SA PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES RECORD 1 448 BIRTHS ON NEW YEAR’S DAY

Sun 05 January 2025:

The country’s public health facilities have recorded a total number of 1 448 births on the first day of the year 2025, the Department of Health announced on Thursday evening.

In a statement, the department said this is a decline compared to the 1 703 deliveries recorded last year this time.

Though the number of teen mothers has also decreased from 190 recorded last year, to just over 80 recorded this year, the department called on all sectors of society, especially families, to join hands with government and other non-governmental organisations to address teenage pregnancy.

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“Teenage pregnancy often leads to irregular school attendance, poor performance and ultimately school dropout, especially for mothers who lack family support structures to take care of the babies when the mothers go to school.

“The Department of Health, working together with sister Departments of Social Development and Basic Education, will continue to support all mothers through existing programmes to ensure their babies survive and thrive,” the department said.

The breakdown of births per province revealed that Gauteng recorded the highest number of births with 387, followed by Eastern Cape (219) and Limpopo (191).