Article by Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos/images courtesy of Unsplash and Freepik
Teenage pregnancy is a widespread issue with well-documented causes and significant health, social and economic consequences that require urgent attention. In South Africa, discussions about teenage pregnancy are often intense and frequently intertwined with the serious concern of statutory rape. Young girls aged as young as ten to 14 years, who fall pregnant, are still in their childhood years. They should be playing, not facing the responsibilities of caring for their own child as a mother.
Teenage pregnancy rates tend to be higher among those with lower education levels or from disadvantaged economic backgrounds. The progress in reducing teenage pregnancies is slower in these vulnerable groups, contributing to increasing social inequities. Other factors such as child marriage and child sexual abuse place girls at a higher risk of unintended pregnancies, further exacerbating the problem (WHO, 2024).
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[This is only an extract of an article that is published in Servamus: May 2025. This article is available for purchase.]