TEENAGE PREGNANCY

TEENAGE PREGNANCY 

by Adedoyin Shobo

"...And I recall listening to the conversation of a group of female students in the school I was posted to for the NYSC program...It became even more amusing when the girls in Junior Secondary School (JSS 2) were literally lambasting an SS 2 student for not having any kids while her 'mates' in the far junior classes were on their second or third child...and me, a corps member was still a virgin" Kemi Larsson said.

Recently, it was  reported that about 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 and one million girls under 15 give birth every year, mostly in low - and middle income countries. The statistics say Nations in sub-Saharan Africa were most affected according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Well! I'd say first that the issue of teenage pregnancy especially if you hailed from certain regions in Nigeria might give some mothers a good hard laugh. These mothers may say 'Wetin! nothing special for there, na wa tradition.'
As a matter of fact, it is viewed as a rite of passage in certain cultures for girls to become pregnant before their eighteenth year birthday in many parts of  Southern Nigeria and for diverse reasons.
In Northern Nigerian, religion and socio-cultural values are among the fundamental reasons for child marriages and teenage pregnancy.
Did you know that there is well-accepted claim that in many cultures, teenage girls face intense social pressure to marry - and once married - have children. A study revealed that more than 30 % of girls in developing and underdeveloped nations marry before they are 18; and around 14 % before that are 15.
Sadly, the situation is worsen by the fact that sex education is terribly lacking in many of these countries. and so invariably, teenagers often feel too inhibited to seek contraception services.
It is also important to highlight here that in many of these low / middle income countries, girls may culturally be unable to refuse unwanted sex or resist coerced sex - which often tends to be unprotected.
A WHO report bespeaks of the fact that adolescent pregnancy is more likely in countries like Nigeria where a vast  majority of the population that inhabit its communities are poor and uneducated. In addition to other social vices that comes with the economic poverty of a nation, teenage pregnancy is gradually peaking as a serious public health concern. #You heard
In sub-Saharan Africa, the issue of mother and child mortality still remains a high-crisis issue, let alone having a child birth a smaller child. It's indeed an ill wind that blows no good.
The delicate nature of pregnancy usually warrants a well-planned health care programme both during the gestational period (pre-natal) and after the baby is deliver (post-natal).  This is not often the case with many countries in sub-Sahara Africa notably my dear Nigeria. No one should be puzzled now, when Bill Gates aptly emphasized that #Nigeria is the most dangerous place to be born in.
Often, many teens don't get quite prepared enough for pregnancy. They rarely are in any pre-natal programme, which further puts them to a myriad of health risks (not limited to) including pregnancy-related high blood pressure, premature birth, low birth weight.

"Low education and low income levels of a teen's family are amongst the major contributory elements to teenage pregnancies" - Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report.


Why is teenage pregnancy such a huge concern?
The WHO reported that complications arising pregnancy and child birth are the second cause of death for 15 to 19 year old girls worldwide.
Teen pregnancy and child bearing brings substantial social and economic burden through immediate and long term impacts on the teen's parents and their own children.
From a Public health perspective, this is an overwhelming health burden. Abortion still remains a major concern globally. Some 3 million unsafe abortions among girls aged 15 - 19 take place every year, contributing to maternal death and lasting health problems. In Nigeria (like many low / middle income countries), the numbers show babies born to mothers under 20 years of age are at 50 % increased risk of being 'still' born or die in the first few weeks compared to babies born  to mothers aged 20 - 29. In other words, the younger the mother, the greater the risk to the baby.

In addition,similar studies point out several economic and social consequences of teenage pregnancy such as increased health care and foster care; increased incarceration rates among the children of teen parents.
There's also the issue of lost tax revenue as a result of the lower educational attainment and income among teenage mothers. #Ain't that right?
Lastly, teenage pregnancy remains one of major contributors to the increasing rate of school drop-out among girls world wide. It isn't really had to imagine that the children of the teen mums are more likely to have  more health complications, give birth as a teenager and face unemployment as a young adult.

What can be done?
Ok! lots of work have been funneled into the issue of discourse and related issues- namely child mortality.
The WHO with other corporate bodies like UNAID, UNFDA, UNICEF gazetted some recommendations in a bid to attain the millennium development goals (MDG) of reducing child mortality (#MDG-4) and improving maternal health (#MDG-5) . Their strategic approach is directed at:
①reducing marriage before the age of 18
②creating understanding and support to reduce pregnancy before the age of 20;
③increasing the use of contraception by adolescents at risk of unintended pregnancy;
④reducing coerced sex among adolescents;
⑤increasing use of skilled pre-natal, childbirth and post-natal care among adolescent.

Lastly, for pregnant teenage, here are some tips to help you and your baby (as recommended by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
-get regular pre-natal care
-take your prenatal vitamins for your health and to prevent birth defects.
-avoid smoking, drugs and alcohol
-using a condom if you are having sex to prevent sexually transmitted diseases that could hurt your baby.

PEACE and LOVE!!!