This response should not only be limited to the government but should extend to civil society, ngos, the academic fraternity, traditional and religious leadership and most importantly adolescents and young people themselves. Causes teenage pregnancy arise from individual, familial. Factors associated with teenage pregnancy in south africa. As with many developing countries, the rate of teenage pregnancy in south africa is high. Despite the sa governments support for a number of laws. Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in south african. 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. Teenagers, teenage pregnancy, pregnancy, sex, health. A study of the high rate of teenage pregnancy in high. The study suggested adequate parental care, eradication of street hawking and inculcation of moral values through religious bodies as ways of reducing teenage pregnancy in nigeria. Teenage pregnancy in south africa is growing rapidly among schoolgoing pupils and it leads to school dropout as the teenage mothers have to leave school to care for their babies. Original research article factors associated with teen. Demographic studies continue to report that in developed countries such as the united states, mexico, canada, austria, teenage pregnancy results in lower educational.
Reducing prevalence and lowering maternal mortality rates summary teenage pregnancy is common in south africa prevalence of 47 births per 1 000 girls aged 1519 per annum and has an unacceptably high mortality institutional maternal mortality rate immr of 97. Jan 27, 2018 adolescent pregnancy has been persistently high in subsaharan africa. This poses a challenge in responding to maternal and infant mortality but also strains families in terms of providing health care to the teenage mother incase complications arise during pregnancy. Factors contributing to, and effects of, teenage pregnancy in. Demographic profile of adolescents in south africa statistics southafrica, pretoria. Worldwide, factors contributing to teenage pregnancy include. As mentioned above, most teenage girls in ghana get pregnant they are forced to find a means to survive since the effects of poverty is just too much on them. Abstractteenage pregnancy in south africa is growing rapidly among school going pupils and it leads to school dropout as the teenage. Teenage pregnancy levels and trend in subsaharan africa. In south sudan, teenage girls are more likely to be married than in school 7.
Phd university south africa department of health studies. 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. With low levels of maturity and an underdeveloped understanding of responsibility, teens are ill. Why are teenage pregnancies rising in south africa. Title povertyan explanation for teenage pregnancy in south. Teenage childbearing and dropout from school in south africa. Distribution of pregnancy across demographic and poverty factors ghs, 201120. Causes of teenage pregnancy teenage pregnancy is the harsh reality that many young adolescents are forced to deal with when they engage in sexual activity.
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. Statistics south africa ii demographic profile of adolescents in south africa report. Pregnant girls and adolescents also face other health risks and. A study of the high rate of teenage pregnancy in high schools. To assess the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in the south african context, as part of a populationbased household survey that formed part of an evaluation of the impact of lovelife, south africa s national hiv prevention campaign for young people.
Although the number of teenage pregnancies has declined drastically in most developed nations, it remains high in lessdeveloped nations. Abstractteenage pregnancy in south africa is growing rapidly among schoolgoing pupils and it leads to school dropout as the teenage. Decreases in the rate of teenage pregnancy are often discussed with the emphasis that society must still be vigilant, since any teen pregnancy rate is a cause for concern. South asia, the middle east and north africa, age at marriage has traditionally been low in kinshipbased societies and economies. The concept of teenage pregnancy replaces those of unwed mother and illegitimate child. It calls for school management teams smts to acquire critical skills to manage teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancies are widely discouraged because the of health risks they raise for the young mothers and their babies. In south africa sa, more than 30% of teenage girls fall pregnant,1 while between 65% and. To use the results of the study in designing appropriate interventions for teenage pregnancy with the view of curbing the problem of teenage pregnancy in limpopo. The theory places emphasis on the quality and context of the childs environment. Jump to media player south africa s education ministry is considering policies to introduce longterm contraception to schoolgoing teenagers.
Teenage pregnancies remain a serious health and social problem in south africa. Teenage pregnancy in south african schools poses a serious management and leadership challenge. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire which had a reliability of 0. 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. First, economic inequality in south africa is more extreme than almost anywhere else in the world and the prevalence of absolute material deprivation remains high.
Mg the sugar daddy phenomenon has been listed as one of the factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy. Factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in south africa. Lack of parental guidance the study suggests that issues of culture where teenagers. 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. Here are strategies and tips for helping high schoolaged girls, teenagers prevent pregnancy. In south asia the early marriage of adolescents is common. Teenage pregnancy reported in mangaung district is 7%, which is three times more than the provincial target of 2% for teenage pregnancy. Abstractteenage pregnancy in south africa is growing rapidly among schoolgoing pupils and it leads to school dropout as the teenage mothers have to leave school to care for their babies. Adolescent pregnancy remains a major contributor to maternal and child mortality. Lastly, the role of social workers and teenage pregnancy prevention will be explored. The context of teenage pregnancy in south africa has been highlighted extensively in the literature. Adolescent pregnancy adolescent girls who give birth each year have a much higher risk of dying from maternal causes compared to women in their 20s and 30s. With low levels of maturity and an underdeveloped understanding of responsibility, teens are ill prepared to deal with the consequences of their actions. Bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory figure 1 below shows the bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory.
