Young South Africans are avoiding clinics over privacy fears and judgement, IOL finds

According to IOL, growing privacy concerns and perceived judgement are driving many young South Africans away from public healthcare clinics and toward private pharmacies and online platforms for health advice and services.

Why young people are avoiding clinics

IOL reports that young people cite long queues, perceived mistreatment and a lack of youth-friendly services as primary reasons for avoiding clinic visits. Many described anxiety about having sensitive health concerns become public, fearing that clinic staff or other patients will violate their privacy.

Privacy and judgement

First-hand accounts collected by IOL describe experiences of feeling judged or exposed. Chloe Mageba said a nurse accused her of being too young for a contraceptive injection and left her feeling “deeply embarrassed.” Mageba told IOL:

“I now visit Clicks for my depo shot; it is straightforward and far less judgemental.”

Other interviewees described gossip and community exposure after clinic visits. Sizakele Zungu recalled that encountering familiar faces at a clinic led to being talked about at church:

“Going to the clinic means everyone knows your business before you get home. The receptionist is your classmate’s mom, and the nurse goes to your church. If I go in for an STI test or mental health stuff, it’s not private. The judgment is not just from the doctor; it’s from the whole community finding out,”

she told IOL.

Turning to pharmacies and online communities

IOL says surveys and research show an increase in young people relying on private pharmacies and online sources for health information. Mbali Zulu described a pattern of checking Reddit or TikTok before seeking formal care:

“When I have a weird symptom, I go to Reddit or TikTok first. Not because I think influencers have medical degrees, but because I can find a community of hundreds of people saying, ‘Hey, I had that exact same thing, here is what it was’. Nobody is judging me”

Health risks and expert warnings

Experts cited by IOL warn that this shift could lead to more untreated conditions and delayed diagnoses if young people continue to avoid clinical care. IOL attributes these warnings to experts who emphasise the potential public-health consequences of declining clinic use among youth.

Responses from health officials and local pilots

According to IOL, the Health Department and clinic officials acknowledge the challenges identified by young people and say improvements are being planned. In Johannesburg, IOL reports that young people in areas such as Soweto, Alexandra and central clinics have described similar problems, and that community health NGOs are piloting youth outreach programmes.

Calls for a different approach

Representatives quoted in the IOL report urge changes to the way services are delivered. Luvuyo Maloka of Unu Health told IOL that young people’s reluctance is driven by judgement and privacy concerns and that the system must change to rebuild trust. Maloka said:

“We need to create an environment where young people feel in control of their healthcare journey. That starts with removing the barriers that make them hesitant to seek help in the first place.”

Sinovuyo Lwandle and other interviewees told IOL they want collaborative, respectful care rather than a patronising, expert-driven approach. IOL’s reporting suggests that addressing these service and privacy concerns is central to re-engaging younger patients with public clinics.