Polit and Hungler (1999:267) define data as “information obtained during the course of an
investigation or study”. In this study, questionnaires were used to obtain data relevant to the study’s
objectives and research questions. The purpose of the study was to identify reasons why
adolescent mothers failed to use free contraceptives to prevent unplanned pregnancies. The
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researcher approached every adolescent mother who attended one of the two participating wellbaby
clinics to participate in the study. Every adolescent mother who was willing to participate
received a letter with information about the study, a consent form and a questionnaire. The
researcher, assisted by volunteers from the Lovelife organisation, handed out the questionnaires on
the specific days when she was present at these clinics during 2004. When 107 adolescent
mothers had completed questionnaires, the completed questionnaires were handed to a statistician
for data analysis.