© Kamla-Raj 2014 J Soc Sci, 0000: 000 (2014) JSS-1563 CHECK LIST OF REFERENCES CAREFULLY Teenage Pregnancy in South Africa: A Challenge to Democracy K. G. Morwe 1 , E. K. Klu 2 and A. K. Tugli 3 1 Institute for Gender and Youth Studies, SHSS, 2 Department of English, SHSS, 3 Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Venda, South Africa E-mail: 1 <keamogetse.morwe@univen.ac.za>, 2 <asongkwesi@gmail.com> KEYWORDS Teenage Pregnancy. Reproductive Health. Sexual Rights. Child Support Grant ABSTRACT Teenagers continue to fall pregnant despite living in countries which not only guarantee their reproductive and sexual rights but also attempt to protect them. Some have argued that these teenagers are being irresponsible but this is illogical as it reflects a myopic view of society regarding teenage issues. Teenage pregnancy is a result of environment/structural issues and society’s failure to protect young girls. Males of all ages make unwanted sexual advances towards teenage girls with impunity. Force seems to be the main contributor to teenage pregnancy, but myriad factors such as gender stereotypes, the efficacy and expansiveness of Adolescent Health Programmes, the inaccessibility of family planning services and inadequate knowledge about sexuality and reproduction cannot be discounted. The present paper, therefore, examines some of the issues which may contribute to teenage pregnancy. It is anticipated the paper would help clarify the problems of teenage pregnancy and also suggest effective ways to deal with the problem. INTRODUCTION The advent of democracy in South Africa heralded the beginning of greater things to come, such as better livelihoods, educational and em- ployment opportunities and most of all, equality and equity. However, like most countries, the South African society is not with its problems. For instance, it is engrossed in a litany of graft and vice and teenage pregnancy is a huge prob- lem. Adolescence is marked by great excitement in that there is optimal growth and development in all the human dimensions. This process nor- mally occurs between the ages of 13-19. The need to be independent, taking responsibilities and experimentation characterise this phase. It is also during this phase that issues of sexuality become more pronounced and will extend for one’s entire lifespan (Al-Gidney et al. 1998). Teen- age pregnancy is one of the problems which beset this phase of a person’s life. OVERVIEW OFLITERATURE Teenage pregnancy is not a new phenome- non; marriage made it more acceptable as it is not seen as a problem as long as the girl in ques- tion is married. Throughout the world marriage is perceived as a walled garden where the cul- tural and family values protect young girls from abuse, defilement and stigma. A study done in Nigeria revealed that the minimum age of mar- riage was 15 years (Alo and Akinde 2010). This practice of marrying children while young is root- ed in the belief that marriage prevents girls from having pre-marital sex and shaming the family should they become pregnant. Apart from en- forcing morality, marriage offers a teenage girl, self–respect and financial stability, particularly because they are often married off to older peo- ple. In such circumstances, there is often pres- sure for the young bride to procreate within the first year of marriage (WHO 2007). The above statement is an illustration of female disempow- erment where economic considerations, social and familial obligations drive sexuality and fer- tility desires of a young woman (du Plessis 2003). Subsequently, early marriage exposes the young mother to adverse physiological and psycho- logical consequences that she is ill-prepared for. Although, the fertility rate is stabilising; South Africa has a young fertility burden with one- sixth of all women between 15 and 19 years giving birth (du Plessis 2003). This implies that these teenagers are exposed to Sexually Trans- mitted Infections (STIs) including HIV. The above is supported by the HIV infection rate of 29.5% (The National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey 2011) and that wom- en between the ages of 15 and 24 account for the rise in the new infections (Dorrington et al. 2006). While education and age are seen as pro- tective factors against risky sexual behaviour; the HIV infection rate at tertiary institutions is between one in four and one in five students (National Youth Commission 2009), therefore