Question NW2950 to the Minister of Health

Reply:

(a) Measures taken and directives issued to hospitals and clinics in protecting and/or highlighting sexual crimes (child pregnancies) in KwaZulu-Natal and throughout the Republic and,

• Maternity Care Guidelines (2023) stipulate that:

• • During the Ante Natal Care visit, every pregnant woman irrespective of age must be screened for possible intimate partner violence.
  • Every pregnant woman must be screened for mental health problems and
  • It is mandatory that health care providers report any cases of every pregnant woman below the age of 18 that point adverse incidents to social services for further management.
• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis guidelines (2017) stipulate that health care professionals must:

• • follow algorithm of managing women exposed to sexual assault or rape cases which includes ensuring privacy and confidentiality, proper history taking, examination, counselling, medical management, and completion of J88.
  • report (mandatory) through completion of specific form (Form 22 attached as annexure of the Children’s Act) in cases of children, persons with disabilities and the elderly.
  • Refer the affected person (10-14 year old) to the nearest Thuthuzela Centre (TTC) for management of sexual abuse in conjunction with forensic nurses, and other government agencies.

• Termination of pregnancy guidelines(2017) stipulates that:

• • Every pregnant woman has the right to request termination of pregnancy irrespective of age of the woman.

(b) Role of the Department of Health in highlighting the dangers of child pregnancies emanating from sexual abuse being categorized as ordinary teen pregnancies

• Conducts quarterly capacity building workshop for Health Care Workers on mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect including the completion of a specific form (Form 22, as an annexure to Children’s Act No.38 of 2005) through the support of Department of Social Development who are the custodians of the Children’s Act No.38 of 2005. Over 800 Health Care Workers (HCW) are reached in one session, and four (4) sessions are held in a year since 2020 at the national level.

• Awareness campaigns are held for the children in schools and clinics on the scourge including availability of comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services in the health care facilities. The department make use of the Online platforms such as B-Wise. Safe space for adolescents in health care facilities (Youth Zones) have been created to strengthen awareness about the dangers of teenage pregnancies. Awareness campaigns are augmented by provision of SRH services during outreach to avoid missed opportunity to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

END.