Births among adolescent girls

KwaZulu-Natal reported a higher percentage for both births registered at Home Affairs as well as those that were delivered in public health facilities. Northern Cape was the lowest in both births registered at the Department of Home Affairs and those that were delivered in public health facilities.

Termination of pregnancy

Limpopo reported higher rates of termination of pregnancy (TOP) for 2017, 2018 and 2019. Rates of TOP increased consistently in the Western Cape, Free State, North West and Limpopo. 

Cancers

Deaths due to cancer fluctuated, with the highest observed in 2017. Most adolescents were diagnosed with leukaemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, mesothelial and soft tissue, and bone cancer.

Medical male circumcision

Medical male circumcision (MMC) was reported more in Gauteng and less performed in Western Cape, Eastern Cape and North West. 

Mental health

Gauteng recorded higher proportions of adolescents who visited a mental health facility in 2019 and 2020. Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Limpopo had lower proportions of adolescents who visited a mental health facility for both reporting years.

Road traffic fatalities

More males died from road traffic accidents than their female counterparts. Road traffic fatalities were the highest among adolescents from the black African population group. KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape recorded more road traffic fatalities than other provinces. Approximately 90% of fatalities involved adolescents categorised as pedestrians and passengers.

Mortality

External causes, which included accidents occurring at places of residence, assault and other injuries accounted for the majority (40%) of deaths among adolescents. Illnesses that contributed to mortality include tuberculosis, HIV, intestinal infections, influenza and pneumonia.