If South Africa had 2 665 young mothers aged between 10 and 14 years in 2020, this means 2022 is shocking!
By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Social Development hosted an informative dialogue on teenage pregnancy and ritual killings in Mganduzweni, Mpumalanga today (14 December, 2022)
In line with the importance of highlighting the dangers and risks associated with teenage pregnancy and ritual killings, the Department of Social Development, as part of its 365 Days Child Protection campaign, hosted a dialogue to protect children against teenage pregnancy and ritual killings.
According to Lumka Oliphant, spokesperson for social development,
Mpumalanga was reported to be amongst the provinces with high prevalence of teenage pregnancy, ritual killings and children’s loss of lives at initiation schools.
According to Oliphant, statistics South Africa’s Statistical Release on Recorded live births, revealed that in the year 2020, South Africa had 2 665 young mothers aged between 10 and 14 years.
She said the World Health Organisation (WHO) also reported that early pregnancies among adolescents had major health consequences for adolescent mothers and their babies as pregnancy and childbirth complications were the leading cause of death among girls aged between 15 and 19 years globally.
“WHO also highlighted that early childbearing can increase risks for newborns as well as young mothers.
“Babies born to mothers under 20 years of age face higher risks of low birth weight, preterm delivery and severe neonatal conditions,” she said.
She said teenage pregnancy remained a serious health and social problem in the country.
” Not only does teenage pregnancy pose a health risk to both mother and child, but also promotes other social problems such as ongoing cycle of poverty including early school dropout among pregnant teenagers.
“This initiative seeks to highlight the plight of children and their rights to be protected through the implementation of responsive measures by all sectors of society.”
