Child pregnancies remain a serious concern for South Africa.

It has emerged that more than 600 girls – aged nine and ten gave birth last year. According to Statistics South Africa over 899 000 births were recorded and registered in 2020. Out of this some 34 000 of the mothers were girls aged 17 and younger.

Stats SA warns that early pregnancy and motherhood create a greater risk in terms of maternal complications as well as forces many girls to prematurely take on an adult role which they are not emotionally or physically prepared for. They also tend to abandon their formal education.

The departments of social development, education and health have been urged to intensify their campaigns against teenage pregnancy.

[Picture: Esa Alexander/Sunday Times]