Making meaning of teenage pregnancy among school-going youth: The case of selected eThekwini Municipality secondary schools

abstract

eThekwini school learners in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are the focus of much debate in campaigns to prevent HIV infection and reduce teenage pregnancy. This article discusses research with a sample of male and female school-going youth, which aimed to explore their attitudes, behaviours and beliefs on teenage pregnancy. Two methods of data collection were used. A quantitative survey was conducted with Grade 11 teenagers (335) of average age 17 years from 10 urban schools in KZN, who completed a self-reporting questionnaire on their attitudes and beliefs related to teenage pregnancy and to their own sexual behaviours. After this, qualitative data were gathered from four separate focus groups of 10 participants each from among boys and girls at two of the schools. The focus groups explored the meanings attached to attitudes and behaviours noted in the survey. The survey data were analysed using the SPSS 17 statistical package and data gathered from the focus groups employed thematic analysis. Participant responses from both sources highlighted the perception that many young women fall pregnant by having unprotected sex in their eagerness to please and keep their partner. Both male and female participants agreed that male students compete among themselves to display their virility, and a pregnant partner was proof of their prowess. Other factors influencing sexual behaviour included alcohol consumption and insufficient sex education. The article concludes with some suggestions for interventions to address the issue of teenage pregnancy.

Keywords:

• teenage pregnancy
• sexual behaviour
• condom use
• prevention

Acknowledgemens

We would like to thank the South Africa Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development for funding the research project entitled ‘Indicators and Determinants of Teenage Pregnancy’.