Relationship between online digital exposure and early unintended pregnancies among adolescents in Zimbabwe

This chapter looked at how online digital exposure could be linked to early pregnancies amongst adolescents in Zimbabwe. It examined the impacts of greater access to digital technologies and social media and increased online interaction on adolescent sexuality and being at risk of unintended pregnancy. Although a number of studies focused on adolescent pregnancy and digital technology respectively, there was a dearth of studies focusing on adolescent pregnancy and digital technology intersection, and in the Zimbabwean context, hence the need to fill this gap in a qualitative study. A phenomenological qualitative design was used. The subjects of the study were six adolescents ranged from 13 to 19 years old contact by purposive sampling who had unwanted pregnancy. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Principles of informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity and voluntary participation were respected. Results indicated that consuming pornographic websites and peer pressure online contributed to higher risk levels of sexual behaviours. Parental supervision and low level of Digital literacy contributed to vulnerability of children to Digital influences that are correlated with unwanted pregnancies. The study suggested that there should be a comprehensive education of digital literacy and greater effort to increase the involvement of parents in promoting safer use of the Web in order to ensure lower adolescent pregnancy rates.

Keywords: Adolescents; Digital Exposure; Online Behaviour; Unintended Child Pregnancies; Zimbabwe.