MA (Psychology) / Department of Psychology

The purpose of this study was to explore how social institutions in South Africa and Zimbabwe respond to the mainstreaming of pregnant learners in formal education. A case study was used as the strategy of inquiry. Utilising a phenomenological, social constructivist and interpretivist lens and guided by a theoretical framework of action science theory, this exploratory qualitative study set out to investigate and compare how various stakeholders in South Africa and Zimbabwe respond to the policy of mainstreaming pregnant learners in schools. Data collection methods took the form of focus group and key participant semi-structured interviews, document analysis and a researcher observation and reflective journal. Two research sites comprised the case study. The sample at each of the identified sites consisted of 12 pregnant and former pregnant learners; 12 mainstream learners; 6 parents/legal guardians; 6 teachers; 6 community representatives on the school governing body. Data analysis consisted of a mix of hermeneutic, content and discourse analysis. Three findings emanated from this study. First, the socio-cultural beliefs, norms, practices and expectations of the community about pregnancy and ideal motherhood were more influential governing variables to educational access and participation of pregnant teenagers than the official school policy. Second, educators at both sites were found to have inadequate capacity to assist pregnant learners with schooling. Third, the South African school was found to provide more access to pregnant learners because of the more liberal and open response to teenage pregnancy. In contrast the conservative tendency to conceal the problem was observed at the Zimbabwean site. This study revealed that institutional policies that do not take into consideration the social, cultural and lived experiences of the relevant stakeholders are difficult to implement. The proposition is that there is usually a split between policy and practice, and that policy can be nothing more than political symbolism. An all-inclusive and consultative approach to policy formulation processes is recommended as an intervention strategy that could be used to counteract the problem. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

Thesis(M.A. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo / Early motherhood has been associated with negative biological and social outcomes in the developing world of the teenage mother and child. The study sought to explore the psychological health of teenage mothers from selected secondary schools in Seshego Township, Limpopo Province. Generally, the study makes use of a comparative design and 120 participants were selected for the study consisting of 60 teenage mothers and 60 teenage non-mothers. The psychological health of teenage mothers was compared to the psychological health of teenage non-mothers. The study made use of the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) with only three demographic questions, which was given to both teenage mothers and teenage non–mothers. The results of the study show that there was no significant difference in the psychological health of teenage mothers and teenage non–mothers. Results also showed that there was no significant difference on the sub-scales of somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and depression. Results of teenage mothers were compared to one another, and this comparison also showed that there was no significant difference within this group. Also results on age, grade and family structure showed no significant difference between the two groups compared to one another. Given the literature that exists worldwide showing that teenage motherhood can have negative impacts on mothers, particularly social and economic, but also physical and psychological health, it is clear that further research in this area needs to be conducted.

Youth engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, placing them at risk for human immunodeficiency virus, sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancy, and other unwanted sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. Alarmingly, Black and Hispanic/Latinx adolescents who are houseless are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors and are disproportionately affected by these outcomes. Sex education can equip Black and Hispanic/Latinx adolescents who are houseless with the knowledge and skills to protect their SRH. Disturbingly, sex education is not mandated to be taught in all U.S. schools. Therefore, it is critical for parents to provide sex education to their teens. However, most parents do not possess the knowledge and skills to educate their teens about sex education. Specifically, parent-child communication about the topic may be lacking. Research shows that parent-child communication regarding sex and dating is associated with fewer risky sexual behaviors. Thus, parents must be armed with the knowledge and skills necessary to help them effectively communicate evidence-based sex education topics to their teens. Borrowing from the case study methodology, the overarching purpose of this dissertation was to elicit parental input for the design, feasibility, and content of a potential parent-based sex education program among parents living or who lived in homeless shelters and transitional housing in New York City (NYC). Specifically, this study aimed to (i) conduct a scoping review on parent-based sex education interventions that include parental involvement in the program and parental input in the planning or design process; (ii) administer needs assessment questionnaires to collect information on program input and parental attitudes, beliefs, and views about sex education and the program; and (iii) conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews to further collect specific information on program input and understand parental attitudes, beliefs, and views about sex education and the program. The scoping review of the literature confirmed the absence of parent-based sex education programs in homeless shelters and transitional housing in the country. From the needs assessment questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, participants highlighted the need for an accessible, convenient, and flexible parent-based sex education program. Furthermore, parents yearned for interactive and fun ways of learning sex education topics with various participants. Lastly, study participants endorsed comprehensive and inclusive information about life skills and sex education being included in the parent-based program.

