The current study investigated the experiences of unwed adolescent mothers in faith communities, the Roman Catholic Church in particular. The study was motivated by the fact that, despite the Christian sexual ethic, which prohibits sex outside wedlock, many young unmarried women in faith communities do become pregnant. The study thus sought to investigate the lived experiences of these young women, their psychological and social experiences of unwed motherhood in the church community. Factors contributing to teenage pregnancy, sources of social support and possible intervention mechanisms were also explored. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed, and thirteen (13) participants ranging in age from 18-22 years were interviewed individually and in focus groups. The results indicate that unwed teenage mothers in faith communities experience a range of psychological and social experiences, including frustration, feelings of depression, social exclusion and discrimination by fellow church congregants. Stigma theory and stigma consciousness were used to account for these experiences. Peer pressure and gendered power relations were cited among the causes of unwed teenage pregnancy, while payment of damages and re-admission to the community of believers following a confession were cited among the sources of social support. The study concludes that sex education and communication between parents and their teenage girls are essential in dealing with the problem of unwed teenage pregnancy. The study concludes with recommendations for practice and further research. / Thesis (M.A.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

This study has focused on pregnancy and parenting of 10 African young women between the ages of 16 and 19, from one of Inanda schools. Drawing from ethnography, the study explores these young women's choices of boyfriends, the circumstances that led to their pregnancy, the socio-cultural influence during pregnancy and at childbirth, kind of support they receive at home, school and boyfriends and experiences of pregnancy and motherhood. An examination of how they balance their varied roles as mothers and learners as well as the effects of pregnancy and parenting to their schooling. Although the South African Schools Act (Department of Education 1996) regulates the support of pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers in schools, the data reveal that pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers still experience challenges in schools. These challenges range from being stigmatised, discriminated and humiliated by teachers and peers, lack of support from teachers, decline in academic performance as well as the inability to participate in school's extra-mural activities. However the study reveals that there is some degree of institutional support which accounted for the teenage mothers' overall performance and achievement; there are some teachers and learners who provide some kind of support to the pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers. The thesis further argues that motherhood is very demanding, challenging and very disruptive of the young mothers' schoolwork; but the young mothers indicate self-determination and resilience to find ways of successfully juggling motherhood and schooling. On the other hand, the young fathers understand their social role as that of being a provider for the child and the care giving is only for womenfolk. Some of the young men acknowledged the importance of the young mothers' completing their schooling and realized that they needed support other than financial provision. The young men, however, do not provide the childcare themselves; they shift the caring responsibility to their own mothers. The focus on the pregnant and teenage mothers draws attention to possible ways of providing more support in order they fare better in their education for better chances of employment and gender equity. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2012.

