Adolescence can be an exciting time, filled with new challenges and adventures for teenagers and their parents, but it can be an overwhelming time too.
In an effort to help provide support and raise awareness the Western Cape Health Department shares some useful information for young people. Part 1 was published in the previous issue of Weskus Nuus (25 July 2023).
Adolescence is the phase of life between childhood and adulthood (aged 13 to 19), when teenagers face specific challenges that can affect their development. There are three main categories of challenges: mental, behavioural and physical.
This is part two which covers:
Behavourial health support (substances, unwanted pregnancy, contraceptives, STI)
Adolescents may face many health and social challenges that put them at a higher risk of unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion and sexually transmitted infections and substance abuse.
The health-care facilities offer support to adolescents and families in a way that does not make either feel unwelcome and embarrassed. Health-care workers also keep the reason for one’s visit confidential.
Adolescent and youth-friendly services have been launched across the province to reduce the impact of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
While youth can attend any clinic during operational hours to access health care, many facilities in the province have dedicated programmes and staff to support teenagers after school from 14:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday, to ensure their schooling is not disrupted.
Some clinics offer these dedicated services from 07:00. This means one can skip the queue and visit the youth-friendly health-care team to access family planning services such as the morning-after pill, contraceptives and condoms, STI testing and counselling, guidance on termination of pregnancy and substance-abuse support and referrals.
The department is adopting a whole-of-government and -society approach to equip adolescents with education, support, services and opportunities to plan futures and help reach their goals.