No description available.

[pt] A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo compreender as percepções das alunas e alunos sobre as relações de gênero na escola, com recorte para a gravidez na adolescência. A escolha desse objeto de investigação originou-se a partir da constatação da visibilidade das alunas grávidas e a invisibilidade dos alunos no debate sobre gravidez na adolescência nas escolas. Assim, ao longo da pesquisa procurou-se responder as questões: Quais são as percepções das alunas e dos alunos sobre gênero no que tange o tema da Gravidez na Adolescência? A escola permite reflexões sobre o tema segundo as percepções das alunas e dos alunos? Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa ancorada em dois instrumentos metodológicos: questionários com perguntas abertas e oficinas pedagógicas com ênfase na pedagogia da imagem e no protagonismo juvenil. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em uma escola pública na cidade de Cachoeiras de Macacu_ RJ junto as turmas de nono ano do ensino fundamental. No total, participaram do estudo vinte e cinco alunos (vinte e uma meninas e quatro meninos), entre catorze e dezessete anos de idade, respondentes dos questionários e, desses, catorze alunos (doze meninas e dois meninos) participaram das oficinas pedagógicas. O aporte teórico dessa pesquisa amparou-se nos estudos sobre Gravidez na Adolescência, Sexualidades e Gênero, principalmente, dos autores: Maria Heilborn, Michel Bozon e Guacira Louro. A partir da análise dos dados, constatou-se que alunos e alunas apontam a ausência familiar no debate sobre sexualidade e gravidez associada, ainda, a questão do pouco acesso às informações sobre os métodos contraceptivos. Os alunos, mais do que as alunas, apontam a internet como o principal canal de informações sobre Gravidez na Adolescência. A escola é reconhecida por meninos e meninas como um lugar para possíveis construções de reflexões sobre o tema. No entanto, constata-se que na escola os debates sobre gênero, sexualidade e gravidez na adolescência são voltados para discursos biológicos permeados pelo controle e prevenção. No que tange as relações de gênero na Gravidez da adolescência, as percepções dos alunos direcionam-se para existência de duas gravidezes distintas: a das meninas, considerada a Gravidez das Mudanças e a dos meninos, considerada a Gravidez mais fácil. / [en] The present research aims to understand the perceptions of students and students about gender relations in school, with a clipping for teenage pregnancy. The choice of this object of investigation originated from the verification of the visibility of the pregnant students and the invisibility of the students in the debate about pregnancy in the adolescence in the schools. Thus, during the research the following questions were answered: What are the perceptions of the students and the students about gender regarding the topic of teenage pregnancy? Does the school allow reflections on the theme according to the perceptions of the students and the students? A qualitative research was anchored in two methodological instruments: questionnaires with open questions and pedagogical workshops with an emphasis on image pedagogy and youth protagonism. The research was developed in a public school in the city of Cachoeiras de Macacu RJ together with the ninth grade classes of elementary school. Twenty-five students (twenty one girls and four boys), between the ages of fourteen and seventeen, participated in the study, of whom fourteen students ( twelve girls and two boy) participated in the pedagogical workshops. The theoretical contribution of this research was based on the studies on Pregnancy in Adolescence, Sexualities and Gender, mainly, of the authors: Maria Heilborn, Michel Bozon and Guacira Louro. From the analysis of the data, it was verified that the students indicate the family absence in the debate on sexuality and pregnancy associated with the issue of poor access to information about contraceptive methods. The students, more than the students, point to the internet as the main channel of information about Pregnancy in Adolescence. The school is recognized by boys and girls as a place for possible constructions of reflections on the theme. However, it is verified that in the school the debates on gender, sexuality and pregnancy in the adolescence are directed to biological discourses permeated by the control and prevention. Regarding gender relations in teenage pregnancy, the perceptions of the students are directed to the existence of two distinct pregnancies: that of the girls, considered the Pregnancy of Changes and that of the boys, considered the Easier Pregnancy.

