published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This study explores the intrapersonal and interpersonal ecological factors that influence adolescent females' perceptions of sex and the extent to which their perceptions of sex impact onset of sexual intercourse as they mature. Particular attention is given to how depression influences individual, personal and social factors in an adolescent female's life, to shape her attitudes towards sex, and determine her engagement in sex as she reaches young adulthood. Ecological Systems Theory is used to examine the extent to which individual, family, and social factors impact adolescent females' perceptions of sex and onset of sexual intercourse. Data are from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Multinomial logistic regression reveals that the factors associated with less positive perceptions of sex are age, self-esteem, sexual intercourse, religiosity and connection to mother and peers, as well as, depression in combination with religiosity and connection to one's peers. More positive perceptions of sex are linked with depression, connection to one's school, as well as, depression in conjunction with aging and sexual intercourse. Results from the logistic regression analysis determines that less positive perceptions of sex delay onset of sexual intercourse among adolescent females; however, adolescent females' attitudes towards sex vary greatly in determining onset of sexual intercourse as they mature. Furthermore, there is no association between depression and adolescent females' perceptions of sex in predicting onset of sexual intercourse as they progress into young adulthood. The findings from this study suggest that programs focused on shaping attitudes toward sex should assist young women in forming a definite opinion about their decision to have sexual intercourse or abstain from engagement in sexual intercourse. A female's age, sense of self-worth, emotional state, and religiosity as well as the strength of her relationships with parents, peers and school must be considered when addressing her sexual health. This investigation supports the use of Ecological Systems Theory as a useful theoretical framework for examining the factors that influence adolescent females' perceptions of sex and engagement in sexual intercourse. A more cognitive investigation of the relationship between depression and the factors in an adolescent female's life that influence her attitudes towards sex and how depression affects an adolescent female's perception of sex and her decision to engage in sexual intercourse is warranted as this study finds only minor support for the use of Ecological Systems Theory when exploring the association between depression and adolescent female sexual health. / Graduation date: 2006

Teenage pregnancy is a worldwide phenomenon. World Health Organisation (2009) reports that teenage mothers between the ages of 15-19 years account for 11% of births recorded worldwide. In South Africa it has been estimated that teenagers aged 17-19 account for 93% of all teenage pregnancies. A large proportion of these adolescents return to school after giving birth. Research has shown that there is a great deal of controversy about not only pre-marital sex, but also concerning whether teenage mothers should be allowed back in school at all. The aim of this study was to gain some insights into the lived experiences of teenage mothers in schools with particular reference to how they cope with school work and the responsibilities of motherhood. A case study of four teenage mothers who returned to school after giving birth was carried out. In-depth phenomenological interviewing designed to elicit the voices of the selected adolescents was done. There were five main findings. First, all four teenagers were minors, under the age of 18 when they gave birth. Two of them were even under the statutory age of consent. Second, upon return to school, teenage mothers experienced stigmatisation from peers and teachers and this forced them to continually negotiate their dual identities as mothers and learners. Third, teenage mothers experienced psychological emotions of stress; low self-esteem; shame and depression. Fourth, they also had sociological experiences in the form of material, financial and social support from family and friends. In some cases they experienced rejection from peers and abandonment by boyfriends who had made them pregnant. Some educators discriminated against and ridiculed teenage mothers. Fifth, teenage mothers reorganised their lives after childbirth and established routines that enabled them to cope with the demands of school work and the responsibilities of motherhood. iii The study concludes that, although viewed with scepticism by sections of the community and some educators, and given that some pregnancies are a result of abuse and unequal power relations between men and women in society, the policy of allowing teenage mothers back to school after giving birth gives them another chance to re-focus their lives. It is recommended that the voices of teenage mothers who return to school after childbirth should be taken into account to inform any planning for future policies on teenage pregnancy by schools and the state. It is further recommended that all educators should also be trained to be able to assist the teenage mothers instead of alienating them. There should also be counselling services available for the teenage mothers to enable them to deal with psychological and sociological problems they might encounter. For further research, students from different backgrounds should be the target of similar research. Another area of research should focus on academic performance of teenage mothers who return to school after giving birth. Lastly, there should be research that seeks to link what is taught in the Life Orientation curriculum and voices of teenage mothers.

One hundred fifty-six adolescent respondents from the Virginia Mennonite Conference were surveyed regarding their perceived influences of their attitudes toward sexuality and the Mennonite Church's position on various sexual issues. The adolescents were more sure of their own beliefs about sexuality than they were about the church's position. The church was not perceived as a major source of influence on their attitudes when compared to friends, the media, and the family. A comparison of early and late adolescents did not reveal any significant difference in the amount of perceived influence of the church. The gender of the respondent was not found to differentiate significantly on any of the variables under investigation. The type of school the adolescent attended--either public or Mennonite--was related to a difference in the response to beliefs about premarital sex and pregnancy outside of marriage. Students at public schools held more accepting views on these issues. / Master of Science

