Poverty linked to teen pregnancies
ALEXANDRA - Poverty has been singled as the main driver of abuse to children in particular girls.
Poverty has been singled out as the creator of conditions that lead to the abuse of children including sexual abuse of schoolgirls.
This was said by Judy Tsutsa, a social worker at non-profit organisation Lifeline, following recent revelations by the Department of Basic Education of the thousands of schoolgirls falling pregnant and also, in reference to domestic and other crimes in the country.
Tsutsa said poverty was deeply entrenched and is a way of life for many. “It causes most anti-social activities, abuse and crimes which have been normalised. Most of the victims of the abuse are children, women and the elderly and residents seem disinterested to report them even when they happen in the home.”
She said there was no longer parental involvement and interest in the daily affairs of the children. “They [parents] are preoccupied with work, social occasions like stokvels, funerals and visiting friends. Their only physical presence in children’s lives is as providers of material needs and not as nurturers.”
This she said denied children cultural and moral guidance and values when they are most vulnerable to many negative influences leading to pregnancies, substance abuse and crime.
“Families no longer have anyone to hold the structure together. The elderly who wielded respect as advisers and moral beacons are no longer respected, but are regarded as liabilities to breadwinners in families. This leaves children to do as they please knowing that no one cared or would admonish them.”
She said the children adopted this corrupted attitude into adulthood as abusers with no conscience of the impact of their deeds to society, themselves, families and their children.
Tsutsa said girls were affected the most as they lost out on education when they fell pregnant, were affected by HIV/Aids and other diseases to become dependants on men. “They add a burden to the health sector and impact the economy as they only can play minimal roles in employment and decision-making.”
She added that their self-esteem was also affected, denying them power to affirm their rights and resist abuse fearing to lose financial and other support. She expressed concern that this will affect the country from achieving the millennium development goals of education, health and social development. “We won’t achieve on health with the high infant mortality, teen pregnancies, illegal abortions and back street abortion clinics and on education when thousands of girls can’t complete secondary education and also with many of them relying on welfare.”
Details: Lifeline 011 443 3555.
