Imagine being a teenager, trying to figure out who you are and how to navigate the world, while having a child of your own. South Africa, despite its positive developments over the past decades, remains a country with striking levels of teenage pregnancy.
In 2013, 30% of 19-year-old South African girls had ever been pregnant (Mkwananzi). In Dididi, an area containing a group of small villages in South Africa, 36 girls between nine and 19 became pregnant in a single year (BBC). Girls who have been pregnant face threats to their education, judgment from their families, and risks to their future (BBC).
For many of the girls, getting pregnant means the end of their education and an increased risk for potential health problems. Keitumetse, a student at a South African high school, recognizes the pattern among her peers. She says, “We end up falling pregnant while still at school and we end up dropping out of school” (SANews). For others, like 17-year-old Kholofelo Moholala, they must handle taking care of children while simultaneously preparing for essential exams (BBC). In addition to losing educational opportunities, getting pregnant at a young age increases the risk of potential health obstacles. According to a paper published in the Reproductive Health journal, teen pregnancy is tied with maternal and child morbidity, low birth weight, and preterm birth (Kassa). Especially for teenage mothers in South Africa, of which a majority live in impoverished areas with inadequate access to healthcare, rates of teen pregnancies and the risks tied to them are even greater.
Poverty and cultural stigma play big roles in contributing to the high rates of teen pregnancy (Mkwananzi). In South Africa, 66.8% of children, aged zero to 17, live in poverty (Wilkinson). As told by Kholofelo Moholala, teenaged girls often agree to have sex with older men in attempts to escape poverty (BBC). This puts them at an increased risk for HIV (BBC). This kind of sex is usually unprotected sex, which also increases the possibility of pregnancy. Furthermore, poverty is directly tied to a lack of opportunities and education. Without opportunities to learn new things or gain job experience through after school activities, South African teens living in poverty often resort to drinking and having sex to entertain themselves (BBC). Additionally, education, especially sex education, in impoverished areas is often inadequate in conveying necessary information to teens. The combination of insufficient sex education and the absence of positive after school activities results in an increased prevalence of pregnancy in South Africa (SANews). Moreover, teens seeking contraception are often deferred by cultural stigma, as talking about sex is considered a taboo. In an interview, the Education Minister of Limpopo, South Africa reveals that "Learners also tell [him] there is a lot of judgment and ill-treatment from older nurses when they visit government facilities to ask for contraceptives so this makes them reluctant to approach clinics and hospitals" (BBC). Because of poverty and stigma, rates of teen pregnancy in South Africa are high, but the government is taking steps to improve on the situation.
In attempts to curb the high prevalence of teen pregnancy, the South African government, has implemented a program called “Let’s Talk!” (BBC). Implemented by 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, “Let’s Talk!” aims to provide sex education and prevent teen pregnancies. This program has received positive reactions from South African girls. If the South African government continues to work with the people to relieve poverty and cultural stigma, rates may reduce, and teens can focus on just being teens.
Works Cited:
Kassa, Getachew Mullu. “Prevalence and Determinants of Adolescent Pregnancy in Africa: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” "Reproductive Health", Reproductive Health, 29 Nov. 2018, reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12978-018-0640-2. Accessed 11 Mar. 2020.
Mkwananzi, Sibusiso. “Poverty-An Explanation for Teenage Pregnancy in South Africa?.” "Box", Pdf, 11 Mar. 2020, 2461115-d0c87aa3-ec13-40b0-9f63-8d68d61139b8.pdf. Accessed 11 Mar. 2020.
News, Bbc. “South Africa Teen Pregnancy: Juggling School Exams and Baby Twins.” "BBC News", BBC News, 11 Nov. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45889366. Accessed 11 Mar. 2020.
SAnews. “Let's Talk about Sex.” "SAnews", SAnews, 5 Nov. 2019, www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/lets-talk-about-sex. Accessed 13 Mar. 2020.
Wilkinson, Kate. “FACTSHEET: South Africa's Official Poverty Numbers.” Africa Check, 15 Feb. 2018, africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-south-africas-official-poverty-numbers/. Accessed 2 Apr. 2020.
