SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.35 issue1Response to national policy imperatives for nursing education: A Western Cape case study author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • On index processCited by Google
  • On index processSimilars in Google

Share


Curationis

On-line version ISSN 2223-6279
Print version ISSN 0379-8577

Curationis vol.35 n.1 Pretoria Jan. 2012

 

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province

 

 

Tebogo M. MothibaI; Maria S. MaputleII

IDepartment of Nursing, University of Limpopo (Turfloop campus), South Africa
IIDepartment of Advanced Nursing Science, University of Venda, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 


ABSTRACT

Teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy of a woman of less than 19 years. It is found commonly amongst young people who have been disadvantaged and have poor expectations with regard to either their education or job market. Adolescents may lack knowledge of access to conventional methods of preventing pregnancy, as they may be afraid to seek such information. The study purpose was to identify factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in one village in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province.
A quantitative descriptive research approach was chosen. Population consisted of all pregnant teenagers attending antenatal care during June to August 2007 at one clinic in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. Simple random probability sampling was used to include 100 pregnant teenagers who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through structured self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistical data analysis was used. Ethical considerations were ensured.
Findings were classified as demographic data where 24% of the respondents were aged between 15-16 years and 76% were aged between 17-19 years. Findings further revealed that 60% of the respondents started to engage in sex at 13-15 years; 48% of the teenagers' partners were 21 years and above, 44% depended on a single parents' income; 20% father's income, 16% received a social grant and 8% lived on the pension fund of the grandparents.
Pregnancy prevention strategies were recommended based on the results. The strategies focused on reproductive health services, male involvement and adult-teenager communication programmes.


 

 

“Full text available only in PDF format”

 

 

References

Arai, L., 2003, 'Low expectations, sexual attitudes and knowledge: Explaining teenage pregnancy and fertility in English communities. Insights from qualitative research', The Sociological Review 51, 199-217. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467954X.00415        [ Links ]

Babbie, E. & Mouton, J., 2009. The practice of Social Research. Oxford University Press, Cape Town.         [ Links ]

Bankole, A., Ahmed, F. H., Ouedraogo, C., Neema, S., & Konyani, S., 2007, 'Knowledge of correct condom use and consistency of use among adolescents in four countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.' African Journal of Reproductive Health 11, 198-220. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/25549740, PMid:18458741, PMCid:2367135        [ Links ]

Brink, H.I., 2006, Fundamentals of Research Methodology for Health Care Professionals, 2nd edn., Juta, Cape Town.         [ Links ]

Cooper, D., Morroni, C., Orner, P., Moodley, J., Harries, J., Cullingworth, L. & Hoffman, M., 2004, 'Ten years of Democracy in South Africa: Documenting Transformation in Reproductive Health Policy and Status', Reproductive Health Matters Journal 12(24), 70-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(04)24143-X        [ Links ]

Davies, S.L., DiClemente, R.J., Wingood, G.M., Person, S.D., Dix, D.P., Harrington, K., Crosby, R.A. & Oh, K., 2006, 'Predictors of inconsistent contraceptive use among adolescent girls: Findings from prospective study', Journal of Adolescent Health 38(1), 43-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.10.011, PMid:16781960        [ Links ]

Democratic Nurses Organization of South Africa (DENOSA), 1998, Ethical Standards for Nurse Researchers, DENOSA, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Department of Health, 2009, Family Planning Method and Practice, Government Printers Africa, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

De Vos, A.S., 1998, Research at Grass Roots, Van Schaik, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

De Vos, A.S., Strydom, H., Fouché, C.B., & Delport, C.S.L., 2006, Research at Grass roots for the Social Sciences and Human Service Professions, 3rd edn., J.L. van Schaik Academic, Pretoria.         [ Links ]

Kaufman, C.E., De Wet, T. & Stadler, J., 2001, Adolescent pregnancy and parenthood in Limpopo Department of Health 2011. Factors associated with Teenage Pregnancy in Limpopo Province, Government Printer, Polokwane.         [ Links ]

Manlove, J., Terry, E., Gitelson, L., Pappilo, A.R. & Russel, S., 2000, 'Explaining demographic trends in teenage fertility', Family Planning Perspective 32(4), 166-175. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2648233, PMid:10942352        [ Links ]

Mestad, R., Secura, G., Allsworth, J.E., Madden, T., Zhao, Q. & Pelpert, J.F., 2011, Acceptance of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods by adolescents participants in the contraceptive CHOICE Project, Contraception 84(5), 493-498.         [ Links ]

Mkhwanazi, N., 2006, 'Teenage pregnancy and gender identities in the making in a post apartheid South African township', PhD dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Cambridge.         [ Links ]

Morake, A., 2011, Factors associated with Teenage Pregnancy in Limpopo Province. Government Printers, Polokwane.         [ Links ]

Mwaba, K., 2000, 'Perceptions of teenage pregnancy among South African adolescents', Health SA Gesondheid 5(3), 30-35.         [ Links ]

Nash, E.S., 1990, 'Teenage pregnancy - need a child bear a child?', South African Medical Journal 77, 147-51, PMid:2406956        [ Links ]

Okonofua, F.E., 1995, 'Factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in rural Nigeria', Journal of Youth and Adolescence 24(4), 419-435. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01537189,PMid:12319941        [ Links ]

Phipps, M.G., Rosengard, C., Weitzen, S., Meers, A. & Billikoff, Z., 2008, 'Age group differences among pregnant adolescent sexual behaviour, health habits and contraceptive use, Journal of Paediatric and Adolsecent Gynecology 21(1), 9-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2007.07.009, PMid:18312794        [ Links ]

Ritcher, M.S. & Mlambo, G.T., 2005, 'Perceptions of rural teenagers on teenage pregnancy', Health SA Gesondheid 10(2), 61-69.         [ Links ]

South African Oxford School Dictionary, 2007, Oxford University Press Southern Africa, Cape Town.         [ Links ]

South Africa, Studies in family Planning 32(2), 147-160.         [ Links ]

Van Eijk, R.T., 2007, Factors contributing to teenage pregnancies in Rarotonga, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Avarua.         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
Tebogo Mothiba
Private Bag X1106
Sovenga 0727, South Africa
Email: mariatm@ul.ac.za

Received: 18 July 2011
Accepted: 17 Apr. 2012
Published: 11 July 2012

Creative Commons License All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License