Title Poverty-An Explanation for Teenage Pregnancy in South Africa? Authors Sibusiso Mkwananzi* Affiliations *Demography and Population Studies Programme, University of the Witwatersrand Address: P.O Box 2050, Wits 2000 Telephone: 011 717 4342 Email Address: busi.mkwananzi.dps@gmail.com Correspondence Person: Sibusiso Mkwananzi Email Address: busi.mkwananzi.dps@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Teenage pregnancy (TP) remains an important health issue the world over with 11% of births from 15-19 year old females. In South Africa, 30% of 19 year old females were ever pregnant in 2013. Previous research has investigated individual-level characteristics yet few studies have examined the environments of young women. Additionally, local studies failed to examine the influence of poverty on TP quantitatively. This study examined the possible association of poverty and TP. Using general household surveys of 2011-2013, females aged 10-19 years were included:25492 girls. Poverty measures included: household and community-levels of poverty, home ownership and household head employment. Pregnancy was modeled through multilevel logistic regression. Four percent of teenage females were pregnant. Household- and community-levels of poverty were independently associated with TP. The study shows empirical evidence of the construction of TP in poor South African households and communities. Poverty-alleviation is needed to decrease TP in South Africa. Key Words: Teenage pregnancy, poverty, contextual effect, South Africa