Protect the Girl Child: Reduce Teenage Pregnancy


In our culture , talking about sex with our parents is taboo. Blessed are the generations that has uncles and aunts who would give them advice about sex. 


However times have changed and most of us are nolonger in touch with our extended families and this has many consequences on our social and cultural lives. One such consequence is teenage pregnancy that has become rampant both in rural and urban areas.


Children are now being raised by the media and internet whilst parents are busy trying to make ends meet to put food on the table. As a result children are experimenting a lot and it's sad that some of these experiments result in teenage pregnancies that in turn threaten the life of the girl child.


Teenage pregnancies were also exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic where most adolescents were lying idle giving them ample time to indulge in sexual activities. Other factors that led to the steep increase of adolescent pregnancy during the COVID 19 induced lockdown include poverty and poor accessibility of contraceptives.


This has resulted in the future of many young girls being at stake. Instead of realising their future and pursing their education most of them end up dropping out of school to take care of their newly borns.


 Although the government has enacted a policy that enables impregnated girls to continue with their education stigma against these girls is rife and this makes it complicated for some of them to continue with education.


There is need for combined effort towards reducing teenage pregnancy to ensure that young girls realise their dreams. Parents and guardians have to stand shoulder to shoulder with this enemy called teenage pregnancy that is robbing our girls of their future.

Sexual education programs for adolescents have to be introduced in schools where they are taught about the importance of abstinence and the dangers of early debut in sexual activities. This should also encompass contraceptive programs for those who would have been victims of abuse or early child marriages.


We are living in a global world where most young people are spending most of their time on social media, adopting foreign cultures that might jeopardize their future. Parents have to go an extra mile in monitoring what their children are reading, watching and browsing on the internet.


It is high time that we shun away from religious and cultural activities that promote early marriages. The girl child should be free to make decisions about her life and this includes her body. Forcing young girls into early marriages leads to teenage pregnancies which if not handled well will unfortunately result in a rise in martenal deaths because the body will not be ready to give birth.


 They say it takes a village to raise a child hence let us all protect and support the girl child by trying our level best to reduce teenage pregnancies in our communities and giving support to adolescents who would have fallen pregnant. They need to be empowered to continue with their education or with programs that enable them to take care of their families.


To all the young women who fell pregnant, do not despair it is not the end of the world. Continue pursuing your dreams because the Future is Female!


Feministry!

Comments

  1. ye'Sai Word!!!May 18, 2022 at 2:36 AM

    It's mandatory for the society to protect the girlchild. Everyone has a mother,sister,wife or daughter therefore protecting a woman is self protection as well.

    ReplyDelete

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