TEENAGE PREGNANCY “No child should have a child of their own.”

1. TEENAGE PREGNANCY“No child should have a child of their own.”

2. INTRODUCTION According to WHO: • 16 million teenagers give birth annually • 2 million of those are under 15 • 3 million girls undergo unsafe abortions every year • Stillbirth and newborn deaths are 50% higher for teenage births

3. In South Africa: • 4th highest teenage pregnancy rate in the world • 35% of teens have had a baby by age 19 • 16% of pregnant teens are HIV positive • In 2009 - 5000 schoolgirls pregnant in the Jo’burg area alone • In 2010 - 17 260 teens pregnant in KZN • Jolwayo High School - 83 pregnancies in 2010

4. Are we in trouble?

5. More disturbing facts: • 52% of mothers receiving grants in SA are teen moms • 60% of teen mothers say they were coerced into having sex by men more than 6 years older than them • 11 – 20% of teen pregnancies are a result of rape • Crime stats show that sons of teen moms are 13% more likely to end up in prison

6. Reasons for teenage pregnancy: “I didn’t know!” “I was drunk” “My parents don’t care about me” “At least he made me feel loved.” “We did not use a condom ‘cos he didn’t want to.” “He paid me” “He forced me” “The staff at the family planning clinic were rude to me.”

7. Power imbalances Overcome povertyRisky behaviour Peer pressure

8. More reasons: • Media influences –TV shows it is good to sleep around. Cyberbullying, porn etc • Examples of adult behaviour – role models • Not thinking of consequences – teens are not emotionally mature and may use sex to deal with feelings of low self-esteem, alienation, need for attention or emotional neglect.

9. Consequences: • Teen may try to hide pregnancy • May opt for abortion • Dump the baby • Family strife • Financial hardship • Interrupted schooling or drop out • Stigma • Emotional trauma

10. REGRETS! • “My whole life has changed.” • “I miss my friends.” • “I disgraced my parents and myself.” • “We now have an extra mouth to feed’” • “I feel so trapped.” • “I am so embarrassed” • “I just cannot cope”

11. What have I done?

12. What the peers say: • “It’s disgusting.” “How sad.” • “How stupid.” “LOL - epic fail!” • “Pathetic.” “Ever heard of condoms?” • “She is throwing her life away.” • “It’s so wrong.” “Dumbness.” • “I feel sorry for her.” “It’s no surprise.” • “What shame she must feel.”

13. Abortion stats: • In 2011 – 77,771 legal abortions were done in SA • 31% increase from 2010 • 25 000 more than the annual average for legal abortions in the past 10 years. • WHO stats say 3 million girls undergo illegal abortions every year - worldwide

14. Cheryllyn Dudley of ACDC says: “IT LOOKS LIKE WE’RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION WHERE HUMAN LIFE IS BEING INCREASINGLY DISREGARDED AND TREATED WITH CONTEMPT”

15. Right to Life?

16. Post abortion Trauma • More the rule than the exception. • Goes beyond guilt, sadness and feeling ‘immoral’. • Involves deep grieving, self-destructive actions, broken relationships, sexual dysfunction, low self-esteem, substance abuse, depression and suicide.

17. Teen Pregnancy Impact • Physical e.g. health risks, STI’s • Social e.g. single parent/early marraige • Emotional e.g remorse/depression • Intellectual e.g. education interrupted • Spiritual e.g. act against values/distress • Economical e.g. grants/tax • DITTO FOR BOTH PARTNERS

18. marriage Family planning Costs Future relationships Health TEENAGE PREGNANCY Living arrangement Personal freedom Education partner employment Mental coping family

19. Health Risks: • Teen body not designed to be pregnant • Premature/ prolonged/ obstructed labour • Underdeveloped baby • 40x more likely to die in 1st month

20. Prevention: • The number of teen pregnancies are on the rise = FACT. • Although sexual intercourse outside of marriage is becoming widely accepted in our society, THIS DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT. • Teen pregnancies are still socially disapproved. • We need to be talking to our children! • Being pregnant is a CHOICE, if you know how it happens!

21. Helping a pregnant teen:(Using De Bono’s Hats)

22. The Red HatFeelings! • Never let them make a decision when they are still emotional – Golden Rule No 1. • Therefore – encourage them to talk about how they feel. • Validate how they feel. • Let them vent! • Be calm, LISTEN, and be supportive. scared, angry, ashamed, guilty

23. The Black Hat The Negatives. • Cannot turn back the clock. • Did not plan for this. • Reactions of friends/family/peers etc. • Schooling will be interrupted. • Finances? • Living arrangements? • Etc. etc If only….

24. The Yellow HatThe positives • In good health? • Support systems? • Helpful resources? • Medical care • Schooling not over – only interrupted • Financial support etc • LOOK FOR THE GOOD THINGS you are not alone

25. The Green Hat Options • Keep the baby • Give up for adoption – open or closed • Foster care • Grandparents/ boy’s parents • Abortion – you have to deal with this as it is often their first choice! • DISCUSS ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES FOR EACH OPTION

26. The White HatPractical arrangements • Depends on option chosen • E.g. keeping the baby - preparation • Medical care • Living arrangements • Father’s involvement • Costs • Schooling

27. The Blue HatResources • Social support e.g. grants • Physical support e.g. antenatal care • Intellectual support e.g. studies • Emotional support e.g. family/friends • Spiritual support e.g. church • Community resources – e.g. ASSIST, Gateway

28. Who is ultimately in charge? “THE LORD HIMSELF WATCHES OVER YOU.” (Ps 121:5) “ EVEN THERE YOUR HAND WILL GUIDE ME, YOUR RIGHT HAND WILL HOLD ME FAST.” (Ps 139:10) “AND BE SURE OF THIS: I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.” (Matt 28:20)