Thesis (Mnutr)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pregnancy and growth have been found to have a detrimental effect on the micronutrient status of adolescent girls. Dietary studies in adolescents have shown serious shortfalls in their dietary iron and folate intake. The competition for nutrients between the fetus and a pregnant adolescent may carry the risk of complications such as intrauterine growth retardation, pre-eclampsia, both maternal and fetal intrapartum mortality, the increased risk of birth injuries and low birth weight. The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional status of rural black, pregnant teenagers attending the antenatal clinic at Siloam Hospital in the Limpopo Province, with special emphasis on iron and folic acid intake, and evaluation of the newborn babies in terms of weight status and neural tube defects. The nutritional status was determined in 40 pregnant and 40 non-pregnant adolescent girls. The pregnant girls were selected during their first visit to the antenatal clinic, and the non-pregnant girls were selected from nearby schools. The demographic and dietary history questionnaires were used to collect information from the subjects. The dietary intake of the subjects was collected by the completion of a pre-tested quantified food frequency questionnaire. The anthropometric questionnaire was used to get information from the pregnant adolescents and the control group. The infant anthropometric measurements questionnaire provided information on the infant and the outcome of birth. Blood was collected from the pregnant adolescent girls and the control subjects. Anaemia was observed in 57.5% of the pregnant and 27.5% of the non-pregnant adolescents (haemoglobin <Il g/dl and <12 g/dl, respectively). The prevalence of low serum ferritin « 12 ug/L) and low transferrin saturation « 16%) was high in both the pregnant (30% and 60% respectively) and the non-pregnant adolescents (17% and 72.5% respectively). Iron deficiency was observed in 45% of the pregnant girls and 35% of the control subjects. The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in the pregnant girls (30%) and the control subjects (22.5%) was high. Low red blood cell folate in pregnant and non-pregnant girls was uncommon. Low serum vitamin BI2 was common in most of the pregnant girls. Analysis of the quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) that was completed for 80 of the pregnant and non-pregnant girls showed that 55% had low dietary iron intakes «67% of the RDA) (p = 0.7307). Forty-five percent of the pregnant girls reported taking iron supplements. The QFFQ showed 20% of pregnant girls with low intake of folate (p = 0.0577). Forty-five percent of pregnant girls also reported taking folate supplements. Anthropometric measurements of pregnant girls and their dietary intake could not be correlated to the birth outcome. The social profile of the subjects did not seem to influence their iron and folate status and the outcome of pregnancy. The findings in this study showed that pregnant adolescents appeared to be similar to the non-pregnant adolescent girls socio-economically, anthropometric and nutritionally. We recommend that educational programmes targeted at adolescents and teenagers in the Siloam area should reach girls that could potentially fall pregnant. An educational programme must include: reproductive needs (avoidance of sex or safe sex); nutritional needs, especially targeted at improving nutritional status to meet future reproductive needs; early booking at the antenatal clinic and effective supplementation during pregnancy. The need to improve the dietary and nutrient intake of the adolescent girls should be addressed within the current framework of the Integrated Nutrition Programme (!NP). A food fortification programme with essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, zinc and Vitamin A to improve the micronutrient status should be promoted among the adolescent girls. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is bevind dat swangerskap en groei 'n nadelige effek het op die mikronutriëntstatus van vroulike adolessente. Dieetstudies in adolessente het ernstige tekortkominge in dieetyster- en folaatinnames getoon. Die kompetisie vir nutriente tussen die fetus en die swanger adolessent kan verantwoordelik wees vir komplikasies soos intra-uterine groeivertraging, preeklampsie, verhoogde mortaliteit van beide moeder en baba tydens kraam, 'n verhoogde risiko vir geboortebeserings en lae geboortegewig. Die doel van die studie was om die effek van voedingstatus by swart, swanger tieners by die voorgeboortekliniek in Siloam Hospital in die Limpopo-provinsie te bepaal, met spesifieke verwysing na die yster- en foliensuurinname, asook die evaluering van die pasgebore babas in terme van gewig en neurale buis defekte. Die voedingstatus van 40 swanger en 40 nie-swanger adolessente meisies IS bepaal. Die swanger meisies is ewekansig geselekteer gedurende die eerste besoek aan die voorgeboortekliniek , en die nie-swanger meisies is geselekteer by nabygeleë skole. Die demografiese en dieetgeskiedenisvraelyste is gebruik om inligting van die proefpersone in te samel. Voorafgetoetste gekwantifiseerde voedselfrekwensie vraelyste is gebruik om die voedselinname van proefpersone te bepaal. Antropometriese vraelyste is gebruik om antropometriese inligting van die swanger adolessente en die kontrole groep. Die antropometriese vraelys vir babas is gebruik om inligting ten opsigte van die baba aan te teken asook die verloop van die swangerskap. Bloedmonsters is van die swanger tieners en die kontrole groep ingesamel. Anemie is waargeneem by 57.5% van die swanger en 27.5% van die nie-swanger adolessente (hemoglobien <Il g/dl en <12 g/dl onderskeidelik). Die voorkoms van lae serum ferritien « 12 ugIL) en lae transferrienversadiging « 16%) was hoog by beide die swanger (30% en 60%) en die nie-swanger adolessente (17.5% en 72.5% onderskeidelik). Ystergebrek is in 45% van die swanger meisies en in 35% van die kontrole groep waargeneem. Die voorkoms van ystergebrekanemie in die swanger meisies (30%) en die kontrole groep (22.5%) was hoog. Lae rooibloedselfolaat by swanger en nie-swanger meisies is nie algemeen waargeneem nie. Lae serum vitamien B12 was algemeen by die meeste swanger meisies. Ontleding van die gekwantifiseerde voedselfrekwensievraelys (KVFV) wat vir 80 van die swanger en nie-swanger meisies voltooi is, het getoon dat 55% 'n lae dieetysterinname gehad het «67% van die ADT) (p=0.7307). Vyf-en- veertig persent van die swanger meisies het bevestig dat hulle ystersupplemente gebruik het. Die gekwantifiseerde voedselfrekwensievraelys (KVFV) het getoon dat 20% van die swanger meisies 'n lae folaatinname het (0.0577). Vyf-en-veertig persent van die swanger meisies het ook genoem dat hulle folaatsupplemente gebruik het. Die antropometriese metings van swanger meisies en dieetinname kon nie gekorreleer word met die verloop van die geboorte nie. Dit blyk dat die sosiale profiel van die meisies nie 'n effek op die yster- en folaatstatus en op die verloop van swangerskap gehad het nie. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie toon dat swanger en nie-swanger adolessente meisies sosio-ekonomies, antropometries en nutrisioneel dieselfde voorkom. Dit word aanbeveel dat voorligtingsprogramme vir adolessente en tieners in die Siloam-area meisies moet bereik wat moontlik swanger sal word. 'n Voorligtingprogram moet die volgende insluit: reproduktiewe behoeftes (vermyding van seks of veilige seks); voedingbehoeftes, veral geteiken om voedingstatus te verbeter om ten einde toekomstige voorplantingsbehoeftes te vervul; vroeë besoeke aan die voorgeboortekliniek en effektiewe supplementering gedurende swangerskap. Die behoefte om die dieet en nutriëntinname van adolessente meisies te verbeter moet binne die huidige raamwerk van die Geintegreerde Voedingsprogram aangespreek word. 'n Voedselfortfiseringsprogram met essensiële mikronutriënte soos yster, foliensuur, sink en vitamien A om die mikronutriëntstatus van adolessente meisies te verbeter, moet bevorder word.

