Revisiting the dynamics of early childbearing in South African townships

Mkhwanazi, Nolwazi

doi:10.1080/13691058.2014.930512

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The teenager's pregnancy is perceived as a complete failure and shame for both girl and her family. Consistent with the study (Mkhwanazi 2014) conducted in a South African township; teenage pregnancy was perceived as bringing shame on the girl and on her family. In particular, the community holds the mother responsible for the daughter's pregnancy.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

‘A Girl Who Gets Pregnant or Spends the Night with a Man is No Longer a Girl’: Forced Marriage in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Mulumeoderhwa

2016

Sexuality & Culture

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This article reports fieldwork carried out in 2011 with the aim of investigating the attitudes and reported behavior of young Congolese men and women concerning sexual relationships, including forced marriage. A sample of 56 boys and girls aged 16-20 from two urban and two rural high schools in South Kivu province took part in focus groups and 40 of them were subsequently interviewed individually. Most male and female participants reported that parents would force their daughters to marry their boyfriends if she spent a night with him and came back home because, according, to Bashi tradition, she is 'no longer a girl'. If their daughter becomes pregnant, most parents would force their daughter to marry the genitor. The onus of preventing sex, pregnancy and rape is on the shoulders of the girl, which is consistent with oppressive patriarchal norms that may perpetuate violence against women.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

‘A Girl Who Gets Pregnant or Spends the Night with a Man is No Longer a Girl’: Forced Marriage in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Mulumeoderhwa

2016

Sexuality & Culture

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“…My research into sexuality education points to a discomfort that some teachers and others entrusted with the task of providing sexuality education, experience in talking to young people about sex (Mkhwanazi, 2005(Mkhwanazi, , 2010(Mkhwanazi, , 2014. Other studies have suggested that teachers and learners are both uncomfortable and unwilling to talk about sex or do not know what to talk about (cf.…”

Section: Twenty Years Of Democracy -The Experiences Of Young Womenmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Mkhwanazi, 2010). My more recent research reveals that today among peers, young people are more open about their relationships, but between parents and children, there remains a measure of secrecy (Mkhwanazi, 2014).…”

Section: Twenty Years Of Democracy -The Experiences Of Young Womenmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Mkhwanazi, 2010Mkhwanazi, , 2014. In the latest onslaught on young women's sexual and reproductive rights, young women have been accused of using terminations of their pregnancies as a contraceptive.…”

Section: Twenty Years Of Democracy -The Experiences Of Young Womenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In June -July 2013, I returned to the township sites around Cape Town -Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Philippi and New Crossroads -where I was able to follow up on changes in the lives of previous research participants; I also developed new relationships with young women and men living in these townships. The following publications provide more extensive details of my research methods and approach (Mkhwanazi, 2005(Mkhwanazi, , 2006(Mkhwanazi, , 2010(Mkhwanazi, , 2012(Mkhwanazi, , 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Twenty years of democracy and the politics of reproduction in South Africa

Mkhwanazi

2014

African Identities

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Reproduction is political. This article is about how young women's experiences of pregnancy and motherhood in South Africa have been affected by politics. Early childbearing has been a norm for a great part of the twentieth century, particularly among South Africa's black and coloured populations. However, it was only in the 1970s that the issue of 'teenage pregnancy' was singled out as an area of concern and one that was worthy of study. The interest in teenage pregnancy emerged at a time when young black people were increasingly becoming more vocal and militant in their opposition to apartheid. They presented a potential destabilising force in the country. In 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) took over the reigns of power as South Africa's first democratically elected government. Once in power, the ANC, under the leadership of President Nelson Mandela, made addressing and correcting past injustices a key priority, particular efforts were made to address racial and gender inequalities. The article examines health policy and legislation with regard to women's sexual and reproductive rights. The article discusses three key Acts that were introduced in the first five years of democracy which had the potential to impact on young women's sexual and reproductive health. Using ethnographic and secondary data sources, I suggest that while the Acts were significant and even groundbreaking at the time that they were introduced, today for many poor, young black women in South Africa, their impact is negligible. The article has two aims. The first aim is to show the ways in which particular ideas about young women and their sexual behaviour have resulted in the development of policies that have profoundly affected young mothers abilities to parent -positively and/or negatively. The second aim of the article is to comment on the gradual movement away from the protection of women's rights that was important in the early years of ANC rule to the increasing disregard for young women's sexual and reproductive health rights that is currently evident in the Zuma era, as well as unabashed attempts to control young women's sexuality.

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Early childbearing experiences of young university student‐parents in South Africa: A qualitative study

Ngcobo

Shumba

2023

Public Health Challenges

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Background Early childbearing is a major concern especially in developing countries. This study sought to understand student‐parents’ perspectives of early childbearing, describe their individual experiences and identify the types of support required for such young parents. Methods This was an exploratory qualitative study with semi‐structured in‐depth interviews among 20 purposively selected participants. All the participants were young parent‐students at the University of KwaZulu‐Natal in Durban, South Africa. The interviews were conducted in 2018. Results The young parent‐students identified a lack of adequate information and knowledge about safe sex, contraceptive methods and prevention of pregnancies that led to early childbearing. The common misinformation that prevented the adoption of contraception methods were societal beliefs among men promoting early childbearing, coupled with the negative attitudes of healthcare workers in providing adequate information and reproductive health services. Both male and female parents suffered life‐changing consequences after early childbearing leading to financial burdens to support their new‐born and the interruption of their education. Government financial schemes and bursaries helped these young parents to financially support their new‐born, whereas family support in terms of taking care of the new‐born allowed them to continue with education. In addition, most participants identified having a child as a motivation for pursuing higher education. There is a need for Life Orientation programmes to be tailor‐made to provide adequate knowledge and sensitise the youth on appropriate life choices and access to contraceptives. Conclusion Early childbearing resulted from a lack of adequate knowledge on safe sex and contraceptive methods, poor access to contraceptives, the negative attitudes of healthcare workers in proving adequate sexual and reproductive health services to the youth. Schemes to financially support the young parents and support from family members were key to helping the young parents to continue with university education.

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Revisiting the dynamics of early childbearing in South African townships

Cited by 21 publications

References 21 publications

‘A Girl Who Gets Pregnant or Spends the Night with a Man is No Longer a Girl’: Forced Marriage in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

‘A Girl Who Gets Pregnant or Spends the Night with a Man is No Longer a Girl’: Forced Marriage in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Twenty years of democracy and the politics of reproduction in South Africa

Early childbearing experiences of young university student‐parents in South Africa: A qualitative study

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