An increase in number of teenage pregnancies during COVID-19

 By: Monono Kgothatso

Twitter: Austhatsow_98

Email: qthatsow98@gmail.com

picture sourced from: google

COVID-19 pandemic has led to a drastic increase in the number of teenage pregnancies in South Africa. Pregnancies among adolescent girls remained a global problem that time.

 According to google, an estimated 21 million girls aged 15–19 years in developing countries become pregnant and about 12 million of them give birth every year.

COVID-19 severely hit South Africa in 2020 and teenage pregnancies resulted in a high rate where the country recorded an increased rate with more figures in relation to pregnancy.

picture sourced from: google

Ms. Lorrain Ledwaba, a professional nurse mentioned that this was partly due to the difficulty of accessing contraceptives, which was greater during the COVID-19 lockdown.

She further added that the unforeseen pandemic hit the country unprepared and caused the country to shut down, it left many with nothing to do as schools were on hold for a while which led many into mischief.

Comfort Legodi who is a teenage mother that birthed during COVID-19 said that not having anything to do during lockdown kept them closer to their partners.

“Lockdown honestly did us more harm than good, right now I am a mother of two kids which are 6 months apart at the age of 19 years old,” sadly said Comfort Legodi. https://on.soundcloud.com/NAtonAyJy688i7GU7

Siblings birthed during COVID19 

Many believed that the jump in the number of teenage pregnancies was due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and school closures, which kept girls out of school.

Ms Legodi, Comfort’s mother poured her heart out, “It was difficult for me seeing my child’s future falling apart just before she could discover herself, for me at the age of 17 she was still an infant it’s just unfortunate I couldn’t monitor her movements as well as her doings.”

COVID-19 pandemic was a pain to society because it was complicating the efforts of reducing teenage pregnancies. It has caused an immeasurable disruption to every aspect of people’s lives.

Teenage mom who gave birth twice during COVID19

Learning having been suspended, schools being closed indefinitely, mischievous behaviour was left at hand for many. Religious meetings and worship programs were also affected similarly meaning there was no more youth programs in the religious institutions. Many did whatever they saw fit as they were too free and had less commitments.

 

WELCOMING SPRING IN STYLE

By: Monono Kgothatso

Twitter: Austhatsow_98

Email: qthatsow98@gmail.com

Poster for the event

DED Soshanguve Campus had a spring day celebration event on Friday the 09th of September 2022 at TCE stadium. Together Maebela, the admin assistance of DED Soshanguve campus said that they decided to do a spring day celebration simply because of the season.

“We also wanted to do something that would cool the students down before they start with their assessment,” said Together Maebela.

DED is an extra curriculum that each semester does activities that entertain students simply to give them a break from academics.

 https://on.soundcloud.com/qmHVbYKAgf4mE4fH6

Taking part in water splash game

Students came in numbers to the event to welcome spring in style. Different games were at hand. Games such as water slides, balloon games, colour splash and others were played.

Onthatile Mosako, DED Ambassador mentioned that the event was all about fun and welcoming spring. The immense highlight of the entire event was when the students participated in different games. When students were really distressing, it showed that they aligned to the motive of the event.

The event was without any hesitation a success, a bit of disappointment was when the system pump could not operate, that resulted as a failure for setting the water slides. But at a moment later, everything was on the right track.

Students at hand for flour game

 “So far we are still enjoying the games, we started with balloon game then we came to colour splash, we are still going to do many more others until the sunset,” excitedly said Xebile Sithole, DED supporter.

Lerato Mothoa, one of the participants mentioned that Unfamiliar faces were seen, different people were interacting, and memories were made. She went further to say that the event was one of the greatest, it was a good destruction, and it was honestly fun.

With a smile on his face, Towers Resident student Ashley Ntuli said that apart from the games, the music was on another level. “I honestly enjoyed the playlist; it was such a vibe and we indeed had fun,” he added.

Truly speaking fun time is a need, from the event I realised the value of taking some time off academics and distress a bit. The games were so therapeutic and heart-warming.

Below is a YouTube video link for the event

https://youtu.be/ol0Qce_tY4g