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Table 1 Interview protocol showing the themes and topics that guided the data collection

From: Who’s that girl? A qualitative analysis of adolescent girls’ views on factors associated with teenage pregnancies in Bolgatanga, Ghana

Theme/topics

Examples of subtopics

Examples of questions

Introduction

Age, background, school/work, family, life, religion, ethnic group.

Can you tell me something about yourself? What does your life look like? Do you go to school, work? What do you like to do in your free time? Can you tell me a bit about your family? Would you consider yourself being religious? What role does religion play in your life?

Background variables

Demographics

Pregnancy/motherhood

Pregnancy

How do you think about pregnancy? What do you think it would be like to be a mother? What would be a good time to become pregnant/a mother according to you? How would you feel if you found out you were pregnant now/at this moment in your life? What would you do if you figured out you were pregnant now. Do you know anyone of your age who got pregnant? What do you think of that? How do important others in your surrounding think about teenage pregnancy in general of ‘if it was you being pregnant’ How do you feel about their opinion?

Motherhood

Important others include: mother, father, brother/sister, friends, boys/girls in your village or at your school, the teachers, and church leaders? Health centre workers?

Femininity/masculinity

 

What does it mean to be a woman? What do you think are the main differences between men and women of your age? How do important others think about women?

Relationships

Current relationships

Are you in a relationship at the moment? How did your relationship start? How would you define your current relationship? Where do you meet your partner?

Past relationships

First relationship

What do important others think about your relationship?

Sex experience

Attitude towards sex

Did you ever have sex? Why/why not? How many partners?

Positive/negative experiences

If you have sex, where (At home? Church? Bushes? Parties? School?)

How would you describe your sex life/how are your sex experiences? (positive/negative experiences)

Do other people know you have sex? (why/why not). What do you think important others think about you having sex?

Safe sex

Definition and importance of sex

What do you consider safe sex?

Definition of safe sex

Do you use condoms? (how often?)

Contraceptive use

Do you use other types of contraception? Which one? What are reasons for using/not using condoms (or other forms of contraception)? Who do you think is responsible for contraception? What are advantages and disadvantages of condoms/contraception? What do you prefer (condom or other contraceptives) and why? Should men/women carry them around?

Condom use

Where/how do they get condoms/other contraception

Safe sex negotiation with partner

 

People don’t always want the same with sex. For example some want to use condom others don’t. Or some like sex in one way and others like it in different way. What do you do/would you do if partner want something else? What if you want to use a condom but he doesn’t?

Have you ever persuaded a man to practice safe sex? Can you describe how you discussed it with him? What was the reason for not discussing?

Communication about (safe) sex with partner

Topics of communication with partner

Which topics can/can’t you discuss with partner?

Taboo topics

Do you ever talk about sex with your friends/sisters/parents?

Communication

 

Sex education/sex communication

Information sources

Did you learn about sex? How/by whom? Did you have sex education at school? What did you think of it? Do you ever talk about sex, contraceptives, motherhood at school, with your friends, family? Do you think you know all you need to know about sex/safe sex? If you have questions (e.g. on condom/contraception/pregnancy) where would you go? Did you have to go to health clinic for sex-related issues? What is your experience?