Worldwide, teenage pregnancy rates range from 143 per 1,000 in some subsaharan african countries to 2. Most people argue that this is a substantial problem for the country, and is an expression of a failure to help young girls deal with sexuality. Teen pregnancies are trapping young people in sa skills portal. To identify and understand the psychosocial, economic, cultural and household factors. Determinants of adolescent pregnancy in subsaharan africa. The african ejournals project has digitized full text of.
Sexual and reproductive wellbeing of teenage mothers in a south. Teenage pregnancy amongst school learners, and in sa. Factors influencing the adolescent pregnancy rate in the. Inasmuch as the sa schools act has put in place directives to ensure that schools are free from discrimination, postapartheid south africa has witnessed numerous incidents of discrimination and exclusion on the basis of race, religion, language, ethnicity, teenage pregnancy, as well as the inability to pay school fees. In 1990 approximately 530,000 teenagers in the united states. The high teenage pregnancy rates in the world is a concerning issue for all members of one society. Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female under the. Pdf understanding teenage pregnancy in a postapartheid south. Teenage pregnancy has long been a problem in sierra leone.
It is also for the parents of teenagers who fall pregnant. Postgrad pharmacy student nomsa chemuru is currently working on a project to prevent teenage pregnancy in the rural communities of glenmore and dwayana. Introduced in 1998, south africas child support grant has long driven speculation that the r300 a month grant could act as a perverse incentive for young women to fall pregnant. South africas health ministry recently released statistics showing that almost 5,000 schoolgirls in johannesburg became pregnant in just one school year. Prevalence and determinants of adolescent pregnancy in africa. Teenage pregnancy is defined as an unintended pregnancy during adolescence. Adolescent pregnancy has been persistently high in subsaharan africa. A total of 24 countries from east, west, central, north and southern. In a study conducted at venda university in south africa, nearly 90 percent of students perceived. Studies from south africa have found that 1120% of pregnancies in teenagers are a. The survey showed that thirty five percent of all nineteen.
South africa has the lowest fertility rate in subsaharan africa and is at par with other. Teenage pregnancy rate declines in gauteng tuesday, november 22, 2011 according to a report tabled by the gauteng department of health and social development before the gender youth and disability committee in the provincial legislature, there was a slight decrease in the number of babies born from teenage mothers in the province in the 201011. A female teenager can be pregnant as early as age 12 or, although it is usually 14 or older. Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in south african. Christofides nj, jewkes rk, dunkle kl, nduna m, shai. In reporting teenage pregnancy rates, the number of pregnancies per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 when the pregnancy ends is generally used. Challenges, trends and policy issues article pdf available in mediterranean journal of social sciences 4.
A study of the high rate of teenage pregnancy in high schools. Poverty, low socioeconomic family status, lack of parental support, inadequate sex education from parents, peer influence. The actthe choice on termination of pregnancy act, 1996represents a departure from the past where the woman was. Teen pregnancies may have decreased according to statistics, but this trend needs to be eliminated altogether as south africa is losing a host of talented young people to this scourge. The 2016 south africa demographic and health survey sadhs 2016 is the third survey to be conducted in south africa with statistics south africa collaborating with the worldwide demographic and health survey program. Dec 01, 2003 south africa reformed the abortion law in order to improve the health of women and prevent deaths among women. Teen pregnancies are trapping young people in sa skills.
It is a public health concern in south africa as it may affect the health. Apr 14, 2011 south africa s health ministry recently released statistics showing that almost 5,000 schoolgirls in johannesburg became pregnant in just one school year. In nigeria, according to the health and demographic survey in 1992, 47% of women aged 2024 were married before 15, and 87% before 18. Countries such as central african republic, niger, chad, angola and mali top the list of countries with highest adolescent birth rate above 178. Cash transfers and teen pregnancy in south africa editorial express. Denmark, south carolina a small town with a population of just over 3,500 used to have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. The few studies conducted on adolescent pregnancy in africa present. Pregnancy can occur with sexual intercourse after the start of ovulation, which can be before the first menstrual period menarche but usually occurs after the onset of periods. There is information about all things related to pregnancy and having a. Prevalence and determinants of adolescent pregnancy in.
