Thesis (M. Th.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research aims to establish if church-going young people adhere to the principle of ‘no sex before marriage’, or if there are competing ‘voices’ and pressures that young people succumb to. Are they practising risky sexual behaviour, with multiple partners, using no protection or experiencing sexual violence? We conducted a survey in order to understand the gravity of the challenge, and to identify ways in which the Anglican Church might become more effective in dealing with issues of sexuality among young people. The field research was undertaken between October 2004 and January 2005 and involved a detailed questionnaire survey (with 1,306 responses analysed), and three different focus group discussions. Respondents were between 12 and 19 years of age, both male and female, and demographically representative of the Anglican Church of Cape Town Diocese. It is hoped that the results of this survey will be informative for church leaders and those involved in ministry with young people. Our research reveals that church-going young people are not excluded from the risks faced by others in society. Of the respondents 30.5% have had sex (40% Male and 21% Female; Black 44%, White 26% and Coloured 30%). This is irrespective of geographical location (32% Rural and 30% Urban). Young people are practising vaginal, oral and anal sex or any combination. During their first sexual experience, only 35% used contraceptives. Ninety percent of their first partners are friends or schoolmates and when it came to venue, 75% had sex at home or at their partner’s place. Casual sex was common and 33% of those who have had sex have been with four or more sexual partners. Sexual violence also occurred as 6% of the respondents were forced to have sex (Black 7.1%, White 6.5% and Coloured 5.4%). Of this coerced group, 12% have themselves demanded sex from somebody else. There is thus a gap between the Church’s traditional teaching of ‘no sex before marriage’ and the realities of the way in which our young people live. Hence, we should no longer hide our heads in the sand and pretend that our young people are not at risk. This research has certainly identified several areas of concern. Nonetheless, it has also revealed encouraging information, as young people are interested in changing the situation. In order to increase its effectiveness in addressing the sexuality of young people, the Anglican Church should be prepared to act decisively. The approach recommended from this study should be multifaceted, given the increasingly complex landscape in which young people live. There is an urgent need to support young people in building healthy relationships. Parental workshops are an important intervention in order to enable parents to communicate with their children about sexuality, using an ageappropriate approach. Peer education should be adopted: that is training key opinion leaders in each church so that they can provide positive peer pressure. In addition, the church should take a stand against sexual messages seen in the media; silence implies consent. The church must clearly communicate its opposition to these unhealthy sexual messages to society at large. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: The doel van die navorsing is om jongmense war kerklik meelewend is se siening en persepsies oor die standpunt van die Anglikaanse kerk, naamlik geen seks voor die huwelik , te ondersoek en te toets aan die hand van sekere teologiese kriteria. Dit wil vasstel of daar ander moontlike faktore of stemme is wat jongmense se standpunt oor seks en seksualiteit bepaal. Van die belangrike vrae wat ondersoek is: beoefen jongmense hoë risiko, seksuele gedrag met meervoudige bedmaats? Tree hulle genoegsaam voorkomend op? Is hulle blootgestel aan seksueel-geweldadige gedrag? ‘n Empiriese ondersoek (Oktober 2004 en Januarie 2005) is geloots ten einde die uitdagings waarvoor die Anglikaanse Kerk ten opsigte van seks-onderrig te staan kom, vas te stel. Die projek beoog om die kerk se bediening op te skerp en meer relevant gefokus te raak op die seksuele orientasie van jongmense. ‘n Vraelys is opgestel en uitgestuur.Drie verskillende diskussiegroepe was betrokke.1306 response is ontleed. Respondente was tussen 12 en 19 jaar, gender-gemeng en demografies verteenwoordigend van die Anglikaanse Kerk se bedieningsopset binne die Cape Town Diocese. Die navorsing toon duidelik dat jongmense aan risikos blootgestel is met implikasies vir die MIV pandemie. Van die respondente het 30.5% seks gehad (40% mans; 21% vrouens; swart 44%; wit 26% en bruin 30%). Wat geografiese verspreiding aan betref (stad 30%, platteland 32%) was daar nie beduidende verskille nie. Daar bestaan ‘n kombinasie van seks-praktyke, vanaf vaginale, orale en anale seks. Gedurende die eerste seks-ervaring het net 35% kontraseptiewe middels/metodes gebruik. 90% van die eerste bedmaats was maats, vriende of skoolmaats. 75% van die kontakte het tuis plaas gevind. Toevallige seks was algemeen en 33% van die respondente het seks met vier of meer pesone gehad. Seksuele geweld kom voor. 6% van die repondent was geforseer om seks te beoefen (swart 7.1%; wit 6.5%; bruin 5.4%). Vanuit hierdie groep het 12% seks geeis van iemand anders. Daar bestaan ‘n groot gaping tussen die leer van die kerk: geen seks voor die huwelik en die lewensrealiteit van jongmense. Jongmense is belis ‘n hoë risikogroep. Die navoring het verkeie areas geïdentifiseer wat dringend die kerk se aandag verg. Van belang is die feit dat jongmense duidelik ‘n behoefte toon aan konstruktiewe begeleiding. Ten einde the problematiek van seksuele gedrag onder jongmense in die kerk sinvol aan te spreek, sal relevante programme ontwikkel moet word wat multi-faktoreel gestruktureer en kontekstueel moet wees. ‘n Belangrike bedieningstrategie is die skep van ouerbegeleidingsgroepe en werkswinkels ten einde ouers toe te rus hoe om sinvol met jongmense oor seksuele gedrag en seksualiteit te kommunikeer. Daar moet gefokus word op verskillende ouderdomsgroepe en hoe om jongmense by te staan om gesonde verhoudinge te bou. Die seksopvoeding en voorligting moet jongmense inskakel. Leiers onder jongmense wat kan help, moet geïdentifiseer word en ook opgelei word. Destruktiewe groepsdruk moet aangespreek word. Die kerk sal ook leiding moet gee oor die wyse waarop die media seksualiteit hanteer. Op hiedie wyse moet die kerk betrokke raak by die publieke diskoers en negatiewe tendens aanspreek.

