EThekwini hosts Teenage Pregnancy Indaba
ZIMBILE
MAZIBUKO
TO address the increasing number of
teenage pregnancies in the region, the City hosted a Teenage Pregnancy Indaba
bringing together stakeholders from across the education, health, government,
civil society, and religious sectors.
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| Chairperson of the Community Services Committee Councillor Zama Sokhabase emphasised the need for parents to play an active role in the lives of children during the Teenage Pregnancy Indaba. Picture: PUMLA KHWELA |
The Indaba, held under the banner of
community collaboration, was a response to alarming statistics presented by the
Municipality which showed that 7 627 girls aged 10 to 19 fell pregnant
between April 2024 and April 2025. Of this, 154 of them were aged between 10
and 14.
‘’Teenage pregnancy has a lasting impact
on young mothers, their children, and society. It’s closely linked to increased
HIV infection rates and contributes to a generational cycle of poverty. We need
practical, multi sectoral solutions that address both prevention and support
for young people,’’ said Deputy Mayor Myeni.
The Municipality’s health data also
revealed that an average of 582 teenagers accessed legal termination of
pregnancy services at public health facilities each month, most of them
students at higher learning institutions.
These figures exclude unregulated and
unsafe abortions conducted in informal settings. The data also revealed the top
ten schools with the highest reported cases of learner pregnancies between
January and March 2025. Gabigabi High School in Hammarsdale topped the list
with 20 cases followed by Amandlethu High School (17) and Waterloo High School
(12).
High-burden areas identified include
Inanda, KwaMashu, Hammarsdale, KwaDabeka, KwaNyuswa, Tshelimnyama, uMlazi and
Chatsworth.
The City also showcased ongoing
initiatives aimed at curbing this crisis, including the Zero Percent Learner
Pregnancy Programme, which was launched two years ago in partnership with the
District AIDS Council.
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