... Submission date: 05/05/2015 Assignment Topic: In South Africa, teenage pregnancy is on rise as a result of how these teenagers make sense of their sexuality. In South African adolescent marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, which in some instances is filled with a period of opportunities, challenges, changes, skills, pressures and physical, cognitive and psychosocial development. Teenagers are faced with an immense amount of peer pressure, physiological and emotional changes, sexual experimentation that increases the risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. While many teenagers may engage in pre-marital sex some never become pregnant. Teenage pregnancy has become all too common in this day and age. Some teenagers think it will not happen to them and do not use necessary precautions to protect themselves against pregnancy. There are several causes for teen pregnancy and the effects can be life changing. Research done has indicated that there is not one single cause to teenage pregnancy, but there are whole host of causes to this pandemic. Factors that can contribute to the number of teenagers who fall pregnant are for example, gender power imbalances (associated with significantly older partners in particular), early sexual debut, barriers to contraceptive use (seldom used at sexual initiation), and misinformation on sexual health matters. Pregnancy at a very young age may result in pregnancy complications that can lead to the death of the young...
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...In recent years the issue of teenage pregnancies has become an important topic of conversation for many people whether in formal or informal settings. This is due to the fact of the social, economic and health consequences associated with teenage pregnancies, with that being said this paper going to further explore these consequences. Teenage pregnancies for one is associated with less schooling, lower income, increased poverty and dependency. It is well proven that more education is associated with long-term improvements in economic performance and teenage pregnancies act as a barrier to these improvements. Because of the time and energy that raising children to require, which intrudes with the time and energy required to study and go to classes, women who have a child during the school years often drop out before they can complete their education. This is especially the case for...
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...Exploring Adolescent Pregnancy Issues in Peckham London Borough of Southwark. Introduction: Adolescent pregnancy issues are a growing problem in England. Adolescent mothers are very much likely to face challenges of social exclusion arising from their circumstance. Their babies are more likely to suffer health challenges that may lead to poor health and premature death . It is therefore not surprising that health and social care providers pay particular attention to addressing the level of adolescent pregnancy trends, in other to improve the quality of life of young people. This report would attempt to conceptualise adolescent pregnancy issues as an urban health problem in the Peckham area of Southwark. The report will also look at a brief profile of the demography of Peckham / Southwark Council in relation to the adolescent pregnancy challenges it faces and its implications for health /social service delivery providers. . The concluding part of this report provides recommendations to the relevant local health authorities on how to address the growing prevalence of adolescent pregnancy problems amongst girls. Understanding Urban Health, the Rationale of Adolescent Pregnancy, the Demographics of Peckham, London Borough of Southwark: Urban health as a concept is a generic term that is used to describe the whole gamut of policy interventions provided by health and social care professionals to both private and public sector institutions (Marmot...
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...entertainment, and promiscuity. Reference to a born free is used to describe the youth as an ignorant generation that has no regard for history but is at the same time happy to enjoy life under a free and democratic dispensation. This conception is true; 18 year olds are generally pleasure seeking, so why is this used as a negative characteristic? It is used by the elder generations in the ANC to remind youth what they did for South Africa; an attempt to gain the born frees loyalty to ensure the ANC’s stronghold in the government. Change is inevitable as it is this Born Fee generation who are already showing signs of being fed up, with the standard of education, unemployment/crime, and BEE. There is a general view that South African youth is faced with an array of life threatening challenges unemployment, teenage pregnancy, poor education system, improper up bring and socialization by parents who are still healing the sours caused by the bitterness of their past. This generation has been left with the task to restore the true vision of a Democratic South Africa that was fought so hard for by Nelson Mandela and many other liberation heroes’. If the ruling...
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...Related Literature and Studies This chapter presents the related literature and studies about the factors affecting teenage pregnancy. Implications of these related articles and topics were used in the conduct of this study that aimed to describe the theoretical basis of the study being undertaken. A. PERSONAL FACTORS Positive family interaction According to Perez (2010) even though family relationships are important, family communication is especially important because it gives the foundation in a teenager’s life and relationships. Without the strong communication dialogue between family members, teenagers are more likely to make unhealthy choices with their life and relationships. In general, people find it difficult to communicate and understand what is happening in the world around them. Not having communication dialogue between family members is disruptive to the family’s environment and structure. It is especially destructive to an individual’s life because without communication, the individual is left with no support and clarity of his/ her social surroundings. The field of communication offers knowledge and understanding between family members and individuals. Family communication is the foundation that strengthens family interaction. Lack of communication affects behaviors and attitudes. Young people who reported feeling a lack of parental warmth, love, or caring were also more likely to report emotional distress, lower self-esteem, school problems...
