“It is not good for a pregnant person and it has never been and it will never be”: Experiences of parents whose daughters became pregnant while attending secondary schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of parents whose daughters became pregnant while still attending school in Limpopo province of South Africa, using a qualitative and explorative approach. A purposive sample of five parents was interviewed. Data analysis using Tesch’s open coding technique yielded six themes on discovery of pregnancy, continuation of school, dilemmas of attending school, social support, impact on school performance and interaction between parents and teachers. Parents are satisfied with support from teachers, but need to see the implementation of school health services. A model to facilitate social support for pregnant learners is recommended. Keywords: Learner pregnancy, social support, school health, facilitation, parental supervision