In south africa, 30% of 19 year old females were ever pregnant. Adolescent pregnancy remains a major contributor to maternal and child mortality. Teenage childbearing and dropout from school in south africa. Poverty the cause of teenage pregnancy in thulamela. Teenage pregnancy emerged as a social issue within the united states in the 1970s, and somewhat later in south africa. 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. The united states saw a drop in teen pregnancy of 7 percent from 2016 to 2017, but the u. Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female under the age of 20. Bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory figure 1 below shows the bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory. Part 1 of the series dealt with the consequences of teenage pregnancy.
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. 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. Demographic profile of adolescents in south africa statistics southafrica, pretoria. It is especially difficult when the girls have to help their parents to raise the other siblings. Published by statistics south africa, private bag x44, pretoria 0001. Lastly, the role of social workers and teenage pregnancy prevention will be explored. Therefore, the purpose of the paper was to explore and get from the horses mouths whether or not poverty is the major cause of the teenage pregnancy.
The effects of teenage pregnancy on the educational attainment of girls at chorkor, a suburb of accra. 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. This work was generously supported by the ford foundations office for southern africa. 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. The paper focuses on patterns of participation, agespecific drop out rates, equity in drop out rates, and the link between over age. Determinants of adolescent pregnancy in subsaharan africa. 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. Despite the sa governments support for a number of laws. Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in south african. Worldwide, factors contributing to teenage pregnancy include. The study analyzes both the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and its determinants. 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.
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. 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. Nowadays, teenage pregnancy has become a growing concern and therefore various causes of teenage pregnancy has become crucial. Reducing teenage pregnancies has been a topical focus on the development agenda for decades.
Complications relating to pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls aged 1519 globally. 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. Multiple factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy have been identified which. In order to analyze the issue, various information has been collected from reliable scholarly sources. The current paper analyzes the common causes and overall consequences of teenage pregnancy.
Poverty the cause of teenage pregnancy in thulamela municipality. Teenage pregnancy is a major health problem in many communities in south africa. Findings from this study are that teenage fertility in south africa has been declining over time. While there are many factors that influence teenage pregnancy rates, the number one cause for teenage pregnancy will never change unprotected sex. 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.
Causes of teenage pregnancy in ghana and possible solutions. 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. Teen pregnancy began to be discussed in terms of economic costs to society. International literature is incorporated in the discussion by way of comparison. 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. Causes teenage pregnancy arise from individual, familial. The theory places emphasis on the quality and context of the childs environment.
However, while concerns about teenage motherhood in south africa mirror those found in developed countries, the context is very different. This emerged at the presentation by the department of social development of a study known as factors associated with teenage pregnancy in gauteng. Title povertyan explanation for teenage pregnancy in south africa. According to jackie, 2012 low selfesteem is among the causes of teenage pregnancy. 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. Jan 27, 2018 adolescent pregnancy has been persistently high in subsaharan africa. 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. It is my privilege to present the report of this study teenage pregnancy in south africa, with a speci. Original research article factors associated with teen. 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. Pregnant girls and adolescents also face other health risks and.
Lack of parental guidance the study suggests that issues of culture where teenagers. South asia, the middle east and north africa, age at marriage has traditionally been low in kinshipbased societies and economies. Causes and effects of teenage pregnancy sample essay. Review of south african research part 2 article pdf available in south african journal of psychology 291. Increases in the rates of teen pregnancy are framed. Adolescent pregnancy was found to be high in this sample of south african youth. Factors associated with teenage pregnancy in south africa south. Factors contributing to, and effects of, teenage pregnancy in. Teenage pregnancy in south africa is driven by many factors including. It calls for school management teams smts to acquire critical skills to manage teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancies remain a serious health and social problem in south africa. The study found that teenage pregnancy in heidedal is influenced by many factors which. Financial needs can also result in teenage pregnancy.
