A Concept Map of Male Partners in Teenage Pregnancy: A Case Study of Breman Asikuma in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District

of Ghana.

Mustapha Bin Usman

2012

CHAPTER FOUR RESULTS OF THE STUDY

4.0

Introduction

The purpose of this chapter is to present the results of the study and make meaning out of the data collected vis--vis the research problem at hand. In the first part, the researcher presents the background analysis of data, and proceeds to present the results of the study based on the research questions in the same sequence as the questions were listed in Chapter One. The researcher relates the findings to the literature, and provides plausible explanations for possible inconsistencies. It must be emphasised that without proper presentation and analysis, the data collected would be a meaningless heap of information.

4.1

Demography of Respondents

Table 1: Demographic Characteristics of Interview Sample Name Sex Current age Age at conception of partner 1 2 Kwasa* Saad* Male Male 25 31 20 29 Married Married Secondary Basic Labourer Fridge repairer 3 4 Beno* Kwaba* Male Male 20 22 19 21 Single In a relationship 5 Elo* Male 20 19 Single Basic Secretarial work 6 7 Fusab* Kobi* Male Male 24 20 20 18 Married In a relationship 8 Yadu* Male 25 23 Married Primary four Basic Basic Carpenter Phone repairs (apprentice) Labourer SHS 4 Secondary Student Lotto agent Marital Status Educational attainment Occupation

NB: * Not their real names Source: Field Data, 2012.

The sample for the interview consisted of eight male participants. They were between the ages of twenty and thirty one. The female partners of the male respondents were either pregnant or had birthed at the time of interview. The age at which the females conceived was used in determining whether they fell victim to teenage pregnancy or not. Likewise, the males for the study were responsible for a pregnancy or had been responsible for some teenage pregnancy at the time of the interview. In order to protect the identity of the respondents, anonyms have been used in presenting the results.

On marital status, four of the male respondents reported married with the girls they impregnated; two reported being single, and two in a relationship with the partners in question. Marriage was defined in this study to mean having fully or partially performed the traditional marriage rites. Some of the males reported having partially performed the traditional rites whereas others had fully performed the rites. Also those considered to be in a relationship implied cohabiting with their partners whiles those considered single connoted not cohabiting with the partners.

The educational status of the male participants and their female partners strikingly contrasted. This is so in the light of the fact that whiles all the females were at the bottom of the educational ladder (basic school) almost all of the men had completed basic school and senior high school. Two of the male respondents had completed senior high school whiles one was in his final year at the time of the interview. Three had also completed basic school whiles one quit schooling at primary four. The disparity may be due to the fact that whiles the males can continue their education after impregnating the girls; the teenage girls had to quit schooling.

4.2

Demography of Questionnaire respondents

Table 2: Distribution of respondents according to Sex Sex Frequency male female Total 33 14 47 Percent 70.2 29.8 100.0

Source: Field Data, 2012.

Table 2 shows the sex distribution of respondents in the questionnaire eliciting opinions on male involvement in teenage pregnancy. 70.2% of the respondents were males while 29.8% were females. The greater proportion of males was purposively chosen because of the nature of the study establishing a concept map of male partners in teenage pregnancy.

Table 3: Distribution of respondents according to age Age Frequency 9-12 13-15 16-19 20 and above Total Source: Field Data, 2012. 1 16 28 2 47 Percent 2.1 34.0 59.6 4.3 100.0

Table 3 depicts the age distribution of the respondents. 2.1% of the respondents were between the ages 9-12, 34.0% between 13-15 years, 59.6% between ages 16-19 and 4.3% being 20 years old and above.

Table 4: Distribution of respondents according to religious affiliation Religious affiliation Frequency Christian Muslim Traditionalist Total Source: Field Data, 2012.
4

Percent 83.0 14.9 2.1 100.0

39 7 1 47

Table 4 shows the distribution of respondents to the questionnaire according to religious affiliation. From the table, 83.0% of the respondents were Christians, 14.9% were Muslims and 2.1% traditionalist.

Table 5: Distribution of respondents according to Educational level Educational level Frequency JHS 1 JHS 2 JHS 3 SHS 2 SHS 3 Total 6 7 22 3 9 47 Percent 12.8 14.9 46.8 6.4 19.1 100.0

Source: Field Data, 2012.

