SA has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the world. More than one third of babies are born to mothers under 19 years of age.
What happens when new mothers are little more than children themselves? Help your teens to behave responsibly by being open and honest.
South Africa has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the world. More than one third of all babies born in South Africa have mothers under the age of 19 years. Alarming figures released by a South African provincial education department indicate that schoolgirl pregnancies have doubled in the past year, despite a decade of spending on sex education and AIDS awareness.
Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy can be scary and confusing for a teenager. It’s a natural response for a young mother-to-be to think about and want to protect the baby that is growing inside her. It is also natural for her to be scared and confused about how to deal with this unplanned pregnancy.
Falling pregnant at a young age can result in health hazards to a body which is not fully developed.
The bones are not mature and overall growth is not complete. This poses a serious health risk, not only to the mother but to the unborn child. Teen moms are more likely to give birth to a premature baby who weighs very little at birth. In addition to being small, they are also underdeveloped. They often have lungs that do not work on their own, brains that are not completely developed and a low resistance to illnesses. Pregnancy and birth can put a big strain on a teenager’s body.
If bone structure is not fully developed, she takes the risk of injuring her spine and pelvic bones, with lasting effects. It is also well known that the irresponsible behaviour of some teens could put them at risk of sexually transmitted diseases. These diseases can easily be spread to an unborn baby. If untreated, the consequences are disastrous.
Teenagers who have babies often experience severe problems as many will have to become single mothers without plans for the future. These are worse than those faced by older, married women.
As a teen mom, you may not have the parenting skills that an older woman would have. If your baby’s father isn’t in the picture and your parents are not supportive of your pregnancy, it can be difficult to deal with the responsibility of caring for a newborn entirely on your own.
- Discuss sex with your child, from an early age, ideally before they become teenagers. Talking to your teen about sex encourages responsible behaviour when it comes to sexual activity.
- Believe it or not, many teens feel that their parents are the most influential source of information on sex.
- Offer guidance, care and supervision. Teenagers are in need of parenting and feel more secure when boundaries are clear.
- Keep in mind that your teen gains a lot of information from simply watching how adults behave.
www.troubleteensolutions.com, www.psychiatric-disorders.com
By: Nikiwe Titus