Data was collected using a validated questionnaire which had a reliability of 0. As you read this article another young girl has fallen pregnant. Rates of adolescent pregnancy are increasing in developing countries, with higher occurrences of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Adolescence is the period between 10 and 19 years with peculiar physical, social, psychological and reproductive health characteristics. Teenage pregnancy is prevalent in societies characterised by poverty, low education, fewer job opportunities and families headed by mothers who gave birth to their first children in adolescence dryfoos, 1996. Teenage pregnancies remain a serious health and social problem in south africa.
Causes and statistics on teenage pregnancy in south africa among other things, girls aged 15 to 19 years old accounts for about 11% of all births worldwide. It is arguably one of the most significant steps in respecting the rights of women to choice and to bodily integrity. In 2018, the estimated adolescent birth rate globally was 44 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19. Statistics and programs congressional research service summary in 2014, u. South africas teen moms are on their own article tebadi mmotla 9 feb 2020 state health facilities and the school curriculum have failed the youth, forcing young mothers into unsupported. Teenage pregnancy has become a very serious social problem in south africa, and pregnancy under the age of seventeen has been viewed as a catastrophe for individuals, family and society greathead, 1998. Teenage pregnancy and the south african schools act. Financial needs can also result in teenage pregnancy. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be. Percentages of women aged 2024 who gave birth by age 18, by country, most recent data. But over the past three decades, the rural and largely impoverished community has successfully reduced its teen pregnancy rate by more than two thirds. A quantitative, descriptive and explorative survey was conducted to determine factors that influence adolescent pregnancy rate among teenage girls n 147 attending four high schools in the greater giyani municipality in south africa.
A league table of teenage births in rich nations pdf. Teenage fertility in vhembe district in limpopo province. The story of 3 girls who were kidnapped and kept captive for over 10years. The fight to stop teenage pregnancy brand south africa. In 2010, the lac region had the third highest teenage fertil ity on the globe 72 births per women between 15 and 19 years of age, after subsaharan africa and south asia at 108 and 73 number of births, respectively. Lehohla said, on the basis of evidence, teenage pregnancy in south africa is not rising but has remained stable. Media release 15 may 2017 south africa demographic and health survey 2016 key indicators report the results of the south africa demographic and health survey, 2016 as presented in the key indicators report released today show that the total fertility rate tfr for the 3 years preceding the survey was 2,6 children per woman. South africa also has high levels of poverty and unemployment, and teen. Jul 23, 2012 a report on the issue of teen pregnancy by ggm s. Teenage mothers are more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes, and find it more difficult to pursue educational goals than women who delay. Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female under the age of 20. Adolescent pregnancy, occurring in girls aged 1019 years, remains a serious health and social problem worldwide, and has been associated with numerous risk factors evident in the young peoples family, peer, school, and neighbourhood contexts. Title povertyan explanation for teenage pregnancy in.
Not only does teenage pregnancy pose a health risk to both mother and child, it also has social consequences, such as continuing the cycle of poverty including early school dropout by the pregnant teenager. However, 2006 research by the health sciences research council found that it is unlikely that the provision of child support grants was a factor in teen pregnancy. Finally, the level of teenage pregnancy in southern africa was the lowest in 1992, increased in 2005 and was the highest in 2011 with a level at 28. There are limited statistics on teenage pregnancy and fertility in south africa panday et al. The project explores and maps the unequal distribution of urban resources in separated spaces. Some have argued that these teenagers are being irresponsible but this is illogical as it. Factors associated with teenage pregnancy, a study conducted by the limpopo provincial government, found that family pressure was a major contributing factor to teenage pregnancies, with 16. Teenagers continue to fall pregnant despite living in countries which not only guarantee their reproductive and sexual rights but also attempt to protect them. Lifeline pregnancy support pietermaritzburg this site is meant particularly for teenagers both the young mothers and fathers who are, or think that they may be, pregnant. The results of the study will assist in the designing of appropriate interventions for teenage pregnancy. Going on down the line following niger are mali 175. Jan 27, 2018 adolescent pregnancy has been persistently high in subsaharan africa. Pdf predominant approaches to teen pregnancy focus on.
