OVER 7,500 GIRLS AGED 10–19 YEARS FELL PREGNANT IN 2023.

Article By: Diana Motsu

Teenage pregnancy remains a pressing issue in Botswana, with over 7,500 girls aged 10 to 19 falling pregnant in 2023.

Speaking at the G20 Parliamentary Conference on Women’s Health in Cape Town, South Africa, Speaker of the National Assembly Dithapelo Keorapetse described the trend as alarming, despite strides made by government to improve sexual and reproductive health services.

Keorapetse pointed out that adolescent pregnancies are fuelled by a range of factors, including inadequate access to comprehensive sexuality education, peer pressure, poverty, transactional relationships, and poor communication between parents and their children.

The conference was held under the theme Unleashing the G20’s Full Potential- The Economic Benefits of Investing in Women’s Health.