Social Development to host Informative Dialogue on Teenage Pregnancy and Ritual Killings in Mganduzweni, Mpumalanga

In line with the importance of highlighting the dangers and risks associated with teenage pregnancy and ritual killings, the Department of Social Development, will as part of its 365 Days Child Protection campaign, host a dialogue on 14 December, to protect children against teenage pregnancy and ritual killings in Mganduzweni, Mpumalanga.

Mpumalanga was reported to be amongst the provinces with high prevalence of teenage pregnancy, ritual killings and children’s loss of lives at initiation schools. Statistics South Africa’s Statistical Release on Recorded live births, revealed that in the year 2020, South Africa had 2 665 young mothers aged between 10 and 14 years.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also reported that early pregnancies among adolescents have major health consequences for adolescent mothers and their babies as pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading cause of death among girls aged between 15 and 19 years globally. WHO also highlighted that “early childbearing can increase risks for newborns as well as young mothers. Babies born to mothers under 20 years of age face higher risks of low birth weight, preterm delivery and severe neonatal conditions.

Teenage pregnancy remains a serious health and social problem in the country. Not only does teenage pregnancy pose a health risk to both mother and child, but also promotes other social problems such as ongoing cycle of poverty including early school dropout among pregnant teenagers.

This initiative seeks to highlight the plight of children and their rights to be protected through the implementation of responsive measures by all sectors of society.

Source: Government of South Africa