Table 4 Characteristics of the studies included in the data synthesis

Castle (2003)

To investigate the belief that hormonal contraceptives lead to long-term sterility

75 (+ 8 health professionals)

39 female, 36 male

Most aged 15–19 years*

Most educated (14 of 52 clients/non-clients had no formal education)

Most sexually active*

Most unmarried*

Bamako and Sikasso, Mali

(urban)

Mix of clients of peer education programme, peer educators, and non-clients from same areas

Individual interviews

Kiluvia & Tembele (1991)

To learn about Tanzanians' opinions, knowledge and behaviour with respect to family planning and child spacing

141 in 16 focus group discussions (FGD)

63 male and 78 female

Aged 15–19 yrs

All participants had either some primary schooling or no schooling at all

Most not sexually active*

Most unmarried*

9 villages in 6 districts of Tanzania (Kisarawe, Mwanga, Dar es Salaam (urban), Sumbawanga, Dodoma, Songea)

(all but one rural)

Focus group discussions

Nguyen, Liamputtong & Murphy (2006)

To examine young people's knowledge and practice of contraceptives

16

12 female, 4 male

Aged 15–24 years

Education – secondary (4), high school (5) and college/university (7)

Females – all unmarried & all sexually active

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

(urban)

Hospital based sample (had experienced abortion)

Individual interviews

Otoide, Oronsaye & Okonofua (2001)

To examine attitudes and beliefs of abortion and contraception

149 in 20 FGD

All female

Aged 15–24 years

Education – tertiary (23), secondary (79), primary/secondary (19), primary (7), none/primary (15), none (6)

116 sexually active

Marital status not reported

Benin City, Nigeria

(urban)

Sample were selected from a range of areas of residence

Focus group discussions

Rasch et al (2000)

To understand the experiences of adolescent girls with illegally induced abortion

51

All female

Aged 15–19 years

25 still in school (rest employed as house-girls, waitresses or engaged in petty trade)

All sexually active

All unmarried

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

(urban)

Hospital sample (pregnant and admitted to hospital with incomplete, induced abortion)

Individual interviews

Richter & Mlambo (2005)

To explore and describe perceptions of teenage pregnancy

32

22 female, 10 male

Aged 13–19 years

Education not reported

Marital status not reported

At least 10 females sexually active* (sampled from ante/post-natal clinics)

Bushbuckridge district of Limpopo Province, South Africa

(rural)

Sample from an antenatal clinic, a family planning clinic, a postnatal ward, and a Love-Life Youth Centre

Individual interviews

Wood & Jewkes (2006)

To collect information to improve access to and quality of contraceptive services for adolescent girls

35 (interviews) & 5 FGD (+ 14 nurses – interviews & focus groups)

All female

Aged 14–20 years

Education not reported

33 interviewees were sexually active†

All interviewees were unmarried†

Limpopo Province, South Africa

(semi-rural)

Sample from semi-rural areas surrounding the main town – recruited from clinic waiting rooms or schools*

Individual interviews and focus group discussions