTION

Education is believed to provide knowledge and skills that hold potentials for economic empowerment, for better livelihood and social development. Due to their reproductive responsibilities women have to combine their quest for higher education with pregnancy. Pregnancy is a unique experience and a major social expectation of women that most females encounter at various stages in their lives. This makes pregnancy an acceptable occurrence in most tertiary institutions in Ghana.
Many women may be going back to study, because of the increasing advocacy campaign for the equality of women, high competition at work and at home. Constantly, many women, including mothers, have joined institutions of higher