Table 5 displays the educational level of the questionnaire respondents. From the table, 12.8% were in Junior High School (JHS) 1, 14.9% were in JHS 2, 46.8% were in JHS 3, 6.4% were in Senior High School (SHS) 2 and 19.1% were in SHS3.

4.3

Presentation of Results

The results and findings are presented and discussed under each research questions. Certain characteristics were found to be peculiar to the male partners in teenage pregnancy. The category of men responsible for teenage pregnancy; the type of socialization and family; factors that motivate males to impregnate teenagers; and attitudes towards the use of contraceptives are presented and discussed below.

4.3.1 Category of men often responsible for impregnating teenagers To discover the category of men who are often responsible for teenage pregnancies, male participants in the interview were asked the age difference between themselves and their female partners. It was found out that all the males in the study were older than their female
5

partners by some number of and years. Two of the respondents were a year older than their partners and another two were four years older than their partners. Also, the other remaining four respondents reported being three, five, seven, and eight years older than their partners. It could be said that the average age difference between the teenage girls and their male partners is four years. This echoes the assertion made by Lake (2003) among other researchers that many girls choose older male partners in order to find love and eventually, a spouse. Also, Zavodny (2001) contends that when the effect of the womans age is controlled for, the likelihood of pregnancy increases with the mans age. As well, teenage girls with older partners are more likely to become pregnant than those with partners closer in age (Planned Parenthood, 2004). It stands to reason that teenage girls choose partners who are older than themselves whiles the male partners also choose girls who are younger then them.

Another characteristic that sets male partners in teenage pregnancy apart from other males is education. Just like the age disparity, male partners in the study were found to be higher on the educational ladder than their female counterparts. Except one male participant whose female partner was ahead of him in terms of education, all the male respondents were ahead of their female partners on the educational ladder. The researcher happened to interview three males with their female partners. They were Kwasa, Bene, and Yadu. Kwasa had completed his secondary education whiles her partner was in Junior High School (JHS) two after the pregnancy. Bene was in his final year at the Senior High School (SHS) whiles her partner quit schooling at JHS one also because of the pregnancy. The case of Yadu was quite different he quit schooling at primary four whiles his female partner quit at primary six. Zavodny (2001) was right in contending that the male partners education may influence whether a pregnancy is aborted, with the relative likelihood of an abortion increasing with the mans education. This was confirmed in the study whiles the males who were high on the educational ladder spoke on abortion, those lower on the ladder expressed dislike for abortion. Kwasa explains: Concerning the pregnancy myself I wasnt even aware but so as not to abort or something of that sort she didnt tell me for some months before she made me aware but when she made me aware abortion was an impossibility. In that sense even if I did not have anything it had already happened so I had to struggle. Kwaba also reports a similar experience concerning an initial desire to abort the pregnancy:

At the time when she first conceived you know we were young and so I did not have any confidence in the pregnancy and the thing when you attempt to abort it can result in death and other things. So I had to try and maintain what had already happened. The initial desire to attempt abortion expressed by Kwasa and Kwaba, who had all completed their secondary education, contrasts what Yadu, who quit schooling at primary four, desired. For Yadu, the pregnancy was not accidental but something he purposely planned for: You see in this world we all have different attitudes, behaviours and destinies. I wanted her to give birth that is why I didnt use it [condom].

4.3.2 Factors that motivate males to impregnate teenage girls The study sort to discover the factors that incite males to engage in sexual activities with teenage girls and to consequently impregnate them. To achieve this, the respondents were categorically asked to recount the circumstance that moved them engage in sexual activities. Several reasons were given including financial problems, satisfaction of libido, pleasure, outings, peer pressure, possession of entertainment gadgets, and the desire to give birth.

It must be noted that this issue caused little discomfort to the respondents. In Ghana, issues regarding sex are not comfortably discussed among people especially adolescents. As a result, the research had to break the question down and use probes to systematically lead respondents to narrate their encounters.

