CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Education is central to the development of young people as it prepares them for the world of work and life. As young people spend longer periods in education, as part of the natural course of development, sexual experimentation and maturity is increasingly coinciding with secondary schooling (Panday, Makiwane, Ranchod & Letsoalo, 2009:5).
For many teenagers it remains at the level of experimentation, and if sex occurs, indications are that some form of contraception is used when teenagers are still at school (Bhana, Morrell, Shefer & Ngabaza, 2010:873).
However, for many female student it results in unwanted pregnancy, HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (Mwaba, 2000:32). Being a female student who is pregnant or a mother has implications for continued educational opportunities.
Nigeria is confronted with an escalating epidemic of female student pregnancies. Female students unwanted pregnancy has grown in significance as asocial construct and as such represents one of several indicators of burgeoning female student delinquency, sexual permissiveness and moral decay (Chigona and Chetty 2007). Female student unwanted pregnancy as a socioeconomic challenge and an important health problem for many communities in Nigeria.
It is a reflection of irresponsible sexual behavior and inconsistent use of contraception. According to Oni, Prinsloo, Nortje and Joubert (2005:55 Female student unwanted pregnancy may include health risks such as complications during pregnancy or delivery and secondary infertility if an abortion is done. In addition, the possibility of dropping out of school is considerable which results in a lack of educational qualifications and future employment.