This descriptive study was conducted to identify barriers encountered by school systems, health departments, and other health care agencies while implementing pregnancy prevention projects in public school settings. The following questions were addressed in this study: 1. Do identifiable barriers exist that prevent the implementation of programs to serve adolescent parents in public schools? 2. Do common characteristics exist among school systems and health care agencies which implement pregnancy prevention projects? 3. Do school systems, community health care agencies, and health departments experience similar barriers during the implementation of pregnancy prevention programs? Eight sites were selected, four each from the categories of Delayed Implemented and Promptly Implemented Sites. Key persons involved with the initial project implementation were interviewed using a semistructured interview guide. Tape transcriptions and field notes from the interviews provided data for subsequent coding and classification around major themes. Three barriers were identified that were common to all Sites: access to contraceptives; access to abortions; and religious opposition to the project, or a specific project activity. Much of the religious opposition involved issues related to dispensing contraceptives, abortions, and the secular nature of the projects. An overwhelming majority of persons interviewed felt that pregnancy prevention and service delivery to adolescent parents were important issues for the school systems. A past working relationship appeared to be common to joint operated projects. An unstable funding cycle, staff recruitment, and staff retention were common barriers to project operators. Staff recruitment and staff retention were also impacted by the year-to-year funding cycle. There is also some indication that school system operated projects experienced fewer problems during implementation and enjoyed considerable support among the school staff and the community. / Ed. D.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among different levels of acculturation on the childbearing beliefs and practices of pregnant Mexican American adolescents living in Southwest border regions. A descriptive correlational design was used in this study. Three instruments were used to collect data. A total of 73 pregnant Mexican American adolescents participated in the study. The Laredo sample and the Tucson sample were identified as true bicultural samples. The El Paso group was identified as a Mexican-oriented bicultural sample. All geographical areas had an equal acceptance of traditional Mexican medicine and biomedical beliefs. Laredo and Tucson adolesents' beliefs in the traditional Mexican childbearing culture was directly related to their acculturation level. For the El Paso group, there was a low negative correlation which indicated that being more or less acculturated did not necessarily affect the adolescents' beliefs in the traditional Mexican childbearing culture.

The purpose of the study is to identify what types of pregnancy interventions in which adolescent females in San Bernardino have participated.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the positive values of masculinity and the role of a man in the prevention of HIV and AIDS and teenage pregnancy in order to develop a health education handbook for young Zulu men. The objectives of this study were to  identify expectations of a man of essence  describe the man’s role in the prevention of HIV and AIDS and teenage pregnancy  develop a health education handbook for young men in developing positive values of masculinity Continuing transmission of HIV and high teenage pregnancy causes concern about the effectiveness of risk reduction measures. Masculinity is associated with risky sexual behaviour. A qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and contextual study explored the positive values of masculinity and the role of a man of essence in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy. Semi-structured interviews with interview guides were conducted to collect data among Zulu men aged 18-24 years residing in Nquthu sub-district in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Twenty-one participants from three villages of Tribal Authority 8, namely villages 3, 7 and 9, were interviewed. Data were analyzed thematically and manually. Follow-up interviews were conducted with participants who had committed to a plan of action to prevent HIV infection and teenage pregnancy. The study found that a man of a kind embraced gender equality and the education of women; treated women well, and used traditional/cultural or religious and modern methods to prevent HIV and teenage pregnancy. According to social norms, the participants were expected to have sex with or without a condom. Social support came from parents, grandparents, teachers and health care workers. The participants appeared to lack role models; some preferred to buy condoms, and some used condoms inconsistently. Some experienced problems such as pressure to have sex or girlfriends. A contribution of this study was the development of a health education handbook for young men to develop into men of essence through positive values of masculinity and prevent HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy. / Health Studies / Ph. D. (Nursing)