According to Luke (2003), adolescent girls exercise agency to extract money and gifts from older men for sexual services, and they may also engage with multiple partners simultaneously in order to maximize the benefits of these relationships. Financial problems faced by the females was reported to be the highest reason for sexual activities. The males reported engaging in some income generating activity of a sort which enabled them to meet the financial needs of their female partners. Kwasa narrates how money lures his partner to accept his sexual advances: You see she is from a poor family so financial issues bring about broken homes and those things. She doesnt have money and I had money; I schooled alright but worked and had money. So in order to ensure that she also had money for her upkeep brought about the relationship which finally led to the pregnancy. A similar experience was narrated by Saad:

For me when I met the girl I admired her but her mother was poor. Me too when I am staying with someone elses daughter I dont want them to get spoilt. So I considered the girl and decided to impregnate her so as to prevent her from changing men and so that I would work to take care of her. However, Bene recounted a different scenario. Even though he admitted that the beauty and standards of a girl usually attract him to engage in a relationship, he pointed out that the current situation was different and accidental: ...But this one was accidental. I even crushed her in a club. Her situation was very different. This one has nothing to do in my life. With the way I live my life, people like me. Even adults admire me. People like my lifestyle. So as you a girl, the way I would approach would make you have some feelings for me. But it is not like on the spot. It takes sometime and even days. So in this town, I even give myself some break because when I call them they would come. Also, unlike the others Bene discounted money as a motivating factor. ...I dont have anything. I do not use money to convince them. I never gave her any money. She even bought credit for me. As soon as I say it she buys it for me. Elo also dismissed money as a motivating factor. He cited outing (going jams) to be the motivating factor for engaging in sexual activities: [Clears throat] Actually it is difficult to propose to a girl but you know school children. I do not know what came over me and I went and proposed to the girl and the girl also agreed. We dated for let me say two years without doing anything to have sex. So a time came when I completed school so we went to that Goodmind, they were playing jams. When we came back home that thing happened to us. To summarise it I would say the love she has for me and the love I have for her led us to do it. Kwaba: Sometimes she looks at the way my life living is and the small amounts of money I have been giving her and my attitude she feels I am a good person who can help her if need be so that may also count.

Temporary and intermittent cohabitation were found to be other precipitating factors for sexual activities. Some girls who do not have entertainment gadgets such as television sets and video players in their homes visit their male partners to watch movies. Kobo admitted that beside money laid staying for long hours and even sometimes sleeping over:
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When I was in the relationship with that girl I usually gave her money. And I would not also give you money free of charge like that. I have to get something in return. She sometimes comes to watch movie in my room for very long hours and even sleeps over at times. You can imagine when a man and a woman are sleeping in the same room. Yadu maintained that marriage is a requisite institution in adulthood that every matured male cannot ignore. Even though he acknowledged the fact that his girl was facing financial difficulties, he iterated that he was ready for marriage. You know as a man when you mature whatever be the case it is something arranged by God so you would take it. In order to prevent me from changing women here and there and even when I consider the background of my family I think that is not necessary in my family. That is what made me decide to live with her. The quest to get another male companion in his family also motivated Yadu to impregnate his partner. What made me think about that thing is that when I look at my mothers side, there is no one who could help me there and the life am living all my siblings are all girls except the youngest one. So I thought maybe this girl could get me a male companion I would live with and that is why it happened that way.

Apart from the interviews, questionnaire was also used to find out what motivates young people to have sex. Respondents gave several reasons including peer pressure, poor parental care, pleasure, curiousity, rape and defilement, ignorance, financial difficulties, lack of self control, and watching pornography. Surprisingly, most of these factors are also cited by the respondents in the interviews.

Table 6: Peer pressure is the main cause of teen pregnancy Cumulative Frequency Valid strongly agree agree disagree no response Total 21 23 2 1 47 Percent 44.7 48.9 4.3 2.1 100.0
9

Valid Percent 44.7 48.9 4.3 2.1 100.0

Percent 44.7 93.6 97.9 100.0

Source: Field Data, 2012.

Table demonstrates the views of respondents on on peer pressure as a cause of teenage pregnancy. 21 people representing 44.7% strongly agreed, 23 people representing 48.9% agreed, 2 people representing 4.3% disagreed, and 1 person representing 2.1% did not respond. Summarily, 93.6% of the respondents agreed that peer pressure is the main cause of teenage pregnancy whiles 4.3% disagreed that teenage pregnancy is the main cause of teenage pregnancy.

