Beliefs of grade six learners’ regarding adolescent pregnancy and sex

Abstract

Escalating adolescent pregnancy and risky sexual behaviour is becoming more common amongst young adolescents and especially amongst black adolescents in South Africa. Statistics confirm that South African adolescents as young as fourteen are already sexually active and become pregnant. The decision to become sexually active with resulting adolescent pregnancy whether planned or not, are directly influenced by the teenager’s beliefs. A person’s beliefs consist of a person’ own individual beliefs or attitude as well as what the individual subjective norm which the individual perceive as other people’s beliefs regarding the same object of reason. The aim of the study was to describe the attitude of black grade six learners under the age of fourteen, towards adolescent pregnancy and sex. A quantitative descriptive research design was used. Results were clustered according to demographic variables as well as beliefs that consist of attitude and subjective norm.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of secondary school girls towards contraception in Limpopo Province

“…For instance, in 2004 there were 1896 adolescents aged less than 18 years who delivered in hospital A in the Thulamela Municipality, accounting for 26% of the 7382 total deliveries (Tshilidzini Hospital maternity statistics register, 2004/2005). A study by Grobler et al (2007) also confirms that one in every three teenage girls in the RSA falls pregnant before the age of 18 years. It was therefore necessary to assess and determine the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents on contraception.…”