Prof Sathiyasusuman AppunniA University of the Western Cape (UWC) academic is leading a global effort to confront the twin crises of child marriage and teenage pregnancy - issues that continue to undermine the rights, health and future of millions of girls worldwide.
On 18 July 2025, Nelson Mandela International Day, over 67 countries will participate in a high-level online academic event led by Prof Sathiyasusuman Appunni, Deputy Head of the Department of Statistics and Population Studies at UWC. The gathering will bring together scholars, youth advocates, development experts and policymakers - including confirmed delegates from Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - to tackle practices that disproportionately affect girls in the Global South. The event follows the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s launch of Mandela Day 2025 under the theme, “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity.”
“Puberty at 12 or 13 doesn’t mean a girl is ready for marriage. She needs time to study, to dream, to grow. Parents, educators and policymakers must all play a role in making that possible. The decision belongs to her,” said Prof Appunni, a respected scholar in reproductive health and population studies, who advocates for voluntary birth spacing of at least three years.
“This is not just a South African problem. It is a global issue requiring shared knowledge, rigorous research and the political will to act. The academic community has a responsibility to lead with data, compassion, and purpose.”
At the Mandela Day event, Prof Appunni will present three priority focus areas for combating early marriage and teenage pregnancy.
Image: John-Paul Henry on Unsplash- First, he emphasises the role of education and access to contraception.
“Education is the strongest weapon we can use to delay marriage and prevent teenage pregnancy,” he said. Girls who remain in school are more likely to make informed choices, avoid early motherhood and break cycles of poverty. - Second, he underscores the importance of stronger healthcare systems and reproductive health awareness.
“Antenatal service providers need to go into communities, identify pregnant teens and offer support - from iron and folic acid supplements to clear, non-judgmental reproductive health guidance,” he explained. - Finally, the conference will call for shifts in cultural norms and more effective policy implementation. Prof Appunni argues that laws alone are not enough to combat child marriage.
“We cannot force anyone to delay marriage or childbirth. That would violate their reproductive rights. But we can educate them about their options. We can help communities understand the health risks and economic consequences of early motherhood.” He advocates for voluntary birth spacing of at least 36 months and supports delaying first pregnancies - measures proven to improve maternal and child health outcomes
Prof Appunni also drew attention to high fertility rates in countries such as Niger, Chad, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and the DRC, where the average exceeds six children per woman. He believes these nations can learn from South Africa’s integrated approach - combining education, healthcare and rights-based policies to reduce fertility and empower women.
Looking ahead to Mandela Day, Prof Appunni offered a clear message: “Mandela Day reminds us of justice, dignity and freedom. If we want to honour that legacy, we must ensure that girls are free to dream, free to choose and free to grow without being forced into adulthood before they are ready.”
In a recent article published in The Conversation, Professor Appunni underscored the scale of South Africa’s teenage pregnancy crisis, referencing Department of Health statistics that recorded over 150,000 births in 2022 among girls aged 10 to 19 - more than 1,000 of whom were under the age of 14. He framed early pregnancy as not only a public health issue but also a matter of human rights and socio-economic development. Despite some progress, he noted that South Africa continues to face critical data limitations, with much of the current analysis still based on outdated sources such as the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey and the 2021 population projections. To address these gaps, doctoral researchers in his department are currently engaged in collecting new primary data on child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
