MA (Psychology) / Department of Psychology / In South Africa, today, teenage pregnancy is on the increase, resulting in social and public health problems. The Department of Health (2002) indicates that, nationally 16.4% of the teenagers become pregnant every month. The Department also states that 26.4% of Grade 8 learners, 13.4% Grade 9 learners, 12.6% Grade 12 and 13.3% Grade 11 learners, fall pregnant every month. Many of these teenage mothers are confronted with various health problem, for example, HIV/AIDS, psychological (for example, high stress) and social problems (for example, lack of parenting skills, neglect, poverty, and low educational attainment). These problems have far-reaching consequences on the mothers. For example, many teenage mothers drop-out of school, attempt to commit suicide, as well as take part in prostitution and robbery. Many are unemployed and this puts the welfare of their children at risk. This research study was qualitative in nature. The exploratory phenomenological design was used in this study to explore the experiences or challenges of teenage mothers on social support as pregnancy interferes with all aspects of their lives. For example, it jeopardises teenage mothers’ relationships with their parents who are the main source of support for the young mothers. If this relationship is broken, it reduces the chances of the young mother’s success. These factors contribute to an inadequate parent-child interaction and diminish the infant’s development. Support during pregnancy and after birth is vital for a teenage mother. If her future and mental health are to be bright, then she needs to have strong social support. Non- probability sampling methods were used, namely purposive and snowball sampling. Pre-testing was done with four teenage mothers who had the same background as those in the main study. Data were collected from six teenage mothers through semistructured face to face interviews which required teenage mothers to answer a set of predetermined questions. The question asked allowed probing and clarification of answers. A tape recorder was used and the language used was Tshivenda. All ethical issues were adhered to throughout the study. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the collected data. The findings from the interviews were integrated to avoid repetition. From the analysed v data, the following themes emerged: Challenges experienced by teenage mothers; Support system for teenage mothers; and Coping strategies for teenage mothers. Analysis of data revealed that lack of social support for teenage mothers was a major problem and this was collaborated by literature. These findings revealed that teenage mothers experience many challenges compared to the support they get from significant others. In this study, the researcher found that doing field work with teenage mothers with low educational backgrounds is very challenging because they do not understand what research is all about. The researcher realised that there is more that South African needs to do to encourage people to support teenage mothers. Whilst the work done at Tshikuwi is appreciated, the researcher feels it is too little too late considering the number of teenage mothers who continue to lack support. The researcher recommends that teenage mothers who experience challenges should take the initiatives to start projects that will boost their confidence. Teachers who teach life science orientations should, in the meantime, focus on teaching learners about the consequences of not having support either from family or partners and communities.

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Sciences / MAAS / Centre for African Studies / See the attached abstract below

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology) in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2016 / The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Sexuality Education as an intervention in preventing teenage pregnancy in the Pinetown district. A focus group of thirty four (35) learners from three different schools was purposefully sampled. Data was collected using structured interview schedules to allow the researcher a platform to ask open-response questions and to understand the learners’ knowledge on preventive measures and the learners’ preferential choices. Data were analysed by carefully identifying and expanding significant themes that emerged from the informants’ knowledge and preferred measures of interventions to prevent teenage pregnancy. The results of the study revealed that learners’ knowledge of preventative measures was limited and an additional challenge was the lack of parental involvement in their children’s sexuality. The participants agreed that sexuality education does provide learners with information that could equip them with knowledge of a healthy sexual behaviour. They maintained that this information could be used when they decided to engage in intimate sexual relationships. However, the knowledge which will ultimately decide their future was quite limited and it was concerning. They seemed to know the contraceptives that were available but the task of accessing them still posed a problem. On the basis of the study results, some valuable recommendations were made which include that the alternatives of accessing contraceptives and the parental involvement in their children’s sexuality may curb teenage pregnancy.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters Of Psychology (Counselling Psychology) in the Department of Psychology at the University Of Zululand, 2017 / The current study aimed to explore the emotional involvement of teenage fathers in their children’s primary care at the University of Zululand, Dlangezwa Campus. Twenty teenage fathers were recruited and interviewed individually using open-ended questions. Data was analysed using Creswell’s analytical approach. The seven themes that developed when data was analysed were 1) involvement of the father, 2) the pregnancy of the partner, 3) family relations, customs and traditions, 4) relationship with partner, 5) teenage fatherhood and academics, 6) impact of fatherhood on teenage father’s life, and, lastly 7) prevention of teenage pregnancy. Results indicate that teenage fathers are involved in their children’s lives despite the many challenges that impede them. Conclusion: teenage fathers are involved in their children’s primary care

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