A schoolgirl aged 15 gave birth to her second child at the Alexandra Clinic.
This has clinic staff worried as they attend up to five cases of teenage pregnancy or botched abortions daily.
Phindiwe Nkosi, manager of the maternity unit said the girl’s second child was with a man she claimed to be 22 years old. She had her first child when she was 14 years old with another man said to have been 21 years old.
Nkosi said their concern was that the cases involved school-going children below 18 years of age who were bombarded with awareness education on the dangers and risks of unprotected sex and HIV/Aids in life orientation classes and from HIV/Aids organisations.
Nkosi said most of the pregnant girls were from single mother and granny-headed households where there was a lack of parental control. She added that in the girl’s case, the parent declined to put her daughter on birth control after the first child, claiming this could make her promiscuous.
Nkosi said girls who came to the clinic after botched abortions came in a serious condition as they attempted abortions using tablets bought off the streets or using backyard abortion clinics.
“They risk their lives as they attempt the abortions after 12 weeks of gestation which is illegal and when they fail, the backyard helpers refer them to the clinic when they are close to death. We in turn, take them to Edenvale Hospital for womb evacuation, cleaning and any required medical treatment,” she said.
Nkosi stressed a need for all clinics, local and central government departments, development organisations and concerned residents to intervene through community awareness workshops.
The workshops should address issues such as backyard abortions, illegal sale of abortion tablets, awareness in boys and men to take responsibility of their actions, and family structures and support systems among other things.
Details: Alex Clinic; 011 440 1231
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