Table 7: Lack of knowledge causes teenage pregnancy Cumulative Frequency Valid strongly agree agree disagree strongly disagree no response Total Source: Field Data, 2012. 12 20 10 4 1 47 Percent 25.5 42.6 21.3 8.5 2.1 100.0 Valid Percent 25.5 42.6 21.3 8.5 2.1 100.0 Percent 25.5 68.1 89.4 97.9 100.0

Respondents were asked whether lack of knowledge causes teenage pregnancy or not. From Table 7 it could be seen that of the 46 valid responses, 12 people representing 25.5% strongly agreed, 20 representing 42.6% agreed, 10 representing 21.3%, 4 representing 8.5% strongly disagreed and one person representing 2.1% did not respond. In sum, 68.1% of the respondents agreed that lack of knowledge causes teenage pregnancy whiles 29.8% disagreed with the assertion. This reiterates the fact that many young people are oblivious when it comes to matters of sex and teenage pregnancy.

Table 8: Most teenage girls are forced to have sex Cumulative Frequency Percent
10

Valid Percent

Percent

Valid

strongly agree agree disagree strongly disagree no response Total

5 18 12 10 2 47

10.6 38.3 25.5 21.3 4.3 100.0

10.6 38.3 25.5 21.3 4.3 100.0

10.6 48.9 74.5 95.7 100.0

Source: Field Data, 2012.

The researcher also sort to find out among other things whether most teenage girls are forced to have sex. Table 8 shows that of the 47 valid responses, 5 representing 10.6% strongly agreed, 18 representing 38.3% agreed 12 representing 25.5% disagreed, 10 representing 21.3% strongly disagreed, and 2 representing 4.3% did not respond to the question. In sum, 48.9% of the respondents agreed that teenage girls are forced to have sex whiles 46.8% disagreed that teenage girls are forced to have sex.

4.3.3 The attitude of males towards the use of contraceptives I must admit that it is quite absurd to find out the perception and attitudes of males who have already impregnated girls about contraceptives. This is so in the light of the fact that the very essence of contraceptives to prevent pregnancy is what these males have ignored, leading to pregnancy. However, a proper analysis and understanding of their perceptions and attitudes would suffice in determining the desirability of the pregnancy as well as the way forward. To achieve this aim, participants were quizzed on sex and contraceptives. Basically, they were asked whether they had had any form of sex education before, sources of contraceptives, and their perceptions regarding the usage of contraceptives. In view of the realism that contraceptives are also used to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS and other STDs, their knowledge on HIV was also inquired.

Generally, most of the respondents admitted having knowledge of one contraceptive or the other but found its use repulsive. However, the reasons they gave for not using the contraceptives did not come from personal experience. They usually mentioned what others who have used it say. Kwasa explains why he would not use a contraceptive:

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...I dont like those things in my life in the sense that some people have done those things for some years and when they expect to give birth they dont get. So I have that fear in me and would not expect my wife to do it. So that contraceptive I dont like it in my life. Saad also expresses his dislike thus: I think if those things are there, there could be no conjugal relation that would result in offspring. Similarly, Kwaba agrees that condoms are good but recounts how friends wanted to influence him to use contraceptives but did not heed to them. As for those things I dont have them in mind. The influence from above also counts. People say when you contact them they can give you access to the contraceptives. The influence from friends may also lead to that but I do not give up to them when they say it because I dont know what may happen afterwards. OK! Condom is good. It is good to the extent that It helps to avoid pregnancy and also helps to prevent diseases.

On the contrary, Bene contended that he did not like the idea of using condom before the pregnancy but after the incident, he started using condom. Kobo expresses a similar opinion thus: Yes it is good in that I do not want to impregnate a girl it can help me to do it to protect myself and prevent pregnancy. So I think it is good.

The opinion of Elo on contraceptives reveals knowledge on a natural form of contraception. He explains that: In my opinion firstly I would ask the girl the time she menstruates. I learnt about something that the say if a girl menstruates five days and the following few days if you have sex with the girl she will not become pregnant. So if the girl menstruates you ask her the time she menstruated and she will inform. And if the time is not yet up and you have sex with her she can become pregnant. And if the time has passed and you ask the girl let me say five to seven days, you can have sex with the girl without any baby. He went further to accept that the use of contraceptives especially condom is good: It is [good] because looking at my age, and impregnating someone who has just completed school, I dont think it is all that bad.

