Teenage Pregnancy; It Takes a Village

By Carol Tuimur

As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child this year, we should not forget that teenage pregnancy is a leading cause of death to thousands of girls in Kenya every year. A 10-year old’s body is not ready for the rigors of childbirth, being that it is already a traumatic experience for the body of an adult female.

Other than just the physical danger of childbirth for a child, there is also the derailing of a young girl’s life. The truth is that most of these young girls have a dreary future ahead of them. Society is incredibly unforgiving when it comes to teenage pregnancy, with girls being kicked out of home and school for falling pregnant, leading to a vicious cycle of poverty.

Though there has been some progress because of the prominence of the issues in the media, there is still a lot to be desired. When we look at the statistics and focus on teenage mothers, the reality is jarring. Of girls aged 10-19 in Kenya, one in five is either pregnant or already a mother, with Narok, Homa Bay, West Pokot, Nyamira and Tana River recording the highest rates of teenage pregnancy.

“It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the environment that we all live in”

Dalai Lama.

“It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the environment that we all live in” – Dalai Lama. The only way we can effect change is when we all consider it a collective responsibility. This means that we all acknowledge that we all have a role to play in changing the system for there to be a better and brighter future for our children.

Young adolescents tend to have an active and curious imagination. The internet being their preferred information hub, they may get misleading data. Sex education and empowering children from a tender age of 5 years old is necessary as it educates the children and enables them to be self-aware. Children can be taught how to be self-aware through; being a role model, empathizing with your child, accepting and recognizing your child’s emotions and letting your child communicate freely. Our society downplays and undermines the value of sex education and this has proved to be one of the leading contributors to teenage pregnancy. This is because, some children genuinely have no idea what is happening to them because nobody talks about it. It is therefore important for them to be empowered so they can be aware of and exercise their rights when it comes to sex. Parents and guardians need to create time to talk to their children or get someone to talk to them about sex issues and the consequences of early sex and pregnancy, and advise them appropriately. Teachers need to teach young boys and girls on the dangers and consequences of underage sex.

It is unfair that the society has been known to bash, stigmatize and at times, consider outcasts pregnant teenagers. This has led them to considering ‘other’ life-threatening options. We have heard of children who seek backdoor abortions, simply because they fear the presumed harsh judgments. It is not enough that health workers should provide accurate information to the public regarding adolescent sexual reproductive services to adolescents, but they should ensure they understand they have the right to access to the required health services. Community opinion leaders must also sensitize community members about teenage pregnancy and challenge negative norms such as FGM that promotes child marriages and adolescent pregnancies.

The Media should monitor, track and highlight the impact of adolescent pregnancy and amplify voices of stakeholders demanding an end to teenage pregnancy. National and County Governments must ensure all ministries work together, to create, fund and implement a plan to addressing teenage pregnancy and that there is full implementation and reinforcing of the existing policies such as the Sexual Offences Act, Children’s Act, Adolescent sexual reproductive health policy.

Light punishment for sex offenders and a permissive society can be considered as the key reasons to why teenage pregnancy is becoming a phenomenon. Law enforcement agencies and the judiciary must ensure that perpetrators who have sex with underage girls are dealt with the full force of law.

As a society, it is a big failure on our part that this is happening. We cannot bury our heads in the sand and continue to fail our young generation. As we press for progress let us all play our role, in making sure our girls survive, thrive and reach their full potential.

“History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children” – Nelson Mandela.