Access to Information, Attitudes and Decision Making Regarding Pregnancy Prevention by Teenagers Using a Primary Health Care Clinic in Tshwane, South Africa

Teenage pregnancy is a global reproductive health problem even though numerous interventions to curb the incidence are in place. Teenagers access information and support on teenage pregnancy prevention within families, media, schools and community at large. Programmes such as national adolescents friendly clinic (NAFCI), Love Life, Soul City and life orientation subject are provided to teenagers in South Africa, however their attitudes lead to making decisions to fall pregnant.

The purpose of the study was to explore and describe access to information, attitudes and decision making regarding pregnancy prevention by teenagers using a primary health care clinic in Tshwane, South Africa.

A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used. The population was teenagers who were teenage mothers or were pregnant. The research setting was a selected primary health care clinic in the western side of Tshwane. Purposive sampling was used and semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. Tesch’s data analysis method was used, ethical principles were observed and trustworthiness was ensured.

The findings emerged with sources of information regarding teenage pregnancy prevention as peers, boyfriends, mothers, educators and media. Information on the need to access the contraception was provided however some teenagers never used the information towards prevention of pregnancy. It is recommended that teenagers should use the information accessed to prevent pregnancy positively.

 Key words: teenagers, pregnancy, access to information, media