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Fusab finds the use of contraceptives as religiously bad but went further to mention that a careful monitoring of the menstrual cycle of the girl can help prevent pregnancy: The girl can protect herself in order not to become pregnant without the man using condom. The girl can be truthful regarding her menstruation periods in a way the man would also understand.

Yadu consents that he has knowledge of many contraceptives but does not like to use them. He mentioned some herbs that can be used to avoid pregnancy: I know so many things that can do this. I hope you know nyenya. There are some yellow seeds on the thorns. When this yellow thing bursts there is some red thing and after the red there is some white thing in it. When you are with a girl and you dont want her to get pregnant, you can grind and give it to her to put it in her private parts after her menses. Oh I know many of them but because I do not find them necessary I do not like using them.

It must be emphasized that even though contraceptive was explained to the respondents, some of them confused contraceptives with abortion. Perhaps this explicates why some of them found its usage repugnant.

More so, the findings of Child Trends findings (2004) that teens who date older partners had a lower likelihood of consistent contraceptive use comes to light in this regard. Child Trends found that for each year a partner is older than the respondent [in the study], the likelihood of always using contraception decreases by 11 percent.

The findings of this study on the knowledge and perceptions on contraceptives confirms the conclusion of a study by Afenyadu and Goparaju (2003) that males refuse to use condoms with their regular partners whereas female adolescents do not insist on condom use because they are afraid of losing their boy lovers, or need monetary support from older partners.

Table 9: What in your opinion is a contraceptive? Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

13

Valid

a drug or way of preventing a woman from becoming pregnant it is a drug or method of preventing diseases (STDs) and pregnancy material used to prevent disease when having sex no response Total

13

27.7

27.7

27.7

14.9

14.9

42.6

4.3

4.3

46.8

25 47

53.2 100.0

53.2 100.0

100.0

Source: Field Data, 2012.

The questionnaire was also utilised to elicit the views of pupils at the JHS and students in the SHS on contraceptives and where there could be obtained. The result is illustrated in Table 9 which shows that 13 of the respondents representing 27.7% defined contraceptive as a drug or way of preventing a woman from becoming pregnant. 7 of the respondents representing 14.9% defined it as a drug or method of preventing deseases (STDs) and pregnancy. 2 people representing 4.3% defined contraceptive to be a material used to prevent disease when having sex. Unfortunately, most of the respondents (25 comprising 53.2%) did not respond to this question. This may be attributed to the technical nature of the terminology. The researcher found it unnecessary to explain the terminology to them since doing so would have nullified the very essence of the question. However, those who correctly defined the term were those at the senior high school and those at JHS 3. The respondents mentioned several examples of contraceptives including contraceptive pill, condom, and foam tablet and indicated where they could be obtained. Of all the contraceptive mentioned, condom formed 31.9% implying that the condom is the widely known contraceptive.

4.3.4 Sex education As regards sex education, almost all the respondents rejected having any form of education on sexuality. The sexual culture of Ghana can be described as a paradox. Sexual matters are among the popular topics for conversation and gossip, but there is less evidence for serious societal debate about sexual issues. Saad explains:
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Nobody taught me something about sex. Even if someone taught me its now past tense.

Also, Kwaba accepts having some form of sex education in school but adds that it was not specifically captioned sex education. It was rather part of the curriculum. He went further to say that the issue of sex occasionally appeared in casual conversations with his mom but again, not captioned as such: Ok nobody has actually told me anything about it. But when we were in school during R.M.E. and Social Studies periods, we were taught because some topics contained those things and they used to explain things a bit. However, they were not as detailed as someone is teaching you one on one. They (family members) actually sat with me but not specifically for that. It occasionally came across in our conversations. Elo also expresses a similar view that he had an idea about sex from school: Ok I can say yes because I am a student. In school they teach us all these things. So all my teachers inform me about what would happen if you have sex with a girl. Kobo: The science class in form two. The teachers taught us something on sex. Some of the respondents also agreed having gained information from friends on sex. When asked about parents, Fusab had this to say: No no no no. You know we children of today we are our own teachers.

