City of Tshwane sounds alarm on teenage pregnancy. Image: EPA/Alex Hofford.
City of Tshwane sounds alarm on teen pregnancy surge
As the new school year begins, the City of Tshwane Health Department raises concerns about a surge in teenage pregnancies.
City of Tshwane sounds alarm on teenage pregnancy. Image: EPA/Alex Hofford.
As the new school year begins, the City of Tshwane Health Department raises concerns about a surge in teenage pregnancies.
In 2023, Tshwane recorded 4 444 deliveries at public facilities, signalling a significant issue.
ALSO READ:Teenage pregnancy peaks in KZN, followed by these provinces
CITY OF TSHWANE CALLS FOR GREATER AWARENESS ON TEENAGE PREGNANCIES
The Health Department aims to raise awareness about teenage health, attributing pregnancies to factors like unsafe practices, peer pressure, gender-based violence, and substance abuse.
This elevates the risks of HIV/AIDS, STIs, and pregnancy complications for teenage girls.
The limited prospects for teenage mothers to return to school hinder their education. The City of Tshwane Health Department conducts outreach programs to address this issue.
ALSO READ: Over 100 teenagers from age 13 delivered babies
Adolescents and parents can seek assistance at public health facilities for education, screening, reproductive health services, or medical aid.
The MMC for Health emphasises collective responsibility for reversing teenage pregnancy trends through education. Emphasis was placed on inclusive programs involving boys and men.
Civil society and NGOs play a crucial role in supporting teenage girls and educating communities.
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RANKINGS OF PROVINCES
KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the province with the highest number of teenage pregnancies, recording 25 239 births among 15- to 19-year-old schoolgirls out of the total 88 122 cases.
Following closely was the Eastern Cape, where 12 529 schoolgirls gave birth, and Limpopo, with 12 238 reported cases.
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Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West, and the Western Cape also exhibited significant numbers, with 11 653, 8 990, 6 190, and 5 744 schoolgirls delivering babies, respectively.
The Free State reported 3 383 cases, and the Northern Cape had 2 156 instances.
Surprisingly, the report revealed that even girls aged 10 to 14 were not immune to teenage pregnancies, contributing 2 328 births.
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KwaZulu-Natal remained in the lead in this age group as well, with 544 reported cases.
Gauteng followed with 383 cases, and the Eastern Cape reported 317 cases. Limpopo, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, Free State, and Northern Cape also presented concerning numbers, emphasising the nationwide issue.
