Diego iturralde, itani ntsieni, nyiko tricia malulekeolga lesego bodigelo, princelle dasappavenketsamy, leonard ahuejere, shiela dlamini, tshepo matlwa and salmon lekoko. Teenage pregnancy reported in mangaung district is 7%, which is three times more than the provincial target of 2% for teenage pregnancy. Women in africa, in general, get married at a much younger age than women elsewhere leading to earlier pregnancies. In south africa sa, more than 30% of teenage girls fall pregnant,1 while between 65% and. Between april and december last year, 1 756 girls under the age of 18 gave birth in tembisa hospital and esangweni clinic. In south africa, the birth rate amongst adolescents is approximately 50 births per women and previous studies have reported as many as 24% of sexually active teenage females to have ever been pregnant loaiza and liang, 20. The problem with teenage pregnancy in south africa is also peculiar to the world at large. Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female under the. Factors associated with teenage pregnancy in south africa. There is generally sexual latitude for men, perhaps because of the patriarchal system in the region.
Some have argued that these teenagers are being irresponsible but this is illogical as it. Ethiopias data consisted of 2000, 2005 and 2011 datasets. There are many studies regarding teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and family planning among teenagers, but very little is known about what happens after pregnancy, ie, the experience of teenage motherhood. Teenage pregnancy is a major health problem in many communities in south africa. A case study of rural based university students in south africa. Why are teenage pregnancies rising in south africa. Pdf south africas total fertility rate is estimated to be one of the lowest in subsaharan africa, fewer than three births per woman nationally. Abstract background subsaharan africa has among the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancy in the world. In 2018, the estimated adolescent birth rate globally was 44 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19. Is the child support grant associated with an increase in. The study analyzes both the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and its determinants.
Most people argue that this is a substantial problem for the country, and is an expression of. Although immediate determinants of teenage pregnancy in south africa relate to behaviour, the fundamental drivers are more deeply rooted institutional problems of poverty, underdevelopment and. Financial needs can also result in teenage pregnancy. Looking for how to prevent teenage pregnancy in south africa. This paper examines the determinants and consequences of teenage childbearing in. The silent truth of teenage pregnancies birth to twenty cohorts. South african newspapers have again recently reported escalating pregnancy rates among schoolgoing girls. Pdf adolescent pregnancy and parenthood in south africa.
Teenage pregnancy emerged as a social issue within the united states in the 1970s, and somewhat later in south africa. The application of social disorganisation theory extended abstract population association of america 2015 annual meetingapril 30may 2, san diego,ca sibusiso mkwananzi and clifford odimegwu demography and population studies programme university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg south africa. The highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the world 143 per 1,000 girls aged 1519 years is in subsaharan africa. Teenage mothers in south africa had experienced the same problems. Here are strategies and tips for helping high schoolaged girls, teenagers prevent pregnancy.
A study of the high rate of teenage pregnancy in high. It calls for school management teams smts to acquire critical skills to manage teenage pregnancy. Title povertyan explanation for teenage pregnancy in. Shocking statistics have revealed that more than 3 000 girl children aged between 10 and 14 became mothers in south africa last year. In recent years, teenage pregnancy in sa has reached alarming.
This response should not only be limited to the government but should extend to civil society, ngos, the academic fraternity, traditional and religious leadership and most importantly adolescents and young people themselves. Teenage pregnancy in south african schools poses a serious management and leadership challenge. Experiences of pregnancy and motherhood among teenage. Teenage pregnancies in mpumalanga seem to a a particular problem. Not only does teenage pregnancy pose a health risk to both mother and child, it also has social consequences, such as continuing the cycle of poverty including early school dropout by the pregnant teenager. Statistics south africa would like to thank the following contributors for their part in the compilation of this report. Trends, determinants and health risks of adolescent fatherhood in.
This research therefore aimed to explore the reasons behind teenage pregnancy in heidedal, mangaung district, free state province, south africa. A number of factors contribute to continued schooling among pregnant and parenting adolescents in south africa. Denmark, south carolina a small town with a population of just over 3,500 used to have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. In february this year, mekgwe launched the campaign against teenage pregnancy in tembisa which had the highest rate of teenage pregnancies when compared to other areas.
Moultrie centre for actuarial research, university of cape town abstract. Consequently, teenage pregnancy is a critical issue in south africa. Studies from south africa have found that 1120% of pregnancies in teenagers are a. The world health organisations latest fact sheet on adolescent pregnancy highlighted that the issue is. Predictors of pregnancy among young people in subsaharan. Teenage childbearing and dropout from school in south africa. Speculation that child support grants could be acting.