In a study by the Health Education Division of the Ministry of Health conducted in 1990, when Junior Secondary School (JSS) students were asked whether one can get pregnant the first time one had sex, 47 percent thought it was not possible (The International Encyclopedia of Sexuality: Ghana). In view of this, the lack of explicit education on sex may be cited to account for the gross ignorance on sex and the desire to experiment.

Table 10: Do you think having sex once without protection can cause pregnancy? Frequency Valid yes no 35 11 Percent 74.5 23.4 Valid Percent 74.5 23.4 Cumulative Percent 74.5 97.9

15

no response Total Source: Field Data, 2012.

1 47

2.1 100.0

2.1 100.0

100.0

In order to ascertain the reality of the findings of the study conducted by the Health Education Division, I included the same question in my study. Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) students were asked whether one can get pregnant the first time one had sex without protection. The result is illustrated in Table 10. Of the 46 valid responses, 35 of them, representing 74.5% answered yes; whiles 11 of them, representing 23.4% answered no. One person, representing 2.1% did not respond to this question. This means that majority of young people in Breman Asikuma know that any sex without protection can result in pregnancy. If that is the case, why then do some people engage in sex even though they know the consequence?

Table 11: Have you had any form of sex education before? Cumulative Frequency Valid yes no Total Source: Field Data, 2012. 30 17 47 Percent 63.8 36.2 100.0 Valid Percent 63.8 36.2 100.0 Percent 63.8 100.0

Table 11 also shows that in the questionnaire as well, respondents were asked whether they had any form of sex education before. Out of the 47 valid responses, 30 people representing 63.8% answered yes whiles 17people representing 36.2% answered no. The questionnaire did not inquire where exactly this education was acquired from. Perhaps it could be from the school considering the fact that they were all students. Even though most of them reported having some form of sex education, quite a sizeable proportion responded no and this still means much have not been done regarding sex education.

Table 12: Parents do not discuss sexuality with teenagers

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Cumulative Frequency Valid strongly agree agree disagree strongly disagree no response Total Source: Field Data, 2012. 13 18 11 2 3 47 Percent 27.7 38.3 23.4 4.3 6.4 100.0 Valid Percent 27.7 38.3 23.4 4.3 6.4 100.0 Percent 27.7 66.0 89.4 93.6 100.0

Another dimension of sex education was the ideal roles parents are supposed to play. When respondents were asked whether parents do not discuss sexuality with teenagers, most of them agreed. Table 12 demonstrates that of the 45 valid responses, 13 of them representing 27.7% strongly agreed, 18 representing 38.3% agreed, 11 representing 23.4% disagreed and 2 representing 4.3% strongly disagreed. 3 of the respondents representing 6.4% did not respond to the question. In aggregate, 66% of the respondents generally agreed to the assertion whiles 27.7% disagreed with the assertion. In the main, it could be said that parents are not meeting the socialisation responsibility.

Table 13: Parents should openly discuss sex with teens Cumulative Frequency Valid strongly agree agree disagree no response Total Source: Field Data, 2012. 21 21 4 1 47 Percent 44.7 44.7 8.5 2.1 100.0 Valid Percent 44.7 44.7 8.5 2.1 100.0 Percent 44.7 89.4 97.9 100.0

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Table 13 shows the results when respondents were asked whether parents should openly discuss sex with teens, 21 of the respondents representing 44.7% strongly agreed, 21 representing 44.7% agreed, 4 representing 8.5% disagreed whiles 1 representing 2.1% did not respond to the question. In sum, 89.4% of the respondents generally agreed hat parents should openly discuss sex with teens whiles 8.5% disagreed. This shows that greater onus with regards to sex education lies on parents.

Table 14: Schools should introduce sex education Cumulative Frequency Valid strongly agree agree disagree strongly disagree no response Total Source: Field Data, 2012. 22 17 4 2 2 47 Percent 46.8 36.2 8.5 4.3 4.3 100.0 Valid Percent 46.8 36.2 8.5 4.3 4.3 100.0 Percent 46.8 83.0 91.5 95.7 100.0

In a similar vein, Table 14 shows that most of the respondents also thought that schools should introduce sex education. 22 of the respondents representing 46.8% strongly agreed, 17 representing 36.2% agreed, 4 representing 8.5% disagreed, 2 representing 4.3% strongly disagreed and 2 representing 4.3 did not response. Summarily, 83% of the respondents broadly agreed whiles 12.8% disagreed with the assertion.

