The Role of Social Welfare Professionals in Controlling the Teenage Pregnancies in Estate Sectors: The Study of Moderating Effect

Teenage pregnancy is a significant socio-economic and public health challenge in the estate sectors of Sri Lanka and a global issue affecting high, low, and middle-income countries. This study aims to investigate the role of social welfare professionals in addressing the contributing factors, associated risks, and prevalence of teenage pregnancy in rural communities. The research employed a quantitative approach involving 157 teenage mothers who gave birth for the first time between the ages of 13 and 19 in the Nuwara Eliya Medical Health Office area from 2020 to 2023. During the selected period in Sri Lanka, there was a notable prevalence of teenage pregnancies, which coincided with various socioeconomic challenges affecting the country. This situation provides a valuable opportunity to analyse the multiple factors contributing to adolescent pregnancies. The data collection process included identifying pregnant mothers, clarifying the study's objectives, administering questionnaires, formulating open-ended questionnaires, and arranging interview arrangements. After data purification, 153 responses were analysed. As per the results, the above-stated factors were significantly contributing to teenage pregnancy, and among those, lack of knowledge (individual factors) and mother migration (social factors) were acknowledged as the leading contributing dimensions of teenage pregnancy. The study's findings demonstrate the significant role of social welfare professionals in mitigating teenage pregnancies through their implementation of social education programs. However, the study also indicates that the overall impact of these efforts is relatively limited, highlighting the need for further improvement and prompting ongoing debate regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of social welfare professionals' contributions. The researcher recommended actions for stakeholders, identified new factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in Sri Lanka, and proposed a model showing the role of social welfare professionals.