Authors : N.R. Raselekoane, T.P. Mulaudzi, R. Chinyakata and L. Gwatimba
Abstract: Notwithstanding, the many campaigns, print and electronic media advertisements to disseminate information on the problems associated with teenage pregnancy, the tide of teenage pregnancies in South Africa seems unrelenting. The life of many young women is disrupted as they are the ones who bear the brunt of teenage pregnancy than their male counterparts. This study aims at applying the choice theory to explain the reasons behind the relentless teenage pregnancy in South Africa despite the availability of information on the contraceptives and the daunting responsibility of being a parent prematurely. Qualitative research approach was used to guide the collection and analysis of the data. Data was collected through the use of face to face interviews and content analysis was used to analyse the data. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select the respondents from the entire population. A total number of 22 respondents were interviewed. The study indicated that young people continue to fall into the trap of pregnancy despite the availability of contraceptives and information on safe sex. According to the study young people young women do not fall pregnant out of their own will rather they are pushed by social pressures such as patriarchy, lack of social support from their families and communities which they live and also poverty. Young women's inferiority complex also leads them to subdue to the pressures of getting pregnant. There is a desperate need for a multi-prolonged strategy by different stakeholders to deal with unrelenting teenage pregnancy in South Africa.
N.R. Raselekoane, T.P. Mulaudzi, R. Chinyakata and L. Gwatimba, 2018. Unrelenting Teenage Pregnancies in South Africa: Is Falling Pregnant a Matter of Choice or an Accident?. The Social Sciences, 13: 1471-1479.