The proportion of teenage girls who are mothers or who are currently pregnant in subsaharan african countries is staggering. Media release 15 may 2017 south africa demographic and health survey 2016 key indicators report the results of the south africa demographic and health survey, 2016 as presented in the key indicators report released today show that the total fertility rate tfr for the 3 years preceding the survey was 2,6 children per woman. Although the number of teenage pregnancies has declined drastically in most developed nations, it remains high in lessdeveloped nations. Teenage pregnancy has become a very serious social problem in south africa, and pregnancy under the age of seventeen has been viewed as a catastrophe for individuals, family and society greathead, 1998. National policy on prevention and management of learner. There are many factors that lead to this perception. Teenagers continue to fall pregnant despite living in countries which not only guarantee their reproductive and sexual rights but also attempt to protect them. The south african schools act 1996 permits pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers to stay in school while pregnant and to return to school. Eastern and southern africa, to 50% in north africa. Pregnancy at school policy sun valley primary school. Firstly, teenage pregnancy is associated with physiological harm to the teenage.
Adolescent pregnancy for the latest information on adolesent pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health. Jump to media player south africa s education ministry is considering policies to introduce longterm contraception to schoolgoing teenagers. Teenage pregnancy in south africa is a growing health, social and economic problem. Majority of service providers believe poverty is a major factor causing teenage pregnancy while these practices as strategies by the youth to alleviate poverty, they however are further exposed to stis and in particular, hiv and aids. Part 1 of the series dealt with the consequences of teenage pregnancy. Update report on teen pregnancy prevention, 2007, which was also developed collaboratively by the best start resource centre and the sex information and education council of canada. The theory places emphasis on the quality and context of the childs environment. In nigeria, according to the health and demographic survey in 1992, 47% of women aged 2024 were married before 15, and 87% before 18. States have wide latitude with their use of temporary. The level of unintended pregnancies among teenage girls in south africa sa has remained a public. In subsaharan africa, teengirl pregnancy is often frowned at, but there is. A league table of teenage births in rich nations pdf. South africa is having a lower rate of teenage pregnancies as compared to the general rate in. Prevencija najstniskih nosecnosti in podpora najstniskim.
In spite of this, there are limited empirical research studies on determinants of teenage pregnancy in africa. Its rampant among teenage girls leading to high school dropout as the young mothers are forced by circumstances to leave school prematurely so as to care for their new babies. Teenage pregnancies remain a serious health and social problem in south africa. Lack of parental guidance the study suggests that issues of culture where teenagers. Pdf south africas total fertility rate is estimated to be one of the lowest in sub saharan africa, fewer than three births per woman nationally. For example, in some subsaharan african countries, early pregnancy is. It is my privilege to present the report of this study teenage pregnancy in south africa, with a speci. Home teenage pregnancy the facts on teenage pregnancy in south africa as with many developing countries, the rate of teenage pregnancy in south africa is high. Adolescent pregnancy has been persistently high in subsaharan africa. The rate of learner pregnancy in south africa, highlighted by improved reporting in the department of basic education dbe, has become a major social, systemic and fiscal challenge not only for the basic education sector, but crucially, for national development in general and for the basic education system in particular. Findings from this study are that teenage fertility in south africa has been declining over time. Teen pregnancy and birth rates in the united states have declined. Since adolescents in skilled manual and professional jobs are negatively.
Worldwide, teenage pregnancy rates range from 143 per 1,000 in some subsaharan african countries to 2. Maternal conditions are the top cause of mortality among girls aged 1519 globally. This emerged at the presentation by the department of social development of a study known as factors associated with teenage pregnancy in gauteng. Teenage mothers and their children are at risk to a host of medical, social and economic challenges.
Mg the sugar daddy phenomenon has been listed as one of the factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy. Knowledge, attitudes and perception of students on teenage. Reducing teenage pregnancies has been a topical focus on the development agenda for decades. Africa remains one of the continents with the highest levels of teenage pregnancies in the world. In reporting teenage pregnancy rates, the number of pregnancies per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 when the pregnancy ends is generally used. What causes the high rate of teenage pregnancy in south. The child support grant and teenage fertility in south africa 3 introduction in many parts of the world teenage pregnancy is conceptualized as a social problem. This work was generously supported by the ford foundations office for southern africa.
Knowledge, attitudes and perception of students on teenage pregnancy. Bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory figure 1 below shows the bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory. The incidence of teenage pregnancy remains high amongst the teenagers in the bushbuckridge district in the limpopo province, south africa, therefore it is important to seek an understanding of teenagers perceptions regarding this issue. The level of unintended pregnancies among teenage girls in south africa sa has remained a public health concern. But over the past three decades, the rural and largely impoverished community has successfully reduced its teen pregnancy rate by more than two thirds. Determinants of adolescent pregnancy in subsaharan africa.
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