4.3.5 Belief in the reality of HIV/AIDS and other STDs A particular finding of this study was the paradox surrounding the belief in the reality of HIV/AIDS and other STDs as well as the use of contraceptive. Juxtaposing the belief in the reality of sexually transmitted diseases and the perception regarding the use of contraceptive strikingly contradicted each other. Although most of the respondents in the interview found the use of contraceptives repulsive, they expressed strong belief that HIV/AIDS and other STDs are real and even went further to mention the causes and effects of these diseases. For instance, Kwasa asserts that:
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HIV is a blood related sickness. I believe it is real. When you dont change women by heart or a lady changes men by heart, at the end of it you can acquire this blood related disease and AIDS. But the same person expresses his dislike for the use of contraceptive thus: ...So that contraceptive I dont like it in my life. Kwaba also mentions that: OK! That HIV/AIDS I know it is a disease that is real and exists. But if you do not engage in some behaviours you would not get it. Those things include womanizing, changing women too much and having sex with an infected person without condom. Also, if someone has already contracted the disease and has used a blade and has sustained a cut from it, you could also be infected if you use such a blade. Similarly, Elo gave a detailed knowledge on HIV/AIDS and other STDs: Mmm I can say HIV/AIDS is a very dangerous disease so everybody must be alert and be proud of it. So if you become alert and proud of it you cannot be in that situation. So abstinence from sex and that small small advice from parents are going to help you stay away from HIV. There are many sexually transmitted diseases like 19onorrhoea, and others. If you have sex with a girl who has the disease and you dont use condom you can get the disease.

The excerpts above reveal that in spite of knowledge on the reality of HIV/AIDS, the males still choose to engage in sex without using protection. Thus the males are not ignorant of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; they are negligent of it. The bone of contention here is that responses from the questionnaire revealed that many young people engage in sexual activities. Similarly, most of them had boyfriends or girlfriends at the time the study was conducted. The engagement in sexual activities as well as possession of boyfriend or girlfriend coupled with the lack of usage of contraception generally explains the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy in Breman Asikuma.

Table 15: Have you engaged in any sexual activity before? Cumulative Frequency Valid yes 11 Percent 23.4 Valid Percent 23.4 Percent 23.4

19

no no response Total Source: Field Data, 2012.

35 1 47

74.5 2.1 100.0

74.5 2.1 100.0

97.9 100.0

When respondents to the questionnaire were asked whether they had engaged in any sexual activity before. Table 15 shows that 11 representing 23.4% answered yes whiles 35 representing 74.5% answered. One person representing 2.1% did not respond to the question. Even though the percentage who report having engaged in any sexual activity appears to be lower, it still predicts that there are some prospective teenage pregnancy victims and culprits in the town.

Table 16: Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend? Cumulative Frequency Valid yes no Total Source: Field Data, 2012. 13 34 47 Percent 27.7 72.3 100.0 Valid Percent 27.7 72.3 100.0 Percent 27.7 100.0

Table 16 illustrates that most respondents answered no to their engagement in sexual activities. However, more respondents reported having a boyfriend or girlfriend in spite of the fact they answered no to their engagement in sex. 13 people representing 27.7% answered yes whiles 34 representing 72.3% answered no.

3.3.6 Suggestions to reduce male involvement in teenage pregnancy In order to find solutions to reducing male involvement in teenage pregnancy, respondents to the questionnaire were asked what can be done to reduce male involvement in teenage pregnancy. Several suggestions were offered including sex education, avoiding pornography, enacting laws against teenage pregnancy, avoiding bad peers, abstinence, and using condoms. Sex education formed a greater proportion of the suggestions. 20 of the respondents representing 42.6% suggested sex education.
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Table 17: Which of the following people can best control teenage pregnancy? Cumulative Frequency Valid parents teenage females males peers media Total Source: Field Data, 2012. 35 4 1 2 5 47 Percent 74.5 8.5 2.1 4.3 10.6 100.0 Valid Percent 74.5 8.5 2.1 4.3 10.6 100.0 Percent 74.5 83.0 85.1 89.4 100.0

In addition, the onus was placed on parents when respondents to the questionnaire were presented with options to choose which people can best control teenage pregnancy. Table 17 shows that out of the 47 responses, 35 representing 74.5% placed the responsibility on parents, 4 representing 8.5% chose teenage females, 1 representing 2.1% chose males, 2 representing 4.3% chose peers, and 5 representing 10.6% burdened the media.

