Sorry Parents, I Was Pregnant Unintentionally: Apology Accepted, Parents Responded – A Case in Zimbabwe

The present qualitative study sought to: Explore the experiences of adolescent pregnant girls, and understand the nature of the parental response, focusing on the conditions that enabled them to accept forgiveness and the support offered. This study has been an attempt to fill the research gap on the importance of an empirical qualitative study that examines the process of forgiveness and re-integration among pregnant adolescents in the Zimbabwean family system. The study involved 15 participants (6 learners, 2 counsellors, 2 teachers, 4 parents and 1 Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education official) who were picked through the use of purposive sampling for data analysis through focus group discussions, informed consent and confidentiality obtained. One of the main findings identified that parental acceptance of the apology would be dependent on the adolescent demonstrating that they felt guilty, were willing to be guided and to continue to learn, and most parents reported being pleased, despite initial disappointment. The study suggests the need for the family-based counselling programme that can encourage open communication between parents and adolescents to foster forgiveness and lasting support systems.

Keywords: adolescent pregnancy, family support, forgiveness, parental response, Zimbabwe