QACHA’S NEK – Rising teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are an increasing concern in Qacha’s Nek, with adolescents calling for improved sexual health education and greater access to protection.
Many young people say they need both accurate information and practical tools to make informed and safe choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
The concerns emerged during interviews with local adolescents marking International Condom Day, observed annually on February 13, a day before Valentine’s Day.
Launched in 2009 by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the global campaign promotes condom use as an effective method to prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies, while encouraging open and honest dialogue about safe sexual practices.
The urgency of the situation is reflected in local statistics. Qacha’s Nek has recorded a rise in Early and Unintended Pregnancies (EUP) among adolescents. According to the District Health Management Team (DHMT), between January and June 2025, 162 out of 486 pregnant women in the district were aged between 13 and 19. This represents an increase of 31 cases compared to the same period in 2024.
During the same period, 128 adolescents gave birth, while 32 experienced delivery complications, including retained placenta, third- and fourth-degree perineal tears, postpartum haemorrhage and obstructed labour. Eleven of the teenage mothers were HIV-positive.
Despite expanded sexual health education initiatives in schools and communities, contraceptive uptake among adolescents has declined. Only 336 adolescents accessed contraceptive services between January and June 2025, compared to 437 during the same period last year — a decrease of more than 100.
Seventeen-year-old Letlotlo ’Muso said he was previously unaware of International Condom Day but supports increased education on condom use.
“This will help prevent teenage pregnancy, which is very common in the district,” he said. “Adolescents are sexually active, so they need knowledge to protect themselves.”
Another teenager, Ts’episo Makoae, emphasised the need for more accessible information.
“Many of us do not know where to get information. If there were more workshops and talks, we could make better decisions about our health. We want to understand the risks and make safe choices, but we do not always know how to talk to our parents about these issues,” he said.
Health experts and community leaders note that International Condom Day presents an important opportunity to equip adolescents with accurate information and access to protective services.
Globally, the campaign is marked in dozens of countries through free condom distribution drives, educational outreach programmes and public awareness events.
International health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), recognise correct and consistent condom use as one of the most effective methods of preventing the sexual transmission of HIV and reducing the risk of other STIs.
WHO further stresses that expanding access to condoms and comprehensive sexual health education remains critical in reducing new infections worldwide.
Nearly two decades after its launch, International Condom Day continues to reinforce a central public health message echoed by experts globally — that prevention, education and open dialogue are essential in the fight against HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended adolescent pregnancies.
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