Prevention of teenage pregnancies in Soshanguve, South Africa : using the Johnson Behavioural System Model

Abstract

This study explored teenagers' knowledge and perceptions regarding teenage pregnancy by using the Johnson Behavioural System Model. The increase in the termination of pregnancies in the study area, and the lack of guidelines for registered professional nurses to prevent teenage pregnancies, were reasons for undertaking this study. The research design was contextual, exploratory and qualitative in nature. The study participants were female teenagers using the participating primary healthcare (PHC) clinic's services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 teenagers. The findings indicated that most teenagers' sexuality education occurred at school and at home but on a very superficial and non-specific level. Although schools offered sexuality education, some teenagers became sexually active before they received any such education. Teenagers had unprotected sexual intercourse despite their awareness of contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Most pregnant participants regarded their pregnancies as mistakes and the lack of communication about sexual issues with their parents presented problems. Recommendations and guidelines, addressing factors contributing to teenage pregnancies, are provided. These focus on the four chosen subsystems of the Johnson Behavioural System Model including the attachment system, dependency subsystem, achievement subsystem and sexual subsystem and guide the registered nurse to assess the drive, set and choices the teenager has and not just the observable behaviour, the pregnancy. If the registered nurse does not understand the drive underpinning the behaviour of the teenager, her counselling might focus only on the behaviour and be ineffective.