TEENAGE PREGNANCY

TEENAGE PREGNANCY  

It is sad that teenage pregnancy is common in a country with many traditions and religious beliefs. According to the 2013 Demographic and Health Survey, approximately "23 percent of women aged 15-19 have been childbearing." As of 2017, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said that 22.5 percent of pregnancies in the country are by teenagers.

Growing up, most teenagers learned about sex education from friends or books. Although Nigeria is a closeted country, one cannot deny the people are now discussing sexual issues. However, there are still a lot of teenagers who have no idea what to do once puberty starts.

WHY IS TEENAGE PREGNANCY AN ISSUE?

The consequences of teenage pregnancy are life-changing. Even if the girl is married, it does not change the fact that her young body cannot cope with the stress that comes with pregnancy and labor. There are a lot of risks attached to teenage pregnancies.   

Pregnant teenagers usually drop out of school because the system cannot meet their needs. Nigeria is a religious country where parents do not want to have a bad reputation, so the child might be forced to get married or sent away. Also, single parenting happens when the child's father does not accept the child. There is no opportunity to go back to school because she has to fend for her child and herself.    

If the girl is not married, she might be forced to consider abortion since she does not want to disappoint her family or get ostracized by society. Abortion is illegal in Nigeria, so she might resort to the use of dangerous herbal tonics. Illegal abortions utilize unsafe medical practices, which usually leads to medical complications.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

We can start by showing love to pregnant teenagers. Some of them have made the wrong decisions, and the result was pregnancy, but some have been forced to get married at a very young age. Everyone has a story, so do not condemn people without giving them a chance. The fear of what society would do has pushed a lot of pregnant teenagers to have abortions.

Also, we can start giving sex education to teenagers. Catch them young and show them the way. If not, they might get the wrong information. Schools should include sex education in the curriculum, and parents should also take time to talk to their children about sexual health. Teach them to "Say No to Teen Pregnancy."

Remember, everyone has a story, and these are my views.

Further Information

Please use the hashtag #nototeenagepregnancy to share your story or your views.