The Gauteng Department of Health is concerned about an increasing number of abandoned babies in hospitals after birth.
Provincial Health spokesperson Kwara Kekana said there are 118 babies abandoned in different hospitals so far this year only.
“According to the hospitals, some of the reasons for abandonment of babies are teenage mothers being fearful of their parents. Another reasons are unwanted and unplanned pregnancy, lack of immediate basic supplies of clothes and toiletries for the new born upon discharge. Other mentioned reasons are lack of emotional, financial and social support from the father and undocumented migrant mothers”, she said.
Kekana told Gauteng News hospitals with a high rate of abandoned babies so far are Carletonville (19), Leratong (19), Far East Rand (13), Tembisa (10) and Chris Hani Baragwanath (10).
“Abandoned babies spend a week, month or longer at the hospital depending on the medical condition of the baby. This also applies with time frame for the hospital social workers to facilitate pre-statutory process for the transfer of the baby. Abandoned babies are accredited to child protection organisation in terms of the Children’s Act. No. 38 of 2005”, she said.
According to Kekana, in order to reduce a number of abandoned babies, hospital social workers conduct educational awareness programme. Pregnant mothers are educated about care options such as adoption, temporal care and foster care.
“Through networking with child protection organisations, hospital social workers are able to provide mothers at risk for abandonment with basic care material support for both mother and child. They provide the mother with some immediate means to care for herself and the baby, until she can make a sound decision. When a mother agrees to take care of the child upon discharge, she is referred to a child protection organisation for further support and care options”, said Kekana.
She expressed that there is an improved identification of expected and new mothers at risk for abandonment. Nurses refer them to hospital social workers for psycho-education, counseling and other care options.
