How do school-going adolescents in KwaZulu-Natal perceive sexual and reproductive health and rights? A qualitative study

Abstract

Adolescents’ risky sexual behaviour and increased teenage pregnancies have become a concern in sub-Saharan Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal province. This study explored school-going adolescents’ perceptions of sexual reproductive health and rights in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. An exploratory, descriptive qualitative design was used to select 20 school-going adolescents in grades 10 to 12 using non-probability quota sampling. Individual, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, which were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six steps. The findings revealed that school-going adolescents received inadequate sexual education and information from teachers, parents, and churches, and the classroom environment was too noisy and uncontrollable to promote learning. The study recommended strategies for multi-disciplinary teams to improve the quality of sexual health information available to adolescents. This contributed to addressing the concerning issue of risky sexual behaviour and teenage pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically within the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.