Perceptions of community health workers on teenage pregnancy in rural Limpopo: A qualitative study
Background: Despite measures put in place to combat teenage pregnancy, the rate remains high. Community health workers (CHWs) are a cadre of health workers that can help put measures in place to reduce teenage pregnancy in the communities in which they live and work. Aim: This article aims to gain...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2024-03-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4296 |
| _version_ | 1827293537014644736 |
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| author | Rakgadi G. Malapela Sheillah H. Mboweni Patrone R. Risenga |
| author_facet | Rakgadi G. Malapela Sheillah H. Mboweni Patrone R. Risenga |
| author_sort | Rakgadi G. Malapela |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Despite measures put in place to combat teenage pregnancy, the rate remains high. Community health workers (CHWs) are a cadre of health workers that can help put measures in place to reduce teenage pregnancy in the communities in which they live and work.
Aim: This article aims to gain a deeper understanding of CHWs’ perceptions regarding teenage pregnancy in the rural districts of Limpopo province.
Methods: An exploratory qualitative study approach was employed to collect data from CHWs in two rural districts of Limpopo. A non-probability purposive sampling approach was used to choose 81 CHWs. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were organised, and audio recorded to collect data from participants. The discussions were 2–3 h long and conducted in English, and data saturation was attained by the fifth FGDs.
Results: An eight-step tech’s content analysis approach was employed to deductively code, analyse and summarise data into themes. Three themes emerged: the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in rural villages, factors contributing to teenage pregnancy and challenges faced by CHWs when dealing with teenage pregnancy.
Conclusion: The study’s findings revealed that CHWs face challenges in their communities when offering appropriate teen pregnancy services and CHWs believe that teen pregnancy numbers remain high. There is a significant barrier in combating teenage pregnancy; if contraceptives are not acceptable to the community, the only solution and option for combating teenage pregnancy is abstinence.
Contribution: The CHWs presented their insights of teenage pregnancy in rural communities. The outcomes of this study could help clinical practise, schools, communities, youth-friendly services, policymakers and other non-governmental organisations reduce teenage pregnancy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:40:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-908092e28ba7442dac52be824ce62ff7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2071-2928 2071-2936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:40:50Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-908092e28ba7442dac52be824ce62ff72024-04-04T09:00:20ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine2071-29282071-29362024-03-01161e1e910.4102/phcfm.v16i1.42961113Perceptions of community health workers on teenage pregnancy in rural Limpopo: A qualitative studyRakgadi G. Malapela0Sheillah H. Mboweni1Patrone R. Risenga2Department of Health Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of South Africa, PretoriaDepartment of Health Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of South Africa, PretoriaDepartment of Health Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of South Africa, PretoriaBackground: Despite measures put in place to combat teenage pregnancy, the rate remains high. Community health workers (CHWs) are a cadre of health workers that can help put measures in place to reduce teenage pregnancy in the communities in which they live and work. Aim: This article aims to gain a deeper understanding of CHWs’ perceptions regarding teenage pregnancy in the rural districts of Limpopo province. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study approach was employed to collect data from CHWs in two rural districts of Limpopo. A non-probability purposive sampling approach was used to choose 81 CHWs. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were organised, and audio recorded to collect data from participants. The discussions were 2–3 h long and conducted in English, and data saturation was attained by the fifth FGDs. Results: An eight-step tech’s content analysis approach was employed to deductively code, analyse and summarise data into themes. Three themes emerged: the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in rural villages, factors contributing to teenage pregnancy and challenges faced by CHWs when dealing with teenage pregnancy. Conclusion: The study’s findings revealed that CHWs face challenges in their communities when offering appropriate teen pregnancy services and CHWs believe that teen pregnancy numbers remain high. There is a significant barrier in combating teenage pregnancy; if contraceptives are not acceptable to the community, the only solution and option for combating teenage pregnancy is abstinence. Contribution: The CHWs presented their insights of teenage pregnancy in rural communities. The outcomes of this study could help clinical practise, schools, communities, youth-friendly services, policymakers and other non-governmental organisations reduce teenage pregnancy.https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4296community health workersexploratoryperceptionsqualitative studyteenage pregnancy. |
| spellingShingle | Rakgadi G. Malapela Sheillah H. Mboweni Patrone R. Risenga Perceptions of community health workers on teenage pregnancy in rural Limpopo: A qualitative study African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine community health workers exploratory perceptions qualitative study teenage pregnancy. |
| title | Perceptions of community health workers on teenage pregnancy in rural Limpopo: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Perceptions of community health workers on teenage pregnancy in rural Limpopo: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of community health workers on teenage pregnancy in rural Limpopo: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of community health workers on teenage pregnancy in rural Limpopo: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Perceptions of community health workers on teenage pregnancy in rural Limpopo: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | perceptions of community health workers on teenage pregnancy in rural limpopo a qualitative study |
| topic | community health workers exploratory perceptions qualitative study teenage pregnancy. |
| url | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/4296 |
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