Kidz Clinic Boksburg shared with the City Times their protocols and systems that are in place when it comes to teen pregnancy.
According to Ngaa Murombedzi, advocacy manager at Kidz Clinic Boksburg, as an organisation that works with children at the tail end of abuse, it is difficult for them to determine the extent of pregnant teens.
“We don’t have any real statistics of teen pregnancies. This is not to exclude the fact that there possibly have been pregnant teens we have encountered as victims of rape or during our outreaches. It is such a complex field to navigate.”
She said they have found due to the nature of the abuse, people would rather go to the hospitals and clinics to address the primary issue at hand being the pregnancy.
“We are only equipped in a very basic sense as we offer medical examinations in cases of suspected physical or sexual abuse,” she explained.
“If we do establish the existence of pregnancy, then we can offer guidance on the way forward and about criminal processes that can follow if there was abuse.
“We would have to report the pregnancy as abuse should the child be under the age of 12 because there is no way a 10-year-old has the psychological acumen to carry a pregnancy.”
She said according to the Child Justice Act, demarcation exists in terms of the age groups of children who have been exposed to sexual activities.
“There is also the issue of the age difference. For example, should it appear that the child has been sexually abused by someone much older resulting in pregnancy we report the matter to the police.
“We have to activate the entire system to ensure the child is supported physically, emotionally and that the people who have to care for the children also understand the logistics surrounding teenage pregnancy.
“An understanding of the legalities around sex and the age groups children can engage in sex should also be explored, so that parents, teachers and community members are well informed.”
So what are the steps that are taken should a child fall pregnant?
“We can only surmise theoretically what steps should be taken, including allowing the child to be given care that allows for the best interest of the child,” she said.
“Should termination need to be facilitated, the child is referred to organisations to carry out such a procedure.
“Similarly, if a teenager has progressed in their pregnancy and termination is no longer an option then alternatives, such as adoption, will be considered and the child has to be placed in a place of safety.
“Remember, termination is up to 20 weeks although in some special cases if the pregnancy is as a result of rape or poses a threat to the health of the mother there may be a recommendation for termination past the 20-week mark.
“Regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy, the child has to be supported and one of the things we do as an organisation is to ensure the well-being of children who have been victims of abuse.”
She said the Department of Social Development and other NGOs step in to help for example children who don’t choose to terminate their pregnancy and who wish to keep the baby.
“Such organisations and departments carry expertise in working with children who are abandoned and who are born into families that cannot take care of them or want them at all.
“What is disheartening is that some young mothers do not have access to resources, organisations or facilities that can help them get through the ordeal of pregnancy safely. If they do, then the children they give birth to can be registered and allocated to safe spaces or being put up legally for adoption.”
She said these days more and more children are having sex by choice, but many don’t choose such a life but end up with it anyway.
Ngaa’s views on this situation are that children have sex and that it’s not in any way unusual because sex is a natural process.
“We have to be careful not to criminalise the natural process of healthy sexual development in juveniles and teens,” she said.
“In some cases it is a matter of misinformation that leads to the children having unsafe sex, resulting in pregnancy.
“All cases need to be looked at very carefully. Yes, children are being raped resulting in pregnancy but there is also the alternative that children are having sex with each other and because of peer pressure, culture, tradition, religion or even fear, the children find themselves having sex in accordance with what they have learnt from equally under-informed friends leading to pregnancy.
“Concealment of pregnancy also points to the circumstances that led to the child being pregnant.”
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