The purpose of this study was to explore possible problems associated with pregnancy amongst student nurses in the Northern Province, and to determine whether their studies were adversely affected by their pregnancies. This study was designed as a quantitative, exploratory descriptive survey to look into the pregnancies of a specific group of students exploring their experiences in the classrooms and in the clinical areas. During 1998 data was collected by distributing questionnaires to ninety three pregnant . student nurses. Sixty-seven (71,0%) of student nurses fell pregnant because they lacked knowledge about contraceptives. Four-six (49,5%) of the respondents delayed seeking antenatal care, although they needed advice and support. Whilst fifty-eight (62,4%) of the respondents suffered from minor ailments such as tiredness, pre-eclampsia, early bleeding prior to three months pregnancy, and dizziness. Fifty-eight (62,4%) of the respondents encountered problems with their academic progress, as revealed by decreasing marks scored before, during, and after delivery. Student nurses would willingly avail themselves of guidance, advice and support during their pregnancies if they could access such services. / Advanced Nursing Science / M.A.(Nursing Science)

The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of learner dropout in secondary schools around Johannesburg South, Gauteng Province. Twenty-seven participants from three secondary schools in Orange Farm area were purposively sampled for the study. A qualitative design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data to allow the researcher a platform to ask open-response questions and to explore the participants’ perspectives about the causes of learner dropout. The data was analysed thematically by carefully identifying and describing significant themes that emerged from educators, learners, parents, SGB chairpersons and principal’s responses to interview questions. The study revealed that teenage pregnancy, lack of parental involvement, substance abuse and peer pressure, among others, were the causes of learner dropout. The study recommends that schools put more efforts on abstinence programs, sex education and the use of contraceptives such as condoms, pills and injectables; training of educators on the management of drugs and pregnancy, and resuscitation of extra-mural activities. Recommendations for further research were made. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

This dissertation was carried out to try to describe the role of socio-economic factors in the successful completion of schooling up to matriculation level (matric), among young mothers in the Soutpansberg East Circuit in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The researcher used the social capital theoretical framework. A questionnaire was administered to 128 young mothers, aged 18 and above, after a pilot survey had been carried out. The data was captured, exported and analysed The data was then exported to the latest model of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 where it was analysed. The research used independent T-test analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation analysis. The independent T- test was used to determine if the views of young mothers differed by the number of children, form of support from father, school policy and presence of educators as counsellors. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to determine whether the views on the role of socioeconomic factors in the successful completion of matric among young mothers in the Soutpansberg East Circuit, Limpopo Province, South Africa differed by age, grade, type of family and who takes care of the child. The findings showed that there were several socioeconomic factors that assisted young mothers to complete matric, among them were, family supports, child support grants, intra-school environment and policies. They provided critical support to the young mother in different forms among others taking care of children while they were at school, financial support, encouragement. The study also found other that schools in the Soutpansberg East Circuit also provided a significant amount of support to young mothers. The study also found a general trend of absentee fatherhood in the caring of children. The study found out that there was a complicated interplay of different socioeconomic factors to the completion of matric among the young mothers. The researcher, therefore, concluded that socio-economic factors are critical for the successful completion of schooling up to matric level in the Soutpansberg East Circuit. The study found out the need for more empirical study in the role of socioeconomic factors to the complication of matric among young mothers. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology)