Data was collected using a validated questionnaire which had a reliability of 0. 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. Title povertyan explanation for teenage pregnancy in south. In south africa, the general household survey conducted in 2014. Factors associated with teenage pregnancy in south africa. Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in south african youth. Factors influencing the adolescent pregnancy rate in the. What causes the high rate of teenage pregnancy in south. In matjitjileng village, pregnancy among young people has reached pandemic heights.
Teenage pregnancy reported in mangaung district is 7%, which is three times more than the provincial target of 2% for teenage pregnancy. 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. The concept of teenage pregnancy replaces those of unwed mother and illegitimate child. What causes the high rate of teenage pregnancy in south africa. 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. Teenagers, teenage pregnancy, pregnancy, sex, health.
With low levels of maturity and an underdeveloped understanding of responsibility, teens are ill. In south asia the early marriage of adolescents is common. 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. The study focus was mainly to establish whether the high rate of teenage pregnancy in. 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. Consequently, teenage pregnancy is a critical issue in south africa.
Teenage pregnancies are widely discouraged because the of health risks they raise for the young mothers and their babies. National library of south africa, pretoria division. 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 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. Aug 14, 2018 looking for how to prevent teenage pregnancy in south africa. Abstractteenage pregnancy in south africa is growing rapidly among school going pupils and it leads to school dropout as the teenage. 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. 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. Teenage mothers add to the number of women who are illiterate. Here are strategies and tips for helping high schoolaged girls, teenagers prevent pregnancy. Although the number of teenage pregnancies has declined drastically in most developed nations, it remains high in lessdeveloped nations. The context of teenage pregnancy in south africa has been highlighted extensively in the literature.
Distribution of pregnancy across demographic and poverty factors ghs, 201120. A study of the high rate of teenage pregnancy in high schools. In south sudan, teenage girls are more likely to be married than in school 7. As with many developing countries, the rate of teenage pregnancy in south africa is high. A complete set of stats sa publications is available at stats sa library and the following libraries. In recent years, teenage pregnancy in sa has reached alarming proportions. Causes, effects and solutions of teenage pregnancy in ghana. 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. 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. 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. Mg the sugar daddy phenomenon has been listed as one of the factors that contribute to teenage pregnancy.
Phd university south africa department of health studies. Teenage pregnancy levels and trend in subsaharan africa. Statistics south africa ii demographic profile of adolescents in south africa report. With low levels of maturity and an underdeveloped understanding of responsibility, teens are ill prepared to deal with the consequences of their actions. Adolescent pregnancy for the latest information on adolesent pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health. 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. Factors contributing to pregnancies among student nurses at a nursing college in mpumalanga province, south africa zungu l. The causes and effects of teenage or adolescent pregnancy and what can be done globally to support girls who are affected or at risk. Why are teenage pregnancies rising in south africa. Abstractteenage pregnancy in south africa is growing rapidly among schoolgoing pupils and it leads to school dropout as the teenage. Jump to media player south africa s education ministry is considering policies to introduce longterm contraception to schoolgoing teenagers. Teenage pregnancy rates are tracked with concern and there are regular media reports about the issue of teen pregnancy.
Poverty, low socioeconomic family status, lack of parental support, inadequate sex education from parents, peer influence. A study of the high rate of teenage pregnancy in high. This research therefore aimed to explore the reasons behind teenage pregnancy in heidedal, mangaung district, free state province, south africa. This background paper for the unesco gmr team draws on a range of resources to provide a synthesis on drop out. 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.
Demographic studies continue to report that in developed countries such as the united states, mexico, canada, austria, teenage pregnancy results in lower educational. In south africa sa, more than 30% of teenage girls fall pregnant,1 while between 65% and. Teenage pregnancy in south african schools poses a serious management and leadership challenge. Teenage pregnancy, poverty, contextual effect, south africa. 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. 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. Teenage pregnancy in south africa, especially in the black communities, remains a. 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.
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