Teenage pregnancy and its impact upon parents : a challenge to pastoral care

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the challenges faced by priests in dealing with parents of boys that impregnated girls and young girls that fall pregnant in their parishes and ways of carrying for those parents in selected parishes in the Anglican Diocese of Mthatha the Eastern Cape Province. The study mainly focused on rural parishes. A qualitative research method was used and a Case Study design was used to conduct the study. The sample consisted of four priests, ten teenagers, (seven girls and three boys and eight parents from the four chosen parishes. An interview schedule designed by the researcher was used to gather data. The collected data was analysed using codes, segments, categories and themes. The researcher interpreted the data and the findings of the study showed that cases of boys who impregnated girls were never reported to priests some parents find it difficult even to report cases of girls who fell pregnant due to fear of embarrassment. The study showed that, the priests and teenagers in the four selected parishes felt that there should have been parental involvement in churches when dealing with youth behaviors. The study showed that, most of parents find it difficult to accept the news about their teen pregnancy. In some parents, pregnancy brings shock, embarrassment, shame; some marriages are affected by teenage pregnancy. The study further showed that the church had to assist parents by organizing wellness programmes, sex education for the youth; so that they could offer some advices to the youth. According to the findings of the study, it was clear that the issue of teenage pregnancy affect heavily to parents. Teenage pregnancy really affects some parishes in terms of some parents who decide to live church because of embarrassment and the stigma that is painted to them by some members of the church. The researcher recommended that, the church should develop caring programs for parents faced with teenage pregnancy also sexual youth programmes should be organised where parents would be involved to take part in the programme. Furthermore, the Government Departments should also be involved, like the Department Education, Social Department and Social Workers so as to conduct awareness programs in parishes.