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...Introduction: Sexual education teaches people that sexuality is a natural, normal, healthy part of life and sexual education is needed in high schools to teach young adults not only the dangers of sex such as unwanted pregnancies or STDs, as well as the many other aspects to sex that aren’t spoken about such as identifying ones sexual preference (gay, straight etc.), relationships, protection, the emotional aspect of it, the maturity required and how sex actually works and not just the sexual organs which is what is usually taught to young adults who are going through adolescence which is a very challenging time for many. Sexual education should clarify the issues involved with the topic and not confuse people. Sexual education is needed everywhere...
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...[pic] Worldwide, more than 60 million women aged 20–24 were married before they reached the age of 18. The extent of child marriage varies substantially between countries, but about half of the girls who are affected live in South Asia. Child marriage is a violation of child rights, compromising the development of girls and often resulting in premature pregnancy and social isolation. Child marriage is becoming less common overall, but the pace of change is slow. In 34 of the 55 countries with comparable data from two recent surveys, there has been no significant change in the percentage of women aged 20–24 married by 18 – and only 5 countries experienced a decrease of more than 10 per cent. Questions Introduction: Child marriage refers to any marriage of a child younger than 18 years old (18 is the recognised age of adulthood according to the Article 1 of the Convention on the Right of the Child. While child marriage affects both sexes, girls are disproportionately affected as they are the majority of the victims. Their overall development is compromised, leaving them socially isolated with little education, skills and opportunities for employment and self-realisation. This leaves child brides more vulnerable to poverty, a consequence of child marriage as well as a cause Child marriage is now widely recognised as a violation of children's rights, a direct form of discrimination against the girl child who as a result of the practice is often deprived of her basic...
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...prescribed marriageable age in some jurisdictions is below 18 years, especially in the case of girls; and even when the age is set at 18 years, many jurisdictions permit earlier marriage with parental consent or in special circumstances, such as teenage pregnancy. In certain countries, even when the legal marriage age is 18, cultural traditions take priority over legislative law.[3] Child marriage affects both boys and girls, though the overwhelming majority of those affected are girls, most of whom are in poor socioeconomic situations. Child marriage is related to child betrothal, and it includes civil cohabitation and court approved early marriages after teenage pregnancy. In many cases, only one marriage-partner is a child, usually the female. Causes of child marriages include poverty, bride price, dowry, cultural traditions, laws that allow child marriages, religious and social pressures, regional customs, fear of remaining unmarried, illiteracy, and perceived inability of women to work for money. Child marriages were common throughout history for a variety of reasons, including poverty, insecurity, as well as for political and financial reasons. Today, child marriage is still fairly widespread in developing countries, such as parts of Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. The incidence of child marriage has been falling in most parts of the world. The countries with the highest observed rates of child marriages below the age of 18 are Niger, Chad...
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...Edition Subscribe and save 57% Teenage pregnancy: High US rates due to poverty, not promiscuity Teenage pregnancy rates in the US have declined dramatically – 40 percent in two decades – but remain among the highest in the developed world. A new study suggests American teens don't have more sex than teens elsewhere, but that they suffer more "despair" due to poverty. By Stephanie Hanes, Correspondent / May 22, 2012 Weekly review of global news and ideas Balanced, insightful and trustworthy Subscribe in print or digital SPECIAL OFFER Print Digital Teenage pregnancy was the focus of a 2010 Candies Foundation campaign featuring Bristol Palin to educate teens about the consequences of pregnancy. A new study links "despair" and poverty to the relatively high US teenage pregnancy rates. PRNewsFoto/The Candie's Foundation Enlarge About these ads 268 Recommend Tweet 10 0 and 0 Green Cabinets and Countertops Why is a teenage girl in Mississippi four times as likely to give birth than a teenage girl in New Hampshire? (And 15 times more likely to give birth than a teen in Switzerland?) Or why is the teen birth rate in Massachusetts 19.6 per 1,000, while it’s 47.7 per 1,000 in Washington, D.C.? Stephanie Hanes Correspondent Stephanie Hanes is the lead writer for Modern Parenthood and a longtime Monitor correspondent. She lives in Andover, Mass. with her husband, Christopher, her daughter, Madeline Thuli, a South Africa Labrador retriever, Karoo, and an...
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...result of poor health care. Introduction. Africa is a third world continent meaning that all African countries are not yet fully developed and are still in the development stage. The underdevelopment makes Africa a victim of poor health care. Only a few have access to proper adequate healthcare leaving masses with poor healthcare Health conditions in Africa lag behind all other developed Eastern and Western countries and life expectancy is far less than that of developed countries (Health Poverty Action, 2015). Poverty and health worldwide are inextricably linked (Health Poverty Action, 2005). This assignment will be looking at those factors caused by poverty that lead to poor health. Poor sanitary conditions. Poor sanitary conditions in Africa have led to a lot of health problems leading to poor health conditions across the continent. In 2008, approximately sixty two percent of Africans did not have access to improved sanitation facilities such as proper toilets that separate human waste from human contact (WHO, 2008). In the rural parts of Africa, sanitary problems are particularly common especially in drought times when water is unavailable for domestic uses (Ademuluyi and Odugbesan, 2008: 812). Sanitation conditions worsen if clean water supply is low or unavailable. Many African countries suffer from this lack of clean water to use and waste disposal systems. Food shortages. Then there is food shortage in Africa which has left a lot of communities hungry...
