Exploration of traditional and cultural practices contributing to teenage pregnancy from the young males perspectives at the Free State School of Nursing

Abstract

Traditional and cultural practices forms part of humankind upbringing in most part of the countries. These practices has a great impact on the lives of teenagers’ especially young males regarding sexual practices that may lead to teenage pregnancies.  This qualitative explorative study is aimed at exploring the traditional and cultural practices contributing to teenage pregnancy from young males perspectives at the Free State School of Nursing. A purposive sampling was employed for this study.

The results revealed that traditional and cultural practices such as circumcision misinterpretations at the initiation schools, misconceptions about sexual abstinence and methods of contraceptive can be misleading to young males resulting in teenage pregnancies. Furthermore the study revealed a great need for the Department of Health to strengthen policies regarding sexual education that should be impacted to the initiates at the initiation schools.

Keywords: Circumcision, Initiation schools, Teenage pregnancy, Young males