Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Program for the South African Context: A Change of Attitude and Beliefs

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Adolescents in South Africa, as young as 14 years are reported to be sexually active with more than one partner. The decision to become sexually active with resulting adolescent pregnancy whether planned or not, is influenced by the adolescent’s beliefs. A person’s beliefs consist of a person’ own individual beliefs or attitude as well as what the individual’s subjective norm. The issue of risky sexual behavior and pregnancy should therefore be addressed before the age of 14. A doll parenting project, to be incorporated in the school curriculum of grade 6 learners was therefore developed by the University of the Free State and the Free State Department of Education, South Africa. A thorough study was done with a first implementation of the project, with the aim of establishing the effect of the project on the attitude of learners. A change in attitude of learners towards risky sexual behavior and adolescent pregnancy was found. Findings provided insight into the beliefs of grade 6 learners regarding sex and adulthood, the roll of peer pressure, relationships of adolescent parents, social interaction of teenage parents, ability of adolescent parent’s ability to provide in the needs of the baby, the adequacy of a child support grant to raise a baby as well as the levels of education of adolescent parents. This presentation will provide a detailed reflection on the results of a doll parenting intervention strategy as means of modification of attitude and subjective norms of learners in order to alter sexual behavior. The roll-out of the project in more than 80 schools in areas with the highest incidence of adolescent pregnancy in the Free State province will be included in a follow-up study during February - September 2008. The project was developed on a basis of evidence based research.

Stream: Cultural Sustainability, Social Sustainability

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

The researcher (Cecilna Grobler) specialize in social research within the fields of Nursing as well as Missional Theology. Research is mainly focussed on sustainable transformation in communities. The researcher is currently busy with her Doctoral degree in Missional Theology in which she is developing a research model for congregational studies. Cecilna Grobler is a well established researcher who is also rated by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. She is a member of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion as well as member of the Allelon society for Missional Research. Cecilna Grobler has presented her nursing research at several international conferences and workshops.

Prof. Botma is a well established researcher in the fields of both clinical and social research within Nursing. She is the portfolio head of the Research Inisiative Portfolio within the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Free State. She has presented a many international conferences and workshops over a period of more than 20 years.