A study investigating the contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of coloured unmarried pregnant teenagers.

A study investigating the contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of coloured unmarried pregnant teenagers.

Adolescent and sexual reproductive health has been identified as among the most important health and development priorities by the South African development (Department of Health, 1995; African National Congress, 1994). The South African government, like many governments in the sub-Saharan region view with concern the region’s rapid population growth and high birth rates particularly among adolescents. This study investigated the perceptions of young mothers regarding teenage pregnancy. Eight participants who live in Vredendal, a predominantly Coloured area in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, were selected for interviewing using convenient sampling. Transcripts of unstructured interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings of the study suggest that young mothers initially perceive teenage pregnancy negatively. These perceptions progressively changes to a positive one. Furthermore, the results indicate a limited awareness of available preventative interventions. Results further show participants tend to experience their relationships with significant others as positive. / Psychology / M. A. (Research Consultation)

Aims: The study was aimed at exploring adolescents‟ level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the influence this knowledge has on their sexual behaviour. Methods: In total, 20 in- depth interviews were conducted from a group of 20 (both males and females) secondary school learners. The interviews were audio taped with consent from participants. Results: The results of the study showed that participants possess basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS, including methods of prevention and transmission. No serious misconceptions about modes of transmission of HIV were found in this study. Although, participants reported condom use, no sexual intercourse with multiple concurrent partners and no intergenerational sexual relationships, the findings revealed some risk factors such as early sexual debuts, early dating, multiple sexual partnerships. Conclusions: The aforesaid sexual behaviours and the sexual activeness among learners is a cause for angst. Thus, these findings highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to sexual reproductive health education by all interested parties in order to enhance and sustain behaviour change among young people. / 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)

Text in English / The Department of Education nationwide introduced HIV and AIDS care and support for learning and teaching programmes as intervention strategies for supporting vulnerable learners. Despite these interventions, teenagers continue to fall pregnant and this increases their vulnerability to HIV infection. HIV and STIs are rife among teenagers owing to ignorance and peer pressure, among other factors. The aim of this exploratory qualitative study was to explore factors that influence condom use among high school teenagers aged between 16 and 18 in Dutywa District. Focus group discussions and in-depth face-to-face interviews with 12 high school teenagers from one high school (High School X) were used to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The findings of this study revealed that high school teenagers are not using condoms to any significant degree. In their opinion, condoms limit sexual pleasure; they indicate a lack of trust and unfaithfulness between partners and are associated with sexually transmitted diseases. The findings of this study are significant for the policy implementation of schools. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS)

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))

Text in English / The purpose of this study was to explore factors contributing to poor reporting of rape by school going adolescents. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among the 16-19 year old school going adolescents in grade 10-12 living in Matsulu Township of South Africa. Data collection was done using audio-taped semi-structured focus group discussions and individual interviews. Non-probability sampling was utilised for the study and purposive sampling was used to identify participants. Content analysis as proposed by Polit and Beck (2012:557) was utilised for this study. The study’s findings indicated that non-reporting of rape by adolescents is linked to structural, psychological, socio-cultural and economic causes. The study recommends that a comprehensive integrated approach should be used. / Health Studies / M. A. (Nursing Science)

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))