| dc.description.abstract | The focus of this study was to determine the impact of teenage
pregnancy on the educational aspirations of teenage girls in the
Bophirima region of the North West Province.
Adolescent pregnancy continues to be a major public concern in
South Africa, affecting the social, economic and health status of young
people. Currently, it is estimated that there are almost half a million
pregnant adolescents at any given time in South Africa and the
numbers are increasing. By age 19, 35% of adolescent girls are reported
as being pregnant or having had a child. As this study has shown, there
are inherent problems associated with adolescent pregnancy and
motherhood. Adolescence is a critical moment in the life of any
growing human and the events that occur during adolescence have
long-term socio-economic, physical and psychological consequences.
The target population for this study, was pregnant adolescents,
adolescent mothers between the ages 15 and 19 ( cases of up to 24
year old mothers formed part of the investigation because they were
still in the selected schools), their mothers and guidance teachers.
Respondents were all from the North West province. The sample was
purposive and from rural, peri-urban and urban areas.
Data was collected using questionnaires and interviews.
Results showed that there is, as in the rest of South Africa, prevalence of
adolescent pregnancy in North West province, especially in the
Bophirima region and that it affects the educational and career
advancement of adolescent girls. While there was an indication that
most of them went back to school after the birth of their babies, there
was also an indication that most of them do not pursue their initial
career choices because they want to finish school and work to support
children. The study indicates that some would take any job, and in most
cases, low - paying jobs in order to support their children. Others would
not see the need to further their education or look for a job but rather
depend on the state's child support grant.
Findings were as follows:
• There is prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Bophirima region.
• Many teenagers are having unprotected sex that result in unplanned
pregnancies.
• There is lack of communication between parents, and their adolescent
children about sex, love and relationships.
• Parents lack adequate information on sexuality matters.
• Motherhood has social and educational consequences on teenage
mothers and pregnant girls in the Bophirima region.
These findings clearly indicate that teenage pregnancy is a problem
and every effort should be made to prevent it. | en_US |
