By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Department of Health said it is concerned about the high rate of teenage pregnancies. This comes after the youngest mother to give birth on Christmas Day in the province, was only 15.
The North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said, the youngest mother gave birth in Ganyesa District Hospital at around 10:38pm. Lekgethwane said she delivered an African male though NVD weighing more than 3890g, however, the condition of mother and baby was satisfactory.
“The total babies born in the North West were 121 (67 girls and 54 boys). Total babies born in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District were 22, while 37 were born in Bojanala, 37 in Ngaka Modiri Molema and 24 in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
“The oldest mother was 48, who delivered at Mahikeng Provincial Hospital. She delivered a NVD, an African male of 3400g, 1975/11/13 at around 1:56am. The conditions of the mother and the baby were satisfactory,” he said.
Lekgethwane further said the total number of teenage pregnancies from 18 years and younger (from 2005) consists of 4 in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, 4 in Bojanala, 5 in Ngaka Modiri Molema District and and 2 in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
He added that they will intensify evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs to educate young girls about teenage pregnancy and the importance of prevention.
Meanwhile, the www.cdc.gov website said: “The teen pregnancy and childbearing are associated with increased social and economic costs through immediate and long-term effects on teen parents and their children. Pregnancy and birth are significant contributors to high school dropout rates among girls.
“Only about 50% of teen mothers receive a high school Diploma by 22 years of age, whereas approximately 90% of women who do not give birth during adolescence graduate from high school. The children of teenage mothers are more likely to have lower school achievement and to drop out of high school, have more health problems, be incarcerated at some time during adolescence, give birth as a teenager, and face unemployment as a young adult.”
The Guardian 