Over 23K teenage pregnancies recorded in Gauteng

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Photo: africacheck.org

Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng says Department of Education, Department of Social Development and Department of Health needs to strengthen their teenage pregnancy and sex education campaigns to conscientize teenagers in the province.

This follows a recent information revealed by MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi in a written reply of questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature by the DA member.

MEC Mokgethi said that the Department has recorded over 23 000 teenage pregnancies since April 2020 to March 2021.

Young girls between the ages of 15 and 19 accounted for 83.17% of the 23 226 total number of pregnancies.

“According to MEC Mokgethi, 934 babies were delivered by girls between the ages of 10 to 14 years, 19 316 babies were delivered by girls between the ages of 15 to 19 years, while 2976 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 years did a Choice on Termination of Pregnancy. In total there were 23 226 teenage pregnancies in Gauteng from April 2020 to March 2021.”

The DA added by calling on the above mentioned departments to intensify their campaigns against teenage pregnancy to 365 days a year and making teenage pregnancy prevention a priority in schools.

They also called on parents and guardians to join hands with the government and stakeholders to attend to the issue.

“Teenage girls should be taught about the consequences of teenage pregnancy and preventative measures to curb this. As for girls who are under the age of consent, they should also be taught their rights in this regard and to know, at no point, is anyone allowed to force themselves onto them.”