Teenage pregnancy and opportunities in latin america and. The few studies conducted on adolescent pregnancy in africa present inconsistent and inconclusive findings on the. Awareness of prevention of teenage pregnancy amongst. Women in africa, in general, get married at a much younger age than women elsewhere leading to earlier pregnancies. Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in south. Durban south africa has a huge teenage pregnancy problem, with girls as young as 10 routinely falling pregnant. Inasmuch as the sa schools act has put in place directives to ensure that schools are free from discrimination, postapartheid south africa has witnessed numerous incidents of discrimination and exclusion on the basis of race, religion, language, ethnicity, teenage. Latin american and caribbean countries have some of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the world. The department of basic education briefed the committee on teenage pregnancy in south africa, specifically focusing on schoolgoing learners. For example, in some subsaharan african countries, early pregnancy is. Most people argue that this is a substantial problem for the country, and is an expression of. Today, countries in africa have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the world. For the latest information on adolesent pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health.
The differences in incidence of teenage pregnancy among racial and ethnic groups result from socioeconomic factors. In south africa, the birth rate amongst adolescents is approximately 50 births per women and previous studies have reported as many as 24% of sexually active teenage females to have ever been pregnant loaiza and liang, 20. The impact of youth falling pregnant in schools will leave an indelible gap when it comes to having skilled and educated youth going out into the. Jan 28, 2020 the high teenage pregnancy rates in the world is a concerning issue for all members of one society. Poverty the cause of teenage pregnancy in thulamela municipality. Majority of service providers believe poverty is a major factor causing teenage pregnancy while these practices as strategies by the youth to alleviate poverty, they however are further exposed to stis and in particular, hiv and aids. Home teenage pregnancy the facts on teenage pregnancy in south africa as with many developing countries, the rate of teenage pregnancy in south africa is high. In fact, among the 19yearolds, it has declined from 35 percent to 28 percent. Early pregnancy and child birth increases the health risk for the mother and the baby.
However, using the best available data, it is clear that teenage fertility in south africa approximated at 54 to 65. Springer nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional. Factors associated with teenage pregnancy in south africa. Title povertyan explanation for teenage pregnancy in south.
Teenage pregnancy levels and trend in subsaharan africa. Pdf although south africas total fertility rate is one of the lowest in. In south africa, there was a concern raised in 2003 by the department of basic education that teenage pregnancy among school learners was quite high, and that learner pregnancy rates were higher in schools located in poor areas and schools that were poorly resourced. A study of the high rate of teenage pregnancy in high. Consequently, teenage pregnancy is a critical issue in south africa. Continuing a project that started three years ago, chemuru was tasked with developing a manual for community care workers to use in facilitating the prevention of teenage pregnancy. The few studies conducted on adolescent pregnancy in africa present inconsistent and inconclusive findings. Nov 29, 2018 adolescence is the period between 10 and 19 years with peculiar physical, social, psychological and reproductive health characteristics. We have already brought this topic up in 11 countries with the highest teenage pregnancy rates. The highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the world 143 per 1,000 girls aged 1519 years is in subsaharan africa. Whilst teenage pregnancy has been presented as a serious challenge facing education authorities in south africa, the south african demographic and health survey 1998, also indicated that teenage pregnancy was one of the major problems in south africa. Nov 04, 20 introduced in 1998, south africas child support grant has long driven speculation that the r300 a month grant could act as a perverse incentive for young women to fall pregnant. The effects of teenage pregnancy on the educational attainment of girls at chorkor, a suburb of accra. Apr 25, 2017 today, countries in africa have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the world.
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