As female adolescents go through the transition phase of adolescence, they respond to a variety of factors influencing their sexual development, for instance, cultural practices, socioeconomic status, media exposure, internet access, increased autonomy to explore their sexuality, as well as quality of care, guidance and supervision by primary caregivers. If they do not get enough guidance from caregivers, teachers or medical clinics, adolescents often fall pregnant. The consequences of unexpected pregnancies prove to be negative on intrapersonal as well as interpersonal levels. There is a need to reduce such pregnancies to give adolescents a better chance in life and to enhance optimal development on individual, social, emotional and moral levels. This study explored female adolescents’ experiences and perceptions of teenage pregnancy in Belfast, Mpumalanga, in South Africa. The researcher tried to make a positive contribution towards reducing the incidence of teenage pregnancy in South Africa, especially in rural, farm and semi-urban settings, through an inductive study of African female adolescents in selected secondary schools. Data were collected through individual in-depth audio-recorded semi-structured interviews with 20 African adolescent girls who were purposefully selected for the study. The researcher used Tesch’s method of analysis to analyse the data collected and to deduce themes and categories. Adolescents mostly fell pregnant, because of changes in sexual interest, emotional experiences, social development dynamics, adolescent thinking patterns and failure to use contraceptives. Teenage pregnancy affected the life-world of adolescents by influencing negatively on their physical health, psycho-emotional wellbeing, moral behaviour, social and school lives. The researcher established that the adolescents, their families, communities and society would continue to face the adverse outcomes of teenage pregnancy if the rates of teenage pregnancy remained unabated. The study therefore recommended collaborative efforts of adults in various governmental and private spheres for prevention of teenage pregnancy and for support of adolescent mothers and their babies during and after early-unexpected pregnancies. Some of the recommendations were: national awareness campaigns to curb teenage pregnancies; the review of the Life Orientation curriculum by the Department of Basic Education; the re-orientation of health delivery services; the positive inputs of teachers and schools; and a re-orientation of the responsibilities of primary caregivers and other adults / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The purpose of this study was to explore possible problems associated with pregnancy amongst student nurses in the Northern Province, and to determine whether their studies were adversely affected by their pregnancies. This study was designed as a quantitative, exploratory descriptive survey to look into the pregnancies of a specific group of students exploring their experiences in the classrooms and in the clinical areas. During 1998 data was collected by distributing questionnaires to ninety three pregnant . student nurses. Sixty-seven (71,0%) of student nurses fell pregnant because they lacked knowledge about contraceptives. Four-six (49,5%) of the respondents delayed seeking antenatal care, although they needed advice and support. Whilst fifty-eight (62,4%) of the respondents suffered from minor ailments such as tiredness, pre-eclampsia, early bleeding prior to three months pregnancy, and dizziness. Fifty-eight (62,4%) of the respondents encountered problems with their academic progress, as revealed by decreasing marks scored before, during, and after delivery. Student nurses would willingly avail themselves of guidance, advice and support during their pregnancies if they could access such services. / Advanced Nursing Science / M.A.(Nursing Science)

The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of learner dropout in secondary schools around Johannesburg South, Gauteng Province. Twenty-seven participants from three secondary schools in Orange Farm area were purposively sampled for the study. A qualitative design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data to allow the researcher a platform to ask open-response questions and to explore the participants’ perspectives about the causes of learner dropout. The data was analysed thematically by carefully identifying and describing significant themes that emerged from educators, learners, parents, SGB chairpersons and principal’s responses to interview questions. The study revealed that teenage pregnancy, lack of parental involvement, substance abuse and peer pressure, among others, were the causes of learner dropout. The study recommends that schools put more efforts on abstinence programs, sex education and the use of contraceptives such as condoms, pills and injectables; training of educators on the management of drugs and pregnancy, and resuscitation of extra-mural activities. Recommendations for further research were made. