Youth taught on dangers of teenage pregnancies

Participants of a three-day workshop organised by the Forum for African Women Educationists.[Collins Kweyu, Standard] Youths in the informal sector have been sensitised to the dangers of early pregnancies among teenagers. The youths from Kajiado, Narok and Nairobi counties were hosted for a three-day workshop organised by the Forum for African Women Educationists, Kenya chapter (FAWEK) and Mastercard Foundation. According to FAWEK coordinator for Narok, Nelly Naserian, an awareness campaign dubbed 'Imarisha Msichana Project' aims to significantly reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy in Kenya. The campaign began during Covid-19 period after it became apparent that teenage pregnancies had significantly shot up due to lockdowns that restricted movements across the country. Naserian said through their research they discovered that some of the perpetrators of teen pregnancies are young men in the informal sector, especially boda boda operators. "We discovered that some girls including school-going were even being defiled and those above 18 years old raped majorly in slum areas in our cities, towns and pastoral areas. The young men who are active need to be sensitized and educated to know that the act is wrong and should treat the young ladies as their sisters," noted Naserian. The 2022 Kenya Demographics Health Survey revealed that teenage pregnancy of girls between ages 15 and 19 years old was 28 per cent in Narok, 22 per cent in Kajiado and 18 per cent in Nairobi. During the workshop, the youths were also educated on the dangers of drug abuse which leads to uncontrolled sex and defilement of young girls, contributing not only to teenage pregnancies but spread of venereal diseases. Poverty was also identified as another factor fueling teenage pregnancies in urban areas where youths who earn a living use that opportunity to lure young girls into acts of sexual intercourse by buying them commodities like sanitary pads in exchange for sexual favours. Samuel Nganga Waranga, chairman of boda operators in Nairobi said he has initiated talks among his members over their role in curbing the pregnancies. "In the talks, we encourage our fellow operators when carrying a young girl to be sure where they are taking them to and if the girl may be lying, I encourage my members to ensure they try to get the girl's parents mobile numbers so that they can inform them," said Nganga. He admitted that boda boda operators may have contributed to the vice unknowingly by ferrying the girls to places where they are lured into sex. "We encourage our members to be on the alert when ferrying girls," said Nganga. Endoosupukia chief Danse Reson in Narok said they ensure the pregnant girls resume classes after delivery. "We ensure that we look for them and return them to school, some of them having been forced into early marriages," said Reson.

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