Engaging very young adolescents in improving sexual and reproductive health and rights in the context of national health system reform: Learners' survey (SRH) 2017 - Gert Sibande district, Mpumalanga

Description:
This data set contains the responses of young adolescents (aged 10-14 years) to a questionnaire concerning their sexual and reproductive health, conducted in Gert Sibande District, Mpumalanga, South Africa in 2017. Issues like bodily development during puberty, menstruation, dating and sex as well as accessing information about these issues are included.

The data set for dissemination contains 132 variables and 696 cases from the expected 840 which represented 83% response rate.
Abstract:
In South Africa, as in other developing countries, delaying sexual debut and preventing coerced first sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted teenage pregnancy among adolescents as well as providing appropriate healthcare services for this age group are major policy and practice concerns. However, there are important information gaps relating to the biological onset of puberty and associated psycho-social factors among boys and girls in rural South Africa and how it may affect adolescents' wellbeing, healthy development and functioning.

This quantitative survey describes the knowledge and beliefs of young male and female adolescents (aged 10-14 years) about their sexual development, puberty and their transition into adolescence. Of importance is how their knowledge and beliefs could be linked with sexual and reproductive health outcomes among this age group and throughout adolescence. Researchers administered 748 questionnaires (face-to-face) in primary and high schools in Gert Sibande district in Mpumalanga province, during February and March 2017. This is a quantitative component that complements a qualitative study titled 'Engaging very young adolescents in improving sexual and reproductive health and rights in the context of national health system reform', funded by the AIDS Foundation of South Africa and conducted by the HSRC.

Major variables covered in this data set include young adolescents' household descriptions; knowledge about the bodily changes during puberty for both girls and boys; the age of puberty onset; and dating and sex among this age group. The study also inquired about preferred and actual sources of information about bodily changes, relationships, dating and sex.

The data can be used to inform parents, non-governmental organisations working with children and youth, and government stakeholders in the education, health and social welfare sectors about how they may strengthen their support for young adolescents' healthy development through information, programming and interventions.