Teenage pregnancy in South Africa: A community crisis that needs us
Duduza – As South Africa marks Youth Month, a troubling reality casts a shadow over the celebrations: the rising rate of teenage pregnancy.
While this month is meant to honour the hopes and potential of our young people, it also calls us to confront the challenges that threaten their future, none more urgent than the growing number of school-aged girls becoming pregnant.
Professional nurse Nhlanhla Mofokeng said she sees firsthand the impact of teenage pregnancy on young girls, their families, and communities.
'In 2023 alone, over 90 000 schoolgirls across the country became pregnant, some as young as 10 years old. This is not just a statistic, it is a clear sign of a growing public health crisis.
'Teenage pregnancy puts young girls at risk physically, emotionally, and socially, while also placing pressure on families, schools, and our healthcare system.
'It is essential that we provide accurate information, compassionate care, and comprehensive support to help prevent early pregnancies and guide those affected toward healthier futures,' explained Mofokeng.
Mofokeng speaks of the issue, highlighting not only the statistics but the heartbreaking realities behind them.
'Every day, we see young girls in clinics, some confused, others afraid, and many without support. Some have been violated. Others have been misinformed. This is not just a healthcare issue; it is a societal one,' said Mofokeng.
She explained that teen pregnancy is not caused by a single factor but by a convergence of socioeconomic, educational, and cultural issues:
• Poverty and inequality: Many young girls engage in transactional relationships to meet basic needs.
• Early puberty and peer pressure: Children reach puberty earlier, often without the emotional maturity or information needed to navigate the changes.
• Lack of sex education: Myths around contraceptives and abstinence-only messages leave many in the dark.
• Family breakdowns and sexual abuse: Silence in the home, parental neglect, and even coercion often lead girls into unsafe situations.
'Many of our young patients do not know how to say no. They think pregnancy is the cost of love or affection,' Mofokeng said.
She also noted that the consequences of teenage pregnancy are devastating:
• Health risks: Girls under 19 face higher risks of complications like eclampsia, infections, and premature births.
• School dropouts: One in three school dropouts is due to pregnancy, cutting off future career paths and self-reliance.
• Emotional toll: Depression, anxiety, social stigma, and broken family ties are common.
• Economic struggle: Many teen mothers rely on child grants and struggle to support themselves and their children.
While the challenge is vast, solutions exist, and they require collective effort.
Mofokeng outlines key preventative strategies:
Comprehensive sexual education
• Teach beyond biology to include topics like consent, relationships, and contraceptive options.
• Schools, churches, and community halls must become safe spaces for learning and discussion.
Access to youth-friendly contraceptive services
• Clinics must offer approachable, respectful, and confidential services.
• Services should include free contraceptives and flexible hours.
'We must debunk the myths. Contraceptives do not make girls infertile,' Mofokeng urges.
Parental and community engagement
• Equip parents to speak openly with their children about sex and relationships.
• Involve community leaders and create multi-sector partnerships.
• Host workshops for guardians and caregivers to empower home education.
Support structures for teen mothers
• Provide safe spaces for teen moms to share experiences and get parenting support.
• Help young mothers return to school or enrol in vocational training.
• Destigmatise teen pregnancy without glorifying it.
Empower both girls and boys
• Teach boys about respect, consent, and responsibility.
• Promote positive male role models and community mentors.
Keep girls in school
• Schools must adopt supportive policies that encourage young mothers to continue their education.
• Community efforts can fund uniforms, transport, and sanitary products.
'Education is still the best contraceptive,' Mofokeng said.
Faith and culture as allies
• Engage faith and traditional leaders to speak about delaying pregnancy from a values-based perspective.
• Shift messaging from shame to hope and responsibility.
Create safe youth spaces
• Establish youth centres offering counselling, education, and creativity workshops.
• Keep teens off the streets and engaged in positive, empowering activities.
Mofokeng said teenage pregnancy is not just about girls making 'bad choices', saying it is about systems that fail them.
'It is about silence, stigma, and survival. But it is also about hope. Teen pregnancy does not have to define a girl's life. If we educate, support, and listen, we can turn things around.
'It is everyone's responsibility. It starts with conversation, and it ends with action. Let Youth Month 2025 be a turning point, a time not just for remembering the youth who fought for our freedom, but for protecting the youth still fighting for a future,' added Mofokeng.
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