Gabi Khumalo
Johannesburg – Parents and caregivers who do not devote as much attention to their teenagers as they should, could inadvertently lead to the teens seeking love elsewhere, thus increasing the chances of teenagers experimenting with sex.
This was among the findings of a study titled Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy. The study was commissioned by the Gauteng Social Development Department, where 500 learners in various schools in the province aged between 13 and 18 years participated.
The study found that cultural perceptions and practices -- including lack of parental guidance and girls wanting to prove their womanhood in the hopes of gaining respect in their relationships and the community -- contribute to teenage pregnancy.
Releasing the study on Monday, Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, said the pursuit of love among teenagers was a major contributing factor to teen pregnancy.
She said this should serve as a warning to parents.
“Parents should ensure that they talk to boys and girls about sex. If we don’t, they will learn about it outside. Lack of parental guidance could be linked to culture in the sense that in some contexts, it is disrespectful for children to discuss sex with older people and in some case, it can be taboo,” Mayathula-Khoza said.
Poverty was also linked to the factors that contribute to the high levels of teenage pregnancy. The need for material benefits from relationships to ensure survival was noted as a factor that could lead to unplanned pregnancies.
“Some of the reasons related to the majority of pregnancies are due to a father’s absence and the direct link to lower family income. Another reason could be that teenage girls are in need of good male role models and absent fathers affect relationships built with other males by teenage girls seeking the love they cannot get from their own fathers,” the study revealed.
Although the Gauteng Education Department’s data showed a decrease in the pregnancy rate from 0.5% in 2008 to 0.4% in 2011, Mayathula-Khoza said the provincial government wanted to strengthen efforts towards addressing this challenge.
“Working together with the Department of Basic Education and Health and other NPOs, we have introduced various intervention programmes to increase access to prevention programmes, and improve young people’s behaviour through life-skills programmes.
“The department is in partnership with other key stakeholders, continuing to implement behavioural change and social mobilisation programmes to stem the tide of teenage pregnancies in the province,” she said.
She added that intensifying prevention programmes to reverse the high levels of teenage pregnancy was one of the department’s major priorities. – SAnews.gov.za
