ABSTRACT
The study intended to investigate the factors influencing persistence of early pregnancy among teenagers in public secondary schools in Temeke Municipal The study was guided by specific objectives including; to explore the relationship between parents and their da ughters in regarding early pregnancy among teenagers in secondary schools, to find out the influence of household poverty level on early pregnancy among teenagers in secondary schools, to identify challenges facing the government in addressing the problems of early pregnancy among teenagers in secondary schools and to find out the impact of early pregnancy among teenagers in secondary schools to academic performance in Tanzania. The researcher collected data from 100 participants through three methods namely interview, questionnaires and documentary review. Results from the field study indicated that factors contributing to the teenage pregnancy in secondary schools at Temeke Municipal include poverty and lack of relationship between parents and their girls in regarding early pregnancy among teenagers in secondary schools such as poor relationship between parents and their daughters caused early pregnancy among teenagers in secondary schools, lack of enjoying time with parents to discuss family issues is regarding one of the cause of early pregnancy among teenagers in secondary schools, and lack of transparency and conflict between adolescents and their parents led to poor discussion among girls students. Also, the findings show that poverty and low household income has influence on early pregnancy among teenagers in secondary schools, family problems as single parent family. The study revealed female students were denied their right to education because once students discovered to have pregnancy expelled from school this decision ended their rights to education. The challenges facing government was identified as low efforts and lack of financial resources. This study concludes that there are factors responsible for teenager’s pregnancy in secondary schools in Temeke Municipal and have negative impacts on school academic performance and this should be controlled. It is recommended that Parents / guardians have to educate students about reproductive health. Provision of education in the field of sexuality and reproductive health should be promoted.