The purpose of this study was to explore possible problems associated with pregnancy amongst student nurses in the Northern Province, and to determine whether their studies were adversely affected by their pregnancies. This study was designed as a quantitative, exploratory descriptive survey to look into the pregnancies of a specific group of students exploring their experiences in the classrooms and in the clinical areas. During 1998 data was collected by distributing questionnaires to ninety three pregnant . student nurses. Sixty-seven (71,0%) of student nurses fell pregnant because they lacked knowledge about contraceptives. Four-six (49,5%) of the respondents delayed seeking antenatal care, although they needed advice and support. Whilst fifty-eight (62,4%) of the respondents suffered from minor ailments such as tiredness, pre-eclampsia, early bleeding prior to three months pregnancy, and dizziness. Fifty-eight (62,4%) of the respondents encountered problems with their academic progress, as revealed by decreasing marks scored before, during, and after delivery. Student nurses would willingly avail themselves of guidance, advice and support during their pregnancies if they could access such services. / Advanced Nursing Science / M.A.(Nursing Science)

This qualitative study was done in Livingstone, Zambia, and used focus group discussions to investigate the reasons that youths aged 15 to 24 years see as justifying, or compelling, their non-use of recommended methods for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV. It focused on four methods, namely abstinence, condom use, voluntary counseling and testing, and mutual faithfulness. The study found that non-adherence to HIV preventative methods is linked to variables in the process of adolescent growth and development, to contextual variables in society, to characteristics of products and services associated with these HIV preventative methods, and to disease characteristics of HIV itself. A key conclusion of this study is that to improve the effectiveness of HIV prevention programs among the youths it is essential that factors that hinder adherence to preventative methods are recognized and addressed. / Social Work / M.A.(Social Work)

This study evaluates a sex education programme administered in an Indian high school. To this end, a literature search, empirical study and qualitative data were used to measure the effectiveness of the Education for Living programme. Adolescents are blamed for having pennissive attitudes, or for indulging in amoral sexual behaviour without considering the consequences. The fact is, sexual development of young people is affected in a fundamental sense by what is taking place around them. Many of the taboos, which operated in society years ago, have disappeared. This study looks into the history of the South African Indian community. In particular, this study focuses on the community's values, attitudes and traditional practices toward sexuality, sex and marriage. It further highlights how the processes of westemisation and modernisation have eroded many of these aspects of traditional Indian culture. The study concludes by examining the emergence of new-found patterns of behaviour and attitudes. It is not the intention of this study to provide any conclusive documentation on the subject of the Indian adolescent. However the major findings of this study have been fommlated as recommendations and implications for further research. Since sexuality is an ever-changing, life-long experience, there is a need for continuous acquisition of accurate sexual knowledge. Carefully designed programmes may serve to allay fears, dispel myths, diminish confusion, enhance communication within families and promote health and wellbeing across generations. / Social Work / M.A. (SS) (Mental Health)

The purpose of this study was to explore possible problems associated with pregnancy amongst student nurses in the Northern Province, and to determine whether their studies were adversely affected by their pregnancies. This study was designed as a quantitative, exploratory descriptive survey to look into the pregnancies of a specific group of students exploring their experiences in the classrooms and in the clinical areas. During 1998 data was collected by distributing questionnaires to ninety three pregnant . student nurses. Sixty-seven (71,0%) of student nurses fell pregnant because they lacked knowledge about contraceptives. Four-six (49,5%) of the respondents delayed seeking antenatal care, although they needed advice and support. Whilst fifty-eight (62,4%) of the respondents suffered from minor ailments such as tiredness, pre-eclampsia, early bleeding prior to three months pregnancy, and dizziness. Fifty-eight (62,4%) of the respondents encountered problems with their academic progress, as revealed by decreasing marks scored before, during, and after delivery. Student nurses would willingly avail themselves of guidance, advice and support during their pregnancies if they could access such services. / Advanced Nursing Science / M.A.(Nursing Science)

DCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / See the attached abstract below

