The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities make a call for a joint effort to end the scourge of teenage or adolescent pregnancy in South Africa, with approximately 30% of teenagers in South Africa reporting ever having been pregnant. While this number has decreased over the past few years, it is still unacceptably high. Teenage pregnancy is a serious public issue and social problem, with 95% occurring in developing countries.
As a social challenge, teenage pregnancy is not a problem faced by only one department. A collective effort is required to adequately address teenage pregnancy, with all stakeholders playing their critical roles. There is a need for interventions in the health, education, and social development sectors to lower the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in South Africa and to provide intensify health education, particularly sexual and reproductive health which include the benefits of delaying sexual activity until readiness, consistent and correct contraception use like condoms or birth control available freely in public health facilities, and accessing comprehensive sex education.
Several factors contributing to teenage pregnancy are multifaceted, encompassing cultural traditions, socio-cultural dynamics, and religious influences. It is indisputable that low socio-economic status, restricted educational opportunities, and premature sexual activity can perpetuate the incidence of teenage pregnancy.
Teenage pregnancy in SA is a real issue and has been increasing in all provinces each year. Higher rates in rural provinces, such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape, than in urban provinces, such as Gauteng and Western Cape.
Much needs to be done to address this social issue, which often perpetuates a cycle of poverty, especially in households where there are no family support structures to care for the little ones, so the teen mothers can continue with their studies.
Families and communities need to join hands with government authorities and play their role by creating a conducive environment for open and honest discussion about sex education, together with the dangers associated with teen pregnancy.
Media enquiries:
Cassius Selala, Head of Communications, Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,
Cell: 060 534 0672
E-mail: cassius.selala@dwypd.gov.za
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