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...1.3. PROBLEM STATEMENT There are low rates of enrollment, retention and completion of female students in the Science and technology education in the Marampa, Port Loko District due to CFS, EFS and lack of self-efficacy among JSS to SSS female students. The CFS include lack of qualified science Teachers, lack of equipped science laboratories, lack of teaching and learning materials with Examination malpractices in the science subjects. The EFS are poverty, sexual harassment, early marriages, teenage pregnancies, distance, cultural beliefs and practices, lack of access to Healthcare services, Food and adequate drinking water and environmental sanitation. The lack of self-efficacy is natural and could be nurtured by the environment of the female...
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...Anthropology & Medicine, 2013 Vol. 20, No. 1, 98–108, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13648470.2012.747594 ‘My wife, you are supposed to have a rest now’: an analysis of norms influencing men’s role in prenatal care in south-eastern Tanzania Karin Grossa,b,Ã, Iddy Mayumanac and Brigit Obrista,b,d a Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; bUniversity of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; cIfakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania; d University of Basel, Institute of Anthropology, Basel, Switzerland (Received 27 September 2011; final version received 19 July 2012) Men as sexual partners, fathers and household heads have a direct bearing on women’s reproductive health. However, little is known about the influence of changing norms and values on men’s role in ensuring women’s health during pregnancy and childbirth. This study from rural south-eastern Tanzania explores men’s and women’s discussions on men’s roles and responsibilities in prenatal care and links them to an analysis of norms and values at the household level and beyond. Data from eight focus group discussions with men and women were consensually coded and analysed using a qualitative content analysis. Four dimensions of norms and values, which emerged from analysis, bear upon men’s support towards pregnant women: changing gender identities; changing family and marriage structures; biomedical values disseminated in health education; and government regulations. The...
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... 2 Differences between both approaches 2-3 Conclusion 3 1/… Introduction In my critical evaluation of the Community Psychology Approach and the Public Health Approaches to social problems, I will begin by explaining what each approach is about, then draw similarities and differences between the two approaches and then end my evaluation with a discussion on the controversies surrounding the two approaches and the way forward. Community Psychology Approach Community Psychology became popular in South Africa in the 1980’s when psychologists were looking for an answer to the political upheaval and the sense of helplessness that it caused. The focus of Community Psychology is on social and cultural influences on mental health, and it also examines ecological issues that are beyond the individual. It also explores the value of diversity and acknowledges psychologists as agents of social changes. Community Psychology is about...
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...address the causes and effects of diseases as opposed to curative measures which merely treat the incidences and symptoms. (Guernina, 1995). Characteristics of both approaches Community psychology places emphasis on principles and strategies that can prevent social, emotional and behavioral problems and wellness and health promotion at the individual and community levels, borrowed from public health and preventive medicine, rather than a passive, and treatment-based medical model. Early identification and intervention are particularly emphasized. Community psychology places more focus on mental health and behavioral aspects of health. Examples of behavioral aspects include alcohol and drug abuse, risky sexual behavior, teenage pregnancies and violence. In contrast, public health focuses more traditional health concerns. Examples of these include communicable diseases, asthma, diabetes and...
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...CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION. 1. Background information to the research problem. The prevalence of drop out varies between and within countries and occurs more frequently in certain age ranges and grades depending on the educational structure and patterns of participation in that country (Hunt, 2008). However, Teenagers’ dropping out of high school before completion has been a challenge for educators, parents, and employers for at least 30 years [Blue & Cook (2004); citing Haycock & Huang]. For many public school students’ particularly male students from low-income or ethnic minority families graduating from high school has remained problematic, even as the nation’s general educational level has increased [Blue & Cook (2004); citing Dillow]. According to 2000 current population survey (CPS) of the U.S. census bureau are used to compute dropout and completion rates by background characteristics, such as sex, race/ethnicity, and family income. Dropout rates in U.S are typical calculated in one of two ways: status rates and events rates. Status dropout rates indicate the number and percentage of people aged 15–24 who are not enrolled in school and have not obtained a high school credential. Event dropout rates, on the other hand, measure the number and percentage of students leaving school over a particular time period typically one year. Dropping out of school seems to be the result of a long-term process of disengaging from school [Blue & Cook (2004); citing...
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