South Africa has one of the highest rates globally, with 1 in 4 girls under 20 years of age falling pregnant.
An unplanned teenage pregnancy can be challenging for young parents experiencing it and for the families connected to the young parents. Without the proper support and help, a teen mother is less likely to finish high school and pursue a career.
Teenage pregnancy can happen for the following reasons:
There’s a lack of sex education in a household,
contraceptives are not being used, or used incorrectly,
There’s a financial dependence of women on men,
and peer influence.
The alarming statistics on adolescent pregnancies reflect, among other contributing factors, the secrecy around the sexual assault that young people are exposed to.
Teenage pregnancies remain a concerning health and social problem in South Africa. Not only does teenage pregnancy pose a health risk to both mother and child, but it also has social consequences, such as continuing the cycle of poverty, including early school dropout by the pregnant teenager.
If you are a teenager, or a parent to a teenager who may be pregnant, you can visit your nearest clinic to ensure that you and your baby are safe and healthy.
The current solution:
Information and effective counselling
Many clinics now have a dedicated youth service so that young people can get information about family planning in a comfortable environment.
You’ll have access to information on various contraceptive methods for you to make informed choices. If a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is detected, the clinic will treat it with medication, or they might give you a referral letter to a special clinic. After you choose a contraceptive method, the clinic will monitor you for possible side effects in follow-up visits.
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