In 2020, teenage pregnancies reached an all-time high with the Department of Health recording a 60% increase with more than 600 girls aged between nine and 10 giving birth.
For this reason, the SA Vroue Federasie (SAVF) is focusing on teenage pregnancy support and sex education during Child Protection Week, May 30 to June 4, under the theme, Let us all protect children during Covid-19 and beyond.
According to Stats SA, 34 587 teenagers gave birth in 2020 with the highest numbers being recorded in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KZN and Limpopo.
One major factor that has contributed to this increase is violence, which is perpetrated against women and girls.
Research indicates that one in three South African women fall victim to GBV while one in five children under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse.
According to a press release issued by SAVF, pregnancies among adolescent girls remain a global problem.
“Pregnancies not only have adverse health risks for adolescent mothers and their babies, but problems associated can persist into the next generation,” it said.
“Girls who become pregnant often drop out of school, limiting their future economic opportunities and perpetuating a cycle of poverty.”
It continued by saying that it hopes that this year’s programme will help young mothers to have access to holistic guidance that will build girls’ self-esteem, help them make decisions about their lives and offers them real opportunities so that motherhood is not seen as their only destiny.
“The high incident of children getting pregnant is an indication of South Africa’s broken society, as vulnerable children are being raped and abused,” said SAVF head of social services, Dr Blanché Verster.
“SAVF supports and empowers teenagers as well as parents by regularly presenting the SAVF Rebuilding Dreams programme for pregnant teenagers as well as the Active Parenting of Teenagers programme.”
SAVF will be hosting several informative Zoom sessions on the topic daily and those wanting to participate may log in from 12:00 using the meeting ID, 878 9735 7092, passcode, 810545.
Alternatively, email childprotection@savf.co.za.
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