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SA 's birth rate falls
by Cathy Thompson
2001-07-27

While South Africa's fertility level has dropped significantly to 2,9 children per woman - a figure unprecedented in Africa - a major NGO, the Women's Health Project has warned that the causes of the decline are not positive. The drop was due to poverty, racial and gender inequality and the fragmentation of society. Women are bearing the brunt of the AIDS epidemic - with many having to shoulder the burden of responsibility in conditions of grinding poverty and single parenthood, with few support systems. Millions of South African women continue to suffer the consequences of other social ills, like an incredibly high rate of teenage pregnancy, vulnerability to HIV infection due to their male partners' insistence on unprotected sex and a tendency in South African communities to consider care-giving and child-rearing solely their responsibility. One way to reverse these trends, which continue to undermine the health and welfare of women and their communities at large, is by putting social justice for women on the national agenda. This is according to Barbara Klugman of the Womens' Health Project, who said there was a lack of public leadership on matters of womens' rights. In terms of the AIDS crisis, caring is not considered men's responsibility, while, if it is shared it would help the broader problem - which is an inadequate social and national response to the epidemic. She was responding to information in a report on the State of South Africa's Population (2000). It calls for empowerment programmes for teenagers and vulnerable rural women so that they can take control of their reproductive behaviour. The report states that there is a high unmet need for contraception; a lack of male responsibility for child-rearing and that women - as single parents or as widowed heads-of-households are taking responsibility for the care of family members and children affected by HIV/AIDS. (Source: The Citizen, 25 July 2001)

While South Africa's fertility level has dropped significantly to 2,9 children per woman - a figure unprecedented in Africa - a major NGO, the Women's Health Project has warned that the causes of the decline are not positive.

The drop was due to poverty, racial and gender inequality and the fragmentation of society.

Women are bearing the brunt of the AIDS epidemic - with many having to shoulder the burden of responsibility in conditions of grinding poverty and single parenthood, with few support systems.

Millions of South African women continue to suffer the consequences of other social ills, like an incredibly high rate of teenage pregnancy, vulnerability to HIV infection due to their male partners' insistence on unprotected sex and a tendency in South African communities to consider care-giving and child-rearing solely their responsibility.

One way to reverse these trends, which continue to undermine the health and welfare of women and their communities at large, is by putting social justice for women on the national agenda.

This is according to Barbara Klugman of the Womens' Health Project, who said there was a lack of public leadership on matters of womens' rights.

In terms of the AIDS crisis, caring is not considered men's responsibility, while, if it is shared it would help the broader problem - which is an inadequate social and national response to the epidemic.

Ms Klugman said teenagers knew all about AIDS and the use of condoms, but sex education should take place in the context of abusive relationships, peer pressure and sexual harassment by teachers.

She was responding to information in a report on the State of South Africa's Population (2000).

It calls for empowerment programmes for teenagers and vulnerable rural women so that they can take control of their reproductive behaviour.

The report states that there is a high unmet need for contraception; a lack of male responsibility for child-rearing and that women - as single parents or as widowed heads-of-households are taking responsibility for the care of family members and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Source: The Citizen, 25 July 2001

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