Single parent attachment styles and its relationship with teenage pregnancy in Namibia

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy is a growing social concern in Namibia. In 2013, 19% of teenagers fell pregnant (MoHSS, 2014). Implications are enormous including economic, social and health issues. Attachment between parents and children is important in child development and enduring through life. The study aims to examine whether attachment styles of single parents increase the risk of teenage pregnancy in their daughters. The research used a quantitative method with a sample of 100 teenage girls in Windhoek, Namibia, completing the IPPA and Questionnaire to measure attachment and biographical data. Results analysis in this study suggests that teenagers from two-parents families are more likely to be securely attached (65%) and less likely to get pregnant as teenagers. On the other hand teenagers from single parent families are more likely to be insecurely attached (44%) and are more likely to get pregnant as teenagers. Thus, the attachment style predicted teenage pregnancy, particularly in single parent families where insecure attachment was more prominent. Recommendations for future research and for the government and other stake holders were provided.