Black teenage pregnancy in South Africa: some considerations.

Black teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in South Africa have reached a threatening level. Accepting that teenage pregnancy is multi-causational, this article outlines selected consequences. It concludes that teenage pregnancy as a social problem needs reexamination in terms of two hypotheses: that the pheronomal climate has an impact on prepuberal girls; and that teenage pregnancy is nature's way of ensuring the survival of the species.

PIP: The incidence and prevalence of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases among Black teenagers in South Africa have reached threatening levels. The author describes and discusses the social consequences of teenage pregnancy. These consequences include school drop-out or interrupted education, vulnerability to or participation in criminal activity, abortion, social ostracism, child neglect and abandonment, school adjustment problems for children born to teenage mothers, adoption, the lack of social security, poverty, repeat pregnancies before age 20, negative effects upon domestic life, and rape, abuse, and incest. It is concluded that teenage pregnancy as a social problem needs to be re-examined in terms of the following hypotheses: that the pheromonal climate to which prepubertal girls are exposed lowers their age at menarche and that teenage pregnancy is nature's way of ensuring the survival of the human species.

Black teenage pregnancy: a sociomedical approach.

This article is based on a literature and descriptive empirical investigation into the incidence of, and other factors associated with black teenage pregnancy in Africa and South Africa. The research survey was conducted in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. A sample of 145 black teenagers, between the ages of 12 and 17 years, who gave birth during four months in 1990 was interviewed. Socioeconomic, biographical and medical data were obtained. All of which point to an urgent need for a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to age-related sex education for adolescents of both sexes and their parents; socio-economic problems facing the family; ways of preventing school drop out and further unplanned and unwanted pregnancies among teenagers.

Some aspects of obstetrics in black teenage pregnancy: a comparative analysis.

This article is based on an investigation into some aspects of obstetrics in black teenage pregnancy conducted by the authors at two hospitals in Port Elizabeth during the latter part of 1992. In that research, it was hypothesized that significant differences with regard to several obstetrical factors would be found between the teenagers and older controls. Three groups of primigravidae who had single births were compared and the data statistically analysed. There were 47 teenagers aged 13 to 16 years, 128 aged 17 to 19 years and 125 older females aged 20 to 30 years. A significantly higher incidence of anaemia and low birth mass neonates among the teenagers than among the controls was found. A significant association was also found between low antenatal clinic attendance (four or fewer visits) and low birth mass infants. No significant differences were found in regard to other obstetric variables, including incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and syphilis in particular.

PIP: In South Africa, two sociologists conducted a comparative study to examine obstetric aspects of 200 Black primigravidae who delivered at two Port Elizabeth hospitals in late 1992. The three groups included 47 women aged 13-16, 128 women aged 17-19, and 125 women aged 20-30. 22.3% of all women currently had a sexually transmitted disease (STD), especially syphilis (80% of those with an STD). 96.3% of all women had received prenatal care. Yet most received it in the third trimester. The two teenage groups were significantly more likely to have anemia (10 g/dl hemoglobin) than the 20-30 year old group (8.1% vs. 0.9%; p 0.05). They also were more likely to have low-birth-weight (LBW) infants (26.6-27.6% vs. 15.2%; p 0.05). Even though they also had a higher proportion of small for gestational age infants than the 20-30 year old group, the difference was not significant. Poor prenatal clinic attendance (1-4 visits) was significantly associated with LBW, often associated with premature labor (p 0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups for other obstetric variables. These findings show that Black pregnant teenagers in Port Elizabeth are at increased risk of anemia, of delivering an LBW infant, and of premature labor.

One person, two roles: nurse and traditional healer.

In South Africa it is intended that health care should become more community-driven. One requirement for achieving this is to bring together the traditional and modern medical systems. Nurse/traditional healers, being involved in both systems, can contribute significantly to increased collaboration and understanding between them provided that restrictions on their activities in hospitals are diminished.