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Abstract in English, Venda and Sotho / Within the last decade, the level of teenage pregnancy in Southern Africa has been on the increase and as a result, is being seen as a major social problem. This study, which is a dissertation of limited scope, investigates the teaching and learning challenges of teenage mother learners at secondary schools in the Vhembe District in Limpopo. This study is classified as qualitative research within a case study design. A convenience sampling method was applied in order to select teachers and teenage mother learners for participation in the study resulting in five teachers and five teenage mother learners participating in the study Participants were interviewed using in-depth interviews. Participant observation and document analysis were other research methodologies included in the data collection process. Participant observation assisted in gathering data in relation to how mother learners interacted with teachers and other peers in class and in the school environment and document analysis was conducted by means of perusing formal records, such as attendance registers, class tests and examination results, medical records, and involvement in extramural activities. Qualitative data analysis was used in order to analyse data collected which resulted in themes and sub-themes emerging. The findings revealed that teenage pregnancy has a detrimental effect on girls’ schooling with school attendance and absenteeism affecting performance resulting in poor results and even drop out. Additional factors such as lack of financial support, physical and emotional support from family and friends as well as stigmatisation, discrimination and exclusion have a negative effect on learning. Teachers tend to lack the necessary knowledge and skills in dealing with teenage mother learners and are not supported with counselling programmes. Recommendations suggest that teachers are equipped with special skills to deal with teenage mother learners and that learners at school are made more aware of the dangers of early pregnancy and its effects on their education through various programmes. / Ngudo iyi, ya desithesheni ya tshikoupu tsho pimiwaho, i khou ṱoḓisisa nga ha khaedu dza u funza na u guda kha vhagudi vha vhana vha re vho mme zwikoloni zwa sekondari Masipalani wa Tshiṱiriki tsha Vhembe, Limpopo. Ngudo iyi yo khethekanywa sa ṱhoḓisiso ya khwaḽithathivi. Kha pulane na nzudzanyo ya ṱhoḓisiso, ngudo iyi yo itwa zwikoloni zwa sekondari kha Masipala wa Tshiṱiriki tsha Vhembe, tshine tsha wanala kha vundu ḽa Limpopo. Kuitele kwa vhukhethatsumbonanguludzwa kwo teaho kwo shumiswa u itela u nanga vhadededzi na vhagudi vha vhana vha re vho mme u itela u dzhenelela kha inthaviwu. U dzhenelela nga u tou sedza na u saukanya ḽiṅwalo o vha maṅwe maitele a ṱhoḓisiso o katelwaho kha kuitele kwa u kuvhanganya data. Vhadededzi na vhagudi vha vhana vha re vho mme vho inthaviwiwa hu tshi khou shumiswa inthaviwu dzo fhelelaho. Ṱhoḓisiso ya khwaḽithethivi kha u dzhenelela nga vhusedzi yo itwa u itela u kuvhanganya data zwi tshi elana na uri vhagudi vha vhana vha re vho mme vha shumisana hani na vhadededzi na dziṅwe thangana dza murole kiḽasini na kha vhupo ha tshikolo Tsha u fhedzisela. U saukanywa ha ḽiṅwalo ho itwa nga nḓila ya u ṱola rekhodo dza fomaḽa, dzi ngaho ridzhisiṱara ya maḓele tshikoloni, mulingo wa kiḽasini na mvelelo dza mulingo, rekhodo dza mutakalo, na u dzhenelela kha nyitelwannḓa na thandela dza mveledziso ya tshitshavha. Vhadededzi vhaṱanu na vhagudi vha vhana vha re vho mme vhaṱanu vho dzhenelela kha ngudo iyi. Musaukanyo wa data wa khwaḽithithathivi wo shumiswa u itela u saukanya data yo kuvhanganyiwaho nga tshifhinga tsha inthaviwu dzo fhelelaho na data ya u sedza ya mudzheneli / Nyakišišo ye, yeo e lego disetheišene ya sekoupu se se lekantšwego, e nyakišiša ditlhohlo tša go ruta le go ithuta tša baswa ba baithuti ba e lego bommago bana dikolong tša sekontari ka Mmasepaleng wa Selete sa Vhembe, Limpopo. Nyakišišo ye e hlophilwe bjalo ka nyakišišo ya khwalithethifi. Ka gare ga peakanyo ya kheisesetati, nyakišišo ye e dirilwe dikolong tša sekontari ka gare ga Mmasepala wa Selete sa Vhembe, wo o lego profentsheng ya Limpopo. Mokgwa wa maleba wa go dira sampole o dirišitšwe go kgetha barutiši le baswa ba baithuti ba e lego bommago bana go kgathatema dipoledišanong. Tlhokomelo ya mokgathatema le tshekatsheko ya tokomane e be e le mekgwa ye mengwe ya dinyakišišo ye e akareditšwego ka gare ga tshepetšo ya kgoboketšo ya datha. Barutiši le baswa ba baithuti ba e lego bommago bana ba boledišane ka go šomiša dipoledišano tše di tseneletšego. Nyakišišo ya khwalithethifi ka gare ga tlhokomelo ya mokgathatema e dirilwe go kgoboketša datha mabapi le ka fao baswa ba baithuti ba e lego bommago bana ba bego ba amana le barutiši le dithaka tša bona ka phapošing le ka tikologong ya sekolo. Sa mafelelo, tshekatsheko ya tokomane e dirilwe ka go šomiša direkote tša semmušo go hlahloba, go swana le diretšistara ya batlasekolong, diteko tša ka phapošing le dipoelo tša tlhahlobo, direkote tša kalafo, le kgathotema dipapading tsa sekolo le diprotšeke tša tlhabollo ya setšhaba. Barutiši ba bahlano le baswa ba baithuti ba e lego bommago bana ba bahlano ba kgathile tema ka nyakišišong ye. Tshekatsheko ya datha ya khwalithethifi e šomišitšwe go sekaseka datha ye e kgobokeditšwego nakong ya dipoledišano tše di tseneletšeng le datha ya tlhokomelo ya mokgathatema. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum and Instructional Studies)