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, 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)

This research study focuses on the sexual encounters of teenagers. Teenagers do not always have private intimate places of their own and tend to use school grounds, toilets and classrooms to engage in sexual activities. Recently, various newspapers published articles about teen pregnancy and sex on school grounds. The alarming rate of sexual activities at schools among South African teenagers became a driving force for the researcher to investigate this phenomenon. The goal was to develop in-depth understanding of the experiences of teenagers being engaged in sexual activities at school and social work support required. A qualitative approach was employed following explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs. The study was conducted in the Gauteng province. Semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data. Purposive sampling was utilised. Analysis of data was conducted according to Tesch (cited in Smit, 2002) and Guba's model (cited in Shenton, 2004) was employed for data verification. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Social Work))

BACKGROUND: Studies done in both developed and developing countries have reported the tendencies of adolescents to engage in risky behaviours. Such behaviours include indulging in early and unsafe sexual activities, having multiple sexual partners, alcohol and drug use and dropping out of school among others. PURPOSE: The main aim of the study was to develop intervention strategies for reducing sexual risk practices among adolescents in Ethiopia. METHODS: A mixed method approach using quantitative and qualitative approaches was employed in order to investigate the risks of sexual practices among urban and rural adolescents in the selected area. A cross-sectional survey was used to gather data quantitatively and focus group discussions were used for the qualitative part of data collection. A total of 449 students and 72 FGD participants were selected for quantitative and qualitative study respectively using systematic random sampling technique. Logistic regression was done to identify possible factors associated with knowledge on emergency contraceptive, condom utilisation, pre-marital sex practices and perception of risky sexual practices. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy (37.9%) respondents had experienced sexual intercourse at the time of the study. The higher proportion (42.6%) of those who had engaged in sexual relationships was from the rural school compared to 33.1% in the urban schools. The proportion of sexually active respondents was higher among males (44.8%) compared to (29%) females. Multiple partners were higher in rural adolescents (44.7%) compared to 31.8% among urban adolescents. Sexually Transmitted Diseases were reported by 28.6% of the sexually active adolescents and the prevalence was higher among males (73.5%) compared to 27% females. 87% of the sexually active adolescents rarely used a condom. CONCLUSION: The study identified a knowledge gap on ASRH which limited adolescents to access reproductive services. Social, cultural and economic factors contributed to adolescent engagement in risky sexual behaviours. Based on the major findings of this study, intervention strategies targeting behavioural, biomedical and structural interventions were proposed. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

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 research study focuses on the sexual encounters of teenagers. Teenagers do not always have private intimate places of their own and tend to use school grounds, toilets and classrooms to engage in sexual activities. Recently, various newspapers published articles about teen pregnancy and sex on school grounds. The alarming rate of sexual activities at schools among South African teenagers became a driving force for the researcher to investigate this phenomenon. The goal was to develop in-depth understanding of the experiences of teenagers being engaged in sexual activities at school and social work support required. A qualitative approach was employed following explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs. The study was conducted in the Gauteng province. Semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data. Purposive sampling was utilised. Analysis of data was conducted according to Tesch (cited in Smit, 2002) and Guba's model (cited in Shenton, 2004) was employed for data verification. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Social Work))

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)