Print this page

Kasungu Health Officials Concerned With Increased Teen Pregnacies

Teen pregnancies: On rise in most parts of Malawi Teen pregnancies: On rise in most parts of Malawi File Photo

In Kasungu district, health officials are also worried with increased cases of teenage pregnancies.

Coordinator for the Youth Friendly Health Services in Kasungu, Chris Mwambene, says about 16 percent of all pregnancies at the facility are teenage girls.

Mwambene observes that this is putting lives of the girls at risk as a majority of them opt for unsafe abortion in the end.

"Most of the these are aged 13 to 19. This is school going age. As a result they come to the hospital for post-abortion care after procuring unsafe abortion."

Executive Director of the Centre for Youth and Children Affairs, Desmond Mhango, says the trend is worrisome given that it means young girls staying out if school too.

“Young people must refrain from sexual relationships to avoid contracting sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. If they can’t abstain then they must know their sexual and reproductive health rights to demand contraceptives,” he said.

In his remarks, District Youth Officer, James Mathiya, observed that young people continue to face challenges due to resource constraints.

He said “some of the youth engage in risky behaviors due to knowledge gap on their rights”.

Mathiya hailed CEYCA for establishing youth clubs in the area where young people share information on their sexual and reproductive health rights, among other things.

On the day, young people put up a variety of performances that included, drama,  poetry and choirs, showcasing skills learnt in youth clubs.

 

Read 1910 times

Last modified on Monday, 20/01/2020

Login to post comments