Unplanned pregnancies among urban Zulu schoolgirls. Community research as preparation for intervention.

The need for an investigation into some of the factors associated with unplanned and often unwanted pregnancies among urban Zulu schoolgirls arose from the concern expressed by a number of medical, educational and community authorities. The problem was seen to be self-defeating to the youngsters involved, medically contraindicated and socially disruptive. Data were obtained through questionnaires, completion of an open-ended essay and in-depth interviews with 1311 schoolchildren of both sexes from three different high schools and 212 pregnant girls attending two different prenatal care clinics. Discussions were held with most people involved in the medical care of the young pregnant girls. The reasons for the problem given by the participants of these discussions formed the basis on which the standard interview, questionnaires and the open-ended essay were formulated. Results demonstrate how information gathered via community research can test the validity of assumptions held about a problem.