See the published version of this preprint at Reproductive Health.
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Research
Margarate Nzala Munakampe
University of Zambia
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9279-241X
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Despite global and regional policies that promote the reduction of adolescent fertility through ending early marriages and reducing early child-bearing, adolescent fertility remains high in most sub-Saharan countries. This study aimed to explore the competing discourses that shape adolescent fertility control in Zambia.
Methods: A qualitative case study design was adopted, involving 33 individual interviews and 9 focus group discussions with adolescents and other key-informants such as parents, teachers and policymakers. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data critically.
Results: Adolescents’ age significantly reduced their access to Sexual and Reproductive Health, SRH services. Also, adolescent fertility discussions were influenced by marital norms and Christian beliefs, as well as health and rights values. While early marriage or child-bearing was discouraged, married adolescents and adolescents who had given birth before faced fewer challenges when accessing SRH information and services compared to their unmarried or nulliparous counterparts. Besides, the major influencers such as parents, teachers and health workers were also conflicted about how to package SRH information to young people, due to their varying roles in the community.
Conclusion: The pluralistic view of adolescent fertility is fueled by “multiple consciousnesses”. This is evidenced by the divergent discourses that shape adolescent fertility control in Zambia, compounded by the disempowered position of adolescents in their communities. We assert that the competing moral worlds, correct in their own right, viewed within the historical and social context unearth significant barriers to the success of interventions targeted towards adolescents’ fertility control in Zambia, thereby propagating the growing problem of high adolescent fertility. This suggests proactive consideration of these discourses when designing and implementing adolescent fertility interventions.
Keywords
Adolescent fertility, double consciousness, sexual and reproductive health, postcolonial criticism
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Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Reproductive Health.
Version 2
Posted 30 Dec, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 26 Jan, 2021
Review #2 received
Received 23 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 03 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 12 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 12 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 12 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 26 Oct, 2020
Review #4 received
Received 19 Oct, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 02 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 28 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 16 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 29 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 20 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 30 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 29 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 29 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 23 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 22 Jun, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 17 Jun, 2020
First submitted
On 15 Jun, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Sexual & Reproductive Medicine
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at Reproductive Health.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Margarate Nzala Munakampe
University of Zambia
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9279-241X
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Reproductive Health.
Version 2
Posted 30 Dec, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 26 Jan, 2021
Review #2 received
Received 23 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 03 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 12 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 12 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 12 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 26 Oct, 2020
Review #4 received
Received 19 Oct, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 02 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 28 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 16 Sep, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 29 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 20 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 30 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 29 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 29 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 23 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 22 Jun, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 17 Jun, 2020
First submitted
On 15 Jun, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Sexual & Reproductive Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Reproductive Health.
Background: Despite global and regional policies that promote the reduction of adolescent fertility through ending early marriages and reducing early child-bearing, adolescent fertility remains high in most sub-Saharan countries. This study aimed to explore the competing discourses that shape adolescent fertility control in Zambia.
Methods: A qualitative case study design was adopted, involving 33 individual interviews and 9 focus group discussions with adolescents and other key-informants such as parents, teachers and policymakers. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data critically.
Results: Adolescents’ age significantly reduced their access to Sexual and Reproductive Health, SRH services. Also, adolescent fertility discussions were influenced by marital norms and Christian beliefs, as well as health and rights values. While early marriage or child-bearing was discouraged, married adolescents and adolescents who had given birth before faced fewer challenges when accessing SRH information and services compared to their unmarried or nulliparous counterparts. Besides, the major influencers such as parents, teachers and health workers were also conflicted about how to package SRH information to young people, due to their varying roles in the community.
Conclusion: The pluralistic view of adolescent fertility is fueled by “multiple consciousnesses”. This is evidenced by the divergent discourses that shape adolescent fertility control in Zambia, compounded by the disempowered position of adolescents in their communities. We assert that the competing moral worlds, correct in their own right, viewed within the historical and social context unearth significant barriers to the success of interventions targeted towards adolescents’ fertility control in Zambia, thereby propagating the growing problem of high adolescent fertility. This suggests proactive consideration of these discourses when designing and implementing adolescent fertility interventions.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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