A qualitative study was done to explore and describe the problems of teenage mothers in the southern Hho-Hho region of Swaziland. Ten teenage mothers wrote naive sketches and fourteen teenage mothers were interviewed. The findings of the research indicated a lack of support for the teenage mother in all the dimensions studies in this research which include physical, social, cultural, emotional, spiritual, economical and educational. This lack of support systems were found to be the paramount problem and need urgent attention. The vicious circle of lack of support, ignorance, interruption of education and unplanned motherhood can only be addressed if all stakeholders including the multidisciplinary team actively participate to prevent teenage pregnancy and provide support for teenagers in general. / Nursing Science / M.A. (Nursing Science)

A qualitative study was done to explore and describe the problems of teenage mothers in the southern Hho-Hho region of Swaziland. Ten teenage mothers wrote naive sketches and fourteen teenage mothers were interviewed. The findings of the research indicated a lack of support for the teenage mother in all the dimensions studies in this research which include physical, social, cultural, emotional, spiritual, economical and educational. This lack of support systems were found to be the paramount problem and need urgent attention. The vicious circle of lack of support, ignorance, interruption of education and unplanned motherhood can only be addressed if all stakeholders including the multidisciplinary team actively participate to prevent teenage pregnancy and provide support for teenagers in general. / Adanced Nursing Sciences / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The issue of teenage motherhood has been a concern, globally, continentally and locally. The quantitative study assessed whether the pregnant teenagers were ready for motherhood. This report analysed the current positions of women whose first child was to be born when they were teenagers in the rural Eastern Cape setting. The structured questionnaires were given to 106 pregnant teenagers who visited the War Memorial clinic for pregnancy check-up and convenient sampling was used to select these respondents. The items of the questionnaire were divided into the following sub-topics: prenatal and postnatal challenges and roles and responsibilities of motherhood. The study found that most of the pregnant teenagers were aware of the prenatal and postnatal challenges but they were not ready to perform the roles and responsibilities associated with motherhood. The analysis of data was divided in terms of descriptive and inferential statistics. The binary regression model was used to assess the factors affecting the pregnant teenagers’ readiness for motherhood. The finding of this study indicated that most (about 79 percent) of the pregnant teenagers were not aware of the roles and responsibilities of motherhood In addition to being not ready to face the psycho-social challenges of motherhood. Hence they indicated low level of readiness to motherhood. The psycho-social theory of Erikson posited that children who had strong and intact psycho-social relationships with the caregivers might have a high possibility of acquiring their identity during adolescent stage and this will help them to interact both effectively and efficiently with their peers and the society at large. While those do had negative psycho-social development have a high chance of facing identity crisis/confusion. As a result, they might lead them to being victims of psycho-social interaction such as early pregnancy.

No description available.

DEd (Sociology of Education) / Department of Curriculum Studies / The purpose of this study was to explore the educational participation and achievement of teen mothers in South Africa with specific reference to the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province. This study also aimed to find out the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, attendance at school, and academic perfomance by teen mothers in the Vhembe District schools. The study sought to establish whether teenage motherhood has an effect on academic performance as perceived by educators. Sixty teenage mothers, eighteen teachers and six principals were purposively sampled for the study. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and focus group interviews to give the researcher a platform to ask open-response questions and to explore the educators’ perspective about academic performance, attendance at school and the educational achievements of teenage mothers. The data was analysed thematically. This was done by carefully identifying and expanding significant themes that emerged from the informants’ perceptions about the academic performance, attendance, and educational achievement of teenage mothers. The study revealed that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and teen motherhood have a negative effect on school attendance and the academic perfomanceof the teenagers compared to their peers who are not pregnant.The study recommends that sex education should be taken seriously in secondary schools; educators should be trained and given skills to deal with both pregnant learners and teen mothers. Government should introduce a new method of disbursing the child support grant. There should be a provision of moblie clinics in schools so that both pregnant learners and teen mothers can be supported and not humiliated or stigmatized by peers and educators. / Department of Curriculum Studies and Education Management

MA (Psychology) / Department of Psychology / See the attached abstract below

This thesis is examines women who in the 70s or 80s become underage mothers. It tries to map out how these women perceive their life. It also investigates how negative assumptions about underage mothers agree or disagree with the specimen. First there is processed topic of underage mothers and their various aspects. It introduces the views of domestic and foreign authors on these girls. These views predicts a bleak and unsuccessful life to those girls. Another part presents era of socialism, which surveyed women grew up and became pregnant in. Next part describes the research methodology. For this thesis the qualitative research was chosen, specifically biographical interviews. The last part of the analysis is devoted to the research and specific findings. It introduces the topics that women talked about and which are very important to them. Research shows that the former young mothers perceive and evaluate their lives mostly positively. When comparing expert views on teenage mothers with the lives of these women, it is clear that the gloomy predictions of the authors didn't come true and women don't live in poverty and sadness. Conversely they happily spend time with their children and partners.