Health department worried about teen births this festive
The department of health says more than 100 teenagers from the age of 13 years are among the mothers who have delivered their babies during this festive period.
The Department recorded 1803 babies delivered from public health facilities throughout the country on New Year`s Day – up from their mid-day tally on the day of just over 500.
National health department spokesperson, Foster Mohale said there was a 22% birth increase between Christmas and New Year's Day.
“The Department is concerned with the high rate of teen mothers, and this requires all hands on deck from government, families, and other community structures to reduce school dropout which hinders formal education for many adolescent girls and young women, making them vulnerable to poverty,” he said.
“Teen pregnancy and early motherhood contribute to interruption of formal education if not definite dropout by adolescent girls as some of them struggle to strike a balance between parenting and education due to lack of supporting family structures.”
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