Growing concerns about teenage pregnancies has troubled the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane, as she welcomed 73 babies born early on Christmas morning. Seven teenage mothers gave birth on Christmas Day.
The Department of Health spokesman, Agiza Hlongwane, said the KZN’s first Christmas baby was a bouncing baby boy weighing 3.2kg. The baby was born at Umgungundlovu’s Harry Gwala Regional Hospital and arrived two minutes after midnight. By 6.30am there were 32 babies born in healthcare facilities across the province and by 9.30am a total of 73 babies were born, which included 40 boys and 33 girls, said Mr Hlongwane.
“The busiest maternity wards have been at Queen Nandi Memorial Hospital, Nkonjeni Hospital, and Newcastle Hospital where each hospital had a total of five babies born in each of the facilities,” said Mr Hlongwane. “The MEC visited the Newcastle Hospital to welcome Christmas babies, however, she was concerned about teenage pregnancies.”
Ms Simelane said she was perturbed that the youngest among these mothers is a 16-year-old, who delivered her baby at Niemeyer Hospital. The MEC added that there were three 17-year-old girls, who had their babies delivered at the General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital; Church of Scotland; and at Mosvold Hospital.
“We also have three 18-year-olds, who delivered at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, Ngwelezane Hospital, and at Nkonjeni Hospital, eMahlabathini,” said Ms Simelane.
“It is shocking to note this and see what is happening in the province’s hospitals. What the statistics are telling us is that girls are having sex at a very young age. In the case of these young mothers, these girls had sex when they were about a year younger than they are, which means they had sex at the ages of 16, 17, and 18 years.”
She stressed that teens are exposing themselves to danger by engaging in sex at an early age. She added that this type of behaviour is not acceptable, because conceiving at such a young age can be dangerous for both mother and child. Also bearing in mind that they could easily contract HIV/Aids or other sexually transmitted diseases.
“When you fall pregnant at a young age, you’re actually at an increased risk of suffering a number of health complications, and possibly losing your life and that of the baby,” she said. “As a society, the time has come for us to review our beliefs and practices when it comes to matters of sexual reproductive health, because the current approach is clearly not working.”
She urged parents and guardians to stop regarding sex as a taboo subject. She encouraged that parents and guardians talk to children about sex and educate them of the dangers of having unprotected sex.
She suggested normalising abstinence, while at the same time educating youth about birth control and condoms.
