Child Support Grant and teenage motherhood

This study used survey research design to better understand the perceptions that female teenagers have on the implementation of Child Support Grant in relation to their life goals, social support and decision-making regarding self. The study also explores the link that exists between teenage motherhood and Child Support Grant as perceived by female teenagers. It further describes teenage motherhood as a way to elicit ways in which teenage mothers understand the implications of teenage motherhood in South Africa. 250 African/Black teenage mothers and 250 African/Black teenage non-mothers aged 18 and 19 registered full-time for grades 11 and 12 in 2013. Public schools of Limpopo province-South Africa completed a self-report survey. The study hypothesized that: Child Support Grant is associated with teenagers becoming pregnant; early motherhood is associated with school interruption; early pregnancy interferes with life goals. The findings indicate that Child Support Grant is associated with dependency, is related to early pregnancy, and it is associated with school interruption; however, as this is a cross-sectional study, the directionality can`t be determined.