Polit and Hungler (1999:155) describe the research design as a blueprint, or outline, for conducting
the study in such a way that maximum control will be exercised over factors that could interfere with
the validity of the research results. The research design is the researcher’s overall plan for
obtaining answers to the research questions guiding the study. Burns and Grove (2001:223) state
that designing a study helps researchers to plan and implement the study in a way that will help
them obtain the intended results, thus increasing the chances of obtaining information that could be
associated with the real situation. This study used a quantitative exploratory descriptive design to
identify, analyse and describe factors contributing to adolescent mothers’ non-utilisation of
contraceptives to prevent unplanned pregnancies. The HBM was used as a framework for
collecting data in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area of the RSA. The identified factors could then be
categorised into individual perceptions, contributing factors and variables affecting the likelihood of
adolescent women initiating and maintaining actions to use contraceptives effectively to avoid
unplanned pregnancies.