The study analyzes both the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and its determinants. Teenage pregnancy, poverty, contextual effect, south africa. Causes of teenage pregnancy in ghana and possible solutions. Teenage pregnancy is a major health problem in many communities in south africa. This research therefore aimed to explore the reasons behind teenage pregnancy in heidedal, mangaung district, free state province, south africa. This work was generously supported by the ford foundations office for southern africa. However, while concerns about teenage motherhood in south africa mirror those found in developed countries, the context is very different.
The study found that teenage pregnancy in heidedal is influenced by many factors which. Factors contributing to pregnancies among student nurses at a nursing college in mpumalanga province, south africa zungu l. A complete set of stats sa publications is available at stats sa library and the following libraries. Published by statistics south africa, private bag x44, pretoria 0001. Teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy occurs in young girls, mostly in the range of age to 17 yeas old. Findings from this study are that teenage fertility in south africa has been declining over time. Poverty, low socioeconomic family status, lack of parental support, inadequate sex education from parents, peer influence. In recent years, teenage pregnancy in sa has reached alarming proportions. 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. While there are many factors that influence teenage pregnancy rates, the number one cause for teenage pregnancy will never change unprotected sex. Title povertyan explanation for teenage pregnancy in. 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.
Poverty the cause of teenage pregnancy in thulamela municipality. Causes, effects and solutions of teenage pregnancy in ghana. The incidence of teenage pregnancy remains high amongst the teenagers in the bushbuckridge district in the limpopo province, south africa, therefore it is important to seek an understanding of teenagers perceptions regarding this issue. A regional comparison of teenage pregnancy is valuable in understanding patterns and determinants that are exceptional and to establish where further indepth studies are necessitated. Teenage pregnancy in south africa, especially in the black communities, remains a. Nowadays, teenage pregnancy has become a growing concern and therefore various causes of teenage pregnancy has become crucial. Complications relating to pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls aged 1519 globally.
Teenage pregnancy has become a growing concern nowadays and hence it has become imperative to look into the various causes of teenage pregnancy in order to deal with this issue carefully. Consequently, teenage pregnancy is a critical issue in south 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. In wellnourished females, the first period usually takes place around the age of 12 or. The causes and effects of teenage or adolescent pregnancy and what can be done globally to support girls who are affected or at risk. Multiple factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy have been identified which. The effects of teenage pregnancy on the educational attainment of girls at chorkor, a suburb of accra.
This background paper for the unesco gmr team draws on a range of resources to provide a synthesis on drop out. Factors influencing the adolescent pregnancy rate in the. In south africa, 30% of 19 year old females were ever pregnant. Determinants of adolescent pregnancy in subsaharan africa. Although immediate determinants of teenage pregnancy in south africa relate to behaviour, the fundamental drivers are more deeply rooted institutional problems of poverty, underdevelopment and. 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. Teenage pregnancy rates are tracked with concern and there are regular media reports about the issue of teen pregnancy.
Sep 01, 2010 teenage pregnancy has become a growing concern nowadays and hence it has become imperative to look into the various causes of teenage pregnancy in order to deal with this issue carefully. 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. Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in south. To use the results of the study in designing appropriate interventions for teenage pregnancy with the view of curbing the problem of teenage pregnancy. Teenage mothers add to the number of women who are illiterate. Teen pregnancy began to be discussed in terms of economic costs to society. The case of tunduru district council, in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of masters degree in health system management mhsm of mzumbe university. Financial needs can also result in teenage pregnancy.
Teenage pregnancy involves both the girl and her male partner and the characteristics of these young men could be a fundamental underlying factor in teenage pregnancy,25 which should not be ignored. The united states saw a drop in teen pregnancy of 7 percent from 2016 to 2017, but the u. Increases in the rates of teen pregnancy are framed. This emerged at the presentation by the department of social development of a study known as factors associated with teenage pregnancy in gauteng. International literature is incorporated in the discussion by way of comparison. Title povertyan explanation for teenage pregnancy in south africa. The study focus was mainly to establish whether the high rate of teenage pregnancy in. Adolescent pregnancy was found to be high in this sample of south african youth. Teenage pregnancy in south africa is driven by many factors including. Reducing teenage pregnancies has been a topical focus on the development agenda for decades. What causes the high rate of teenage pregnancy in south africa. What causes the high rate of teenage pregnancy in south.
It is especially difficult when the girls have to help their parents to raise the other siblings. Poverty the cause of teenage pregnancy in thulamela. The paper focuses on patterns of participation, agespecific drop out rates, equity in drop out rates, and the link between over age. Part 1 of the series dealt with the consequences of teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female under the age of 20. National library of south africa, pretoria division. Teenage pregnancy emerged as a social issue within the united states in the 1970s, and somewhat later in south africa. Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in south african youth. In matjitjileng village, pregnancy among young people has reached pandemic heights.
The current paper analyzes the common causes and overall consequences of teenage pregnancy. A qualitative research methodology has been employed using a questionnaire with a list of ten questions that are related to the causes of teenage pregnancy. In south africa, the general household survey conducted in 2014. Furthermore, the background of teenage pregnancies in south africa, the relationship between hivaids and teenage pregnancies, causes and consequences of teenage pregnancies will be described. In order to analyze the issue, various information has been collected from reliable scholarly sources.