Factors contributing to unplanned pregnancies in adolescent girls in Hammanskraal, South Africa: An emancipatory decisionmaking approach.

Unplanned pregnancies among adolescents constitute a global public health concern. Although preventable, it remains common and is usually associated with negative health and socioeconomic outcomes for the baby, the adolescents themselves, the family and society at large. Health care services in South Africa are dealing with high numbers of adolescent girls with unplanned pregnancies seeking professional help with their pregnancies. Support for adolescent girls in choices about decision making on pregnancy prevention is often not available from the family, school, community, or health care services. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the factors contributing to the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies in adolescent girls in Hammanskraal. One-to-one interviews using semi-structured questions were used to collect data. Sixteen adolescent girls with unplanned pregnancies were interviewed. Purposive sampling was used to select participants for the study. The findings revealed that lack of personal knowledge, empowerment, and reflection, limited flexibility in health care environment, restrictive social norms, poverty, and substance abuse contributed to the occurrence of unplanned pregnancies in adolescent girls. The findings suggest the need for a programme for the prevention of unplanned pregnancies in adolescent girls through emancipated decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]