EPISODE 1 - Teenage Pregnancy

In South Africa one in three girls has had a pregnancy before the age of twenty. We are all aware of the problem of teenage pregnancy. Young women in our communities are falling pregnant while still at school, which limits their ability to achieve their goals in life.  It also puts them at high risk of being infected with HIV because they are having unprotected sex. In the Eastern Cape, HIV prevalence is higher among school aged youth than adults and the province has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the country.  This clearly shows the link between teenage pregnancy and the risk of HIV infection.

In this episode of Siyayinqoba Beat it! we meet our presenter Nokubonga Yawa who introduces us to the community journalists who are responsible for bringing us real life stories from different provinces around South Africa.

Our community journalist Bongekile Ntulu introduces the first story in the show. We join her in Gauteng province and meet her neighbour Nonhlanhla Mkhondwani who had a baby when she was 16 years old.  Like many other teenagers, Nonhlanhla knew that she should take contraceptive pills or use a condom to prevent pregnancy, but she still fell pregnant.  She and her boyfriend used condoms when they had them, but there were many times when they had unprotected sex.  We get to understand the fears and concerns Nonhlanhla had about having a baby a­t such a young age and also the challenges she faces now as a teenage mother. A visit to Nonhlanhla's school reveals how teachers respond to teenage pregnancy. We learn more about the rules concerning a pregnant students leave of absence and when she is able to return to school.

teenage pregnancy

In the second part of the show we go to the Eastern Cape where we join our community journalist Zona Mpendulo and attend a Life Orientation class at a school.  In the discussion on teenage pregnancy we hear from students why they think young people fall pregnant. We also get to hear from a teacher the limitations of the training they receive to teach Life Orientation and deal with situations like teenage pregnancy and other challenges young people face.  The Department of Education leaves the decision on condom demonstrations and condom distribution up to the school governing bodies. While many think government disallows it, in fact, if parents get involved in the school's governing body they could decide in favour of condom education and distribution.

Life Orientation

Next we listen to what HIV activist Vuyiseka Dubula, AIDS Activist and General Secretary of TAC,  has to say about teenage pregnancy.  Vuyiseka points out the importance of young people having a goal for their future and how this will encourage them to focus on their school work.  The practical aspects of providing accurate knowledge about condoms and contraceptives are also discussed.

In the final story we get to find out more about how teenage mothers can make use of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services in order to help protect their unborn child from HIV infection.  We join community journalist Wendy Khumalo on a visit to Mphophomeni in KwaZulu Natal where we meet an HIV positive teenage mother, Nosipho Hlophe.  We listen to how she successfully took part in PMTCT, as well as the challenges she faces as teenage mother caring for a child. The important role of support groups is also revealed during a visit to the local support group where the reasons for high teenage pregnancy rates are discussed. The area's HIV prevalence is incredibly high at an estimated 41%.

In conclusion we join Vuyiseka Dubula once again to listen to what she has to say about the continuing challenge women face in encouraging their partners to use condoms.  The relationship between poverty, economic dependence on men and the need for women to be financially independent is explored.

PMTCT

IT'S A FACT