Experiences of distant parented adolescent girls in Chiredzi South constituency of Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of distant parented adolescent girls in Chiredzi South Constituency of Zimbabwe. The phenomenon focused on the experiences that distant parented adolescent girls go through in the absence of the migrant parents. The study was underpinned by the bio-ecological systems theory to bring to the fore the role of different environmental systems surrounding a distant parented adolescent to her development. Qualitative methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation were used. The study employed a purposive sampling approach to select the twenty-five (25) distant parented adolescent girls who participated in the focus group discussions and interviews from five secondary schools. Data were collected and recorded. A thematic analysis was used. Some of the findings were that the systems surrounding a distant parented adolescent girl are not supportive of her development; distant parented girls experience labour and sexual exploitation, communication challenges with the migrant parents; they are bullied, feel lonely, lack access to the remittances and experience stigmatisation. Based on the findings, the study recommends collaborative support to the distant parented adolescent girls residing in Chiredzi South Constituency of Zimbabwe.