Unplanned teenage pregnancy is a significant public health issue that affects not only the physical and emotional well-being of young women but also their educational opportunities, social inclusion, and prospects. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 21 million girls aged 15 to 19 become pregnant each year in developing countries, and around 12 million of them give birth (WHO, 2024). This issue is also relevant in Latvia, where the adolescent birth rate in 2023 was 8 births per 1,000 girls—the highest among the Baltic states (World Bank, 2022).
One of the most important preventive measures is high-quality, age-appropriate sexual education that provides knowledge about physiology, relationships, and responsible decision-making. In many countries, access to sexual education can be limited by parental caution, lack of information, and insufficient support from professionals. As a result, adolescents often rely on social media and other informal sources, which frequently provide inaccurate or misleading information (Skonieczna, Olejniczak, Kielan, 2017).

Aim of the study:
To determine high school students’ awareness of unplanned pregnancy before and after an educational lecture.

Methods:
A quantitative, two-phase study was conducted from September 26, 2024, to May 29, 2025, involving 161 adult high school students (n = 161) from 11th and 12th grades in four Latvian secondary schools. Participants were 18 years or older; 63.4% were female, 33.5% were male, and 3.1% did not disclose their gender. In phase one, students attended an educational lecture on unplanned pregnancy, covering risks, prevention strategies, and legal aspects, followed by a structured baseline questionnaire. One month later, in phase two, the same questionnaire was completed again to evaluate knowledge changes. Ethical approval and written institutional consent were obtained.

Results:
Before the lecture, 54.7% of students reported that unplanned pregnancy had never been discussed in their families. Knowledge of key issues was limited: only 35.4% knew that abortion is legal in Latvia up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, and just 42.9% correctly identified that a pregnancy test becomes reliable after a missed period. After the intervention (n = 144), knowledge improved significantly: 88.9% correctly identified the legal abortion limit, and 64.6% correctly understood test reliability. Female students consistently demonstrated higher pre- and post-intervention awareness compared to males.

Conclusions:
Students rarely or never receive structured information about teenage pregnancy through school or family. However, a single, well-designed educational intervention significantly increases awareness, reduces uncertainty, and supports informed reproductive health decisions. The results highlight the importance of including both medical and legal aspects of unplanned pregnancy in comprehensive, gender-inclusive sexuality education programs.

Keywords: Unplanned pregnancy, sexual education, teenage pregnancy, educational lecture.