The Free State government conducted an education drive on teenage pregnancy and substance abuse during a provincial youth imbizo held in Trompsburg on Friday (17/03).
The Xhariep district has a high prevalence of teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and sexually transmitted infections, according to the provincial government.
Schoolgoing teenagers continue engaging in unsafe sex, despite concerns regarding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS.
The province reported more than 4 255 teenage mothers between the ages of ten and 18 years during the period of 2020 and 2021.
It recorded 128 teen mothers from April 2020 to March 2021, 147 from April 2021 to March 2022, and 36 from April 2021 to June 2022.
The highest abortion rate recorded was 1 025 from April 2021 to March 2022, and 867 from April 2020 to March 2021.
The outreach on Friday targeted both boys and girls, educating them about sexual reproductive health, gender dynamics, and their critical role in harnessing the benefits of the first and second demographic dividends.