Closely knitted with the suggestions by the respondents in the questionnaire are the suggestions from the interviews. All the respondents in the interview admitted that teenage pregnancy was a problem. As such they offered a plethora of suggestions on possible solutions. They as well agree that parents can best prevent teenage pregnancy. Kwasa concurred that: One thing you should do is to provide their needs. Divorce is one thing that pushes children into this problem. When you stay with one women and take care of your kids as a family they would listen to everything you say and understand. To avoid this they should marry and not divorce. You can provide all their needs but there is one thing you cant provide. When they reach that adolescent age it doesnt matter whether you provide their needs or not they would still go and do it. At those times you should not be harsh to them. Not that today you are taking someone to the police station and stuffs like that. That would rather worsen the situation. When you see them with

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someone you call them and advice them to be careful in order to avoid contracting disease or pregnancy. Saad also expresses a similar opinion thus: I would train my child very well in order to prevent him/her from confronting this problem. I matured prematurely and am suffering very much. So if I have a female child I would advice her that she should follow the trend am setting for her. I didnt get someone to take care of me when I was maturing. So be patient and school if you would have to before you would marry. For me they advised me but I did not heed. As an adult with a child, when your child demands something from you, you must make sure you give it to him/her if you have. Even when you dont have you should explain to them the reasons why you cant give so they would understand. When it comes to outings, I would advice them to rather take their books and pens and study rather than go to Good Mind and Number 10 because it would not help them. Bene agrees that the greater onus lies on the parents and even adds that the financial needs of teenagers should be met and parents should not be strict on their teens: For my case if my parents had left the girl to my care, it would have been a problem. I dont work and but for my parents, I would have suffered a lot. If the girls parents dont support, the hospital bills are going to pose many problems. They would hunt you. You know if you are strict on children, they would be bad the more. But you should not also leave their life for them. You should tell them what is good and what is bad. If you know considering the age of your child boys are going to call her you should tell her that if she gets a guy she should bring him to the house. That is better than saying you dont want to see her with any guy. When she brings the guy to the house you may be monitoring their movements and other things. When you are free with the child you can even ask them if she has had sex before so that you can say what you would say to her. When I grow and marry, I would tell my girl child that when she gets a guy he should bring him to the house. It is a big problem to say you wont give her money; where do you expect her to get it from? When she asks for this and that and you dont have tell her you would give and convince her. Elo suggests education to be the solution to the problem: In actual fact as human beings our minds are not the same. We have different minds. It is true that she is your daughter but you cannot force her to do what she does not want to. So the only thing is to educate your child. Give her all that she wants. Help

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her to understand what teenage pregnancy is and what would happen to her if she engages in sexual activities.

The suggestions perfectly fits the categorization of the needs of adolescents recommended by Afenyadu & Goparaju (2003) that adolescents, whether male or female, in-school or out-ofschool, have certain crucial needs which have over-bearing influence on their sexual and reproductive health practices. Five key unmet needs of adolescents emerged from their research: sexual and reproductive health information, education and communication; family life, and reproductive health counseling services for adolescents and parents; support for sustainable livelihoods for adolescents; a more enabling and supportive community environment; and improved access to quality reproductive health services by adolescents.

Clearly, it could be surmised from the suggestions elaborated above that even though many other stakeholders can help in preventing teenage pregnancy, parents and close family relations are the best to curb this problem.

4.4

Conclusion

This chapter has exhaustively presented and analysed the results from of the study. The results of the data collected from the respondents have been amply utilized in conjunction with the literature reviewed to find answers to the research questions. Tables were used throughout this chapter because they enable the reader to comprehend and interpret masses of data rapidly and to grasp significant details and relationship at a glance. More so, excerpts from the transcribed interviews were used in conjunction to the responses from the questionnaire to provide ample information on the issues under study.

It must be stressed however that the research was limited to a section of the population of males responsible for teenage pregnancies. Nonetheless the results have revealed that the sample is representative of the population in light of the fact that some literatures are confirmed whiles others are refuted. The next chapter summarises the findings of this study and recommends possible remedies.

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