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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: There is an increase in the prevalence of HIV among young females compared to their male counterparts in South Africa (Shisana, 2012). Previous studies have shown early sexual debut is one of the contributing factors to acquiring HIV. Early sexual debut being defined as first sexual intercourse below the age of 15 years as illustrated in the literature (Aji et al., 2013). The aim of the study is to determine the contributing factors to early sexual debut by female adolescents in the ages between 13-19 attending Town-Two Clinic. To establish the knowledge of adolescent females about HIV & STI transmission, to evaluate what sexual and reproductive health education and management is required by adolescents attending the clinic, and to provide guidelines to deal with the concerns and needs of female adolescents attending Town-Two Clinic as well as reproductive health education. Methods: This is an exploratory qualitative study. Twenty female adolescents between the ages 13-19 attending Town Two Clinic for family planning were voluntarily recruited. Data collection was done by means of a 20 minute interview; two participants were interviewed a day. The interview was semi-structured using open-ended questions. Socio-demographic data was obtained by means of a questionnaire; linked to the interviewee by means of a study code to maintain anonymity. Data analysis was done using inductive analysis and creative synthesis, which analyses the details of the information collected to discover important patterns, themes and interrelationships (Larry, 2014). Results: The average age of the participants was 16 years. The youngest and eldest was 13 and 19 years old respectively; average grade was grade10. Majority of participants resided with their mothers (35%), 20% lived with both parents, 20% with their elder siblings, 15% with grandparents and 5% with other relatives. Participants (45%) reported they were sexually active; average age at first sexual intercourse was 14 years. The participants’ acceptable age for sexual debut was 18yrs. Reasons contributing to early sexual debut were identified as: peer pressure, easy access to alcohol, transaction and cross-generational sex, media and social networks, crowded living conditions, sexual abuse and lack of parental supervision and communication with children. The participants (95%) said they received sex education at school;. (65%) reported they were taught about safe sex practices and using a condom every time they have sex. Knowledge gaps; (60%) of the participants reporting they would like to receive more information and teaching about STI’s, as they knew very little about them. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the contributing factors to early sexual debut amongst female adolescents as: Peer pressure, easy access to alcohol, transaction and cross-generational sex, media and social networks, crowded living conditions, sexual abuse and lack of parental supervision and communication with children, and its risk to HIV infection. Appropriate and current sex education with regards HIV, STI prevention, testing and treatment is crucial. Parents play a vital role in educating their own children and need to overcome their socio-cultural views about sex. Interdisciplinary collaboration is needed between the health sector, education, law enforcement, church youth groups, media and social networks in developing effective programs for educating youth on HIV prevention, reproductive health and dangers of substance abuse. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nie beskikbaar

This study provides data suggesting that adolescent girls who receive education and hormonal contraceptive methods at a school-based clinic in the Fontana Unified School District, are more likely to have a signficant improvement in condom use, which improves safe sex practices and reduces the risks of sexually transmitted diseases.

Young women’s sexual attitudes, experiences, and sense of self develop within multiple social contexts, including the schools in which they spend so much of their time, their romantic and sexual relationships, and a larger normative climate of expectations and beliefs about sexuality. Girls may struggle to develop a healthy view of their sexuality in the face of prevailing sexual beliefs that in many ways deny girls’ sexual desire and define female sexuality as passive and vulnerable. Despite these negative messages, however, many girls do develop positive attitudes about their sexuality, feeling entitled to sexual pleasure and safety. This study explores how young women develop this sense of sexual agency during adolescence and the transition to adulthood. Using longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, I place adolescent sexual development in a social context, by considering the role of schools and early sexual relationships in young women’s developing sexual agency. Additionally, I consider the consequences of girls’ sexual attitudes and first sexual experiences not only for their sexual health but for their later sexual relationships as well. Finally, I consider how young women’s experience of sexual agency may be connected to another manifestation of gender inequality in relationships - housework. Findings suggest that girls’ attitudes toward sex and contraception are related to their sexual relationships in adulthood: girls who see sex as having negative consequences - either for their social relationships, their sense of self, or their future - are less likely to experience sexual agency in their adult relationships. Results also suggest that schools may play contradictory roles in girls’ sexual empowerment, as girls who do well in school were more confident about their ability to use contraception but were also more likely to associate sex with guilt and shame. Additionally, schools provide a peer context for the development of sexual attitudes. Finally, results suggest that explanations for gender inequality in housework are less relevant for sexual behavior, though women and men who are committed to equality in their relationships are likely to be more egalitarian in both housework and sex. / text

This is a descriptive study with a quantitative, non-experimental and contextual design, with the objective of describing the knowledge of female adolescents with regards to the implications of pregnancy. The study took place in the Bengo Province, more specifically in the school of the suburb Bairro da Açúcareira and the sample was constituted by 100 female adolescents, within the age group 13 to 19 years. Simple random sampling was used for the selection of the sample. For the collection of data a structured questionnaire with closed questions was used. Based on the data obtained the researcher draws the following conclusion: there is a need to develop educational programmes pertaining to the consequences of pregnancy, not only for adolescents but also for the teachers and parents, as the respondents indicated that teachers and parents would be the ideal people for this type of discussion; on the other hand, and of extreme importance, there is a need for specific assistance to adolescents at health centers and hospitals of the province with regard to the lack of entertainment for adolescents in the province is also an aspect that deserves attention on the part of the government of the Province of Bengo. / Health Studies / M.A (Health Studies))

This is a descriptive study with a quantitative, non-experimental and contextual design, with the objective of describing the knowledge of female adolescents with regards to the implications of pregnancy. The study took place in the Bengo Province, more specifically in the school of the suburb Bairro da Açúcareira and the sample was constituted by 100 female adolescents, within the age group 13 to 19 years. Simple random sampling was used for the selection of the sample. For the collection of data a structured questionnaire with closed questions was used. Based on the data obtained the researcher draws the following conclusion: there is a need to develop educational programmes pertaining to the consequences of pregnancy, not only for adolescents but also for the teachers and parents, as the respondents indicated that teachers and parents would be the ideal people for this type of discussion; on the other hand, and of extreme importance, there is a need for specific assistance to adolescents at health centers and hospitals of the province with regard to the lack of entertainment for adolescents in the province is also an aspect that deserves attention on the part of the government of the Province of Bengo. / Health Studies / M.A (Health Studies))