This study was aimed at establishing the extent of parental involvement in their children's sexuality education. The researcher selected four schools of Xhosa­ Speaking learners in the Umtata district of the Eastern Cape. Four teachers, one from each school, were interviewed together with four Xhosa-Speaking learners and their parents. The method of data collection used was a semi-structured interview aided by tape recording of the session per interviewees' agreement. The findings were that Xhosa-Speaking parents are not involved in their children's sexuality education due to being embarrassed by discussing sexual issues with their children. Learners seem not to like parental involvement in sex education programmes in schools. Teachers would like to see parents involved in school programmes and communicate with their children on sexuality matters at home. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Specialisation in guidance and counselling)

Quantitative, descriptive research, using self-completion questionnaires, was conducted to determine the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge of the learners in Sefhare. The sample, comprising 92 learners, was selected from forms 1-3. Of the learners, 53.4% knew what HIV/AIDS stand for, but only 13.6% said AIDS is caused by HIV and only 4.5% said AIDS is an incurable disease. The ABC of protecting oneself against HIV (abstain from sex, be faithful to one sex partner, use condoms) was mentioned by merely 57.6% of the learners. The learners’ lack of knowledge should be addressed by school HIV/AIDS programmes offered at schools in Botswana. As 81.5% of the learners were willing to be tested for HIV, this service should be made available with simultaneous confidential personal HIV/AIDS education, irrespective of the HIV test results. Teachers’ and parents’ HIV/AIDS knowledge should also be updated regularly. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

This quantitative descriptive cross sectional study explored factors influencing sexual risk behaviours among youths in senior secondary schools in Ethiopia. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Religious attachment, living with friends, living alone, parental control, level of parental education, peer pressure and number of friends who had experienced sex were some of the factors noted to influence youths to engage in sexual risk behaviours. The findings of this study have implications for both practice and policy development. They will enable healthcare workers to identify youths at risk of engaging in sexual risk behaviours and subsequently motivate them using health promotion strategies to engage in safe sexual practices. Adopting such an approach will prevent or at least minimise risk of youths being infected with sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This quantitative, explorative and descriptive survey attempted to determine factors that influence the adolescent pregnancy rate in the Greater Giyani Municipality. Data were gathered from adolescent girls attending four selected high schools. Non-probability convenient sample of 147 respondents was used with 100% return rate. Data was collected using a questionnaire which had a reliability of 0.65. Data were analysed using the SAS/Basic computer program, version 9.2. Findings indicated that 56.34% of respondents reported key psychosocial variables such as peer pressure and 58.90% of them changed values as contributory to high pregnancy rates. .Health services were reported as not freely available and relationships with nurses significantly cited as poor by 72.41% respondents with regard to maintenance of confidentiality. Recommendations were made to improve school health services, reproductive education and future research / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Today, 1.2 billion adolescents stand at the challenging crossroads between childhood and the adulthood. Driven by a combination of biological, psychological and social forces, adolescence is a period of “stress and storm” for many adolescents predisposing them to risky behaviours with long term consequences. Adolescence is not only a time of vulnerability; it is also an age of opportunity for investment in sustained health and wellbeing through education and preventive efforts to help them navigate risks and vulnerabilities. Evidence-based sexuality education programmes are a cornerstone in reducing adolescent sexual risk behaviours and promoting sexual health. A qualitative, grounded theory study was undertaken to explore and describe experiences of adolescents, teachers and perceptions of parents of school-based sexuality education (SBSE). An indepth literature review through concept analysis on the phenomenon was conducted to assist the researcher with theoretical sensitivity and theoretical saturation. In-depth Individual interviews and focus group interviews were conducted to generate data. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed by the researcher verbatim. The direct quotes of participants were coded and arranged into meaning units for analysis. A constant comparison method of data analysis was applied by following a Strauss and Corbin (1998) analysis process of open, axial and selective coding to analyse textual qualitative data until themes, categories and sub-categories were identified and developed. Data analysis revealed that adolescents benefitted from SBSE but the implementation of programme was undermined by challenges at national, institutional, community, family and individual levels enshrined in the physical. There were also challenging contextual factors at various levels that influenced the benefits of the SBSE. It is recommended that there is need to review the teaching and learning resources and to fully integrate sexuality education into the formal curriculum. The ministry of education in Uganda should take a leadership role in fostering engagement and participation of major stakeholders, particularly teachers, parents and other community groups in delivering school-based sexuality education that addresses the needs of the schoolgoing children / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)