Poverty, Educational Attainment, and Livelihoods: How Well Do Young People Fare in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa?

Societal transformations in South Africa and elsewhere have contributed to lengthening the period between puberty and marriage, particularly for girls, and have led to greater opportunities for youth to extend their education and skills development. But they have also increased adolescents’ exposure to sexual activity, with its attendant health and social consequences, including unwanted pregnancy and HIV infection. What happens during the adolescent years sets the boundaries for what is possible later in life.