Abstract:
The Department of Education has stated that parents and guardians may not be absolved
from their responsibilities regarding their pregnant child, and they should take the lead in
working with the school to support and monitor their child’s health and progress. The purpose
of this study was to explore and describe the role of parents regarding teenage pregnancy
and school attendance in the rural village of Thomo in Mopani District Limpopo Province.
The study is qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature. The population
comprised of the selected parents and caregivers residing at Thomo village of Mopani District.
Purposive sampling was used to select 10 parents and 5 caregivers. Sampling size was
determined by data saturation. Data was collected through in-depth individual interviews,
guided by unstructured questions, data analysis was through open coding. Trustworthiness
was ensured through credibility, dependability, conformability and transferability and ethical
issues were adhered to. One main theme with four sub - themes emerged from the raw data;
namely, parents /caregivers skills and personal factors that affect behaviour change; parents
/ caregivers intention to change the teenagers’ behaviour; environmental and cultural factors
as facilitators/ barriers to pregnancy prevention and parent-school partnerships.
Recommendations were made that included the following: awareness campaigns regarding
prevention of teenage pregnancy; establishment of the compulsory education subject; review
of existing teenage pregnancy policies; engaging parents on youth programs; using churches
to strengthen youth education on the dangers of sex before marriage; as well as capacitating
parents on effective communication with their children.
