09 Jul 2018

With teenage pregnancy statistics said to be skyrocketing in the Ngamiland region, different stakeholders that deal with youth matters recently hosted a campaign dubbed ‘stop teenage pregnancy’ in Maun.

Speaking at the event, a Family Physician from the District Health Management Team (DHMT), Dr Sandra Maripe said the whole district, not only Maun, was challenged by teenage pregnancies with about 323 recorded in Maun from April 2017 to July 2018.

She said Thito clinic, which hosted the event, was one of the hardest hit by high numbers of registered teenaged pregnancies.

Dr Maripe said the statistics showed Sedie ward with 48 cases, Maun clinic with 48 cases, Boseja with 47 and Thito clinic with 45 pregnancies.

She pointed out that many factors, such as culture, were responsible for some teenage pregnancies cases, advising parents to stop shying away from sharing information on sexual matters with their children, who end up getting wrong information from friends and media.

“Improve parent/child communication, it has been proven that there are great results when children are taught about body changes and sexual matters by their parents,” she said.

She said some cultures, which still allowed child marriages, were a concern in the Ngamiland district.

Dr Maripe encouraged the children to also take responsibility and utilise facilities that have youth friendly services such as the clinic at Matshwane and organisations like Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA).

The Matshwane Clinic, she said catered for customers from 10 years to 24 years, adding that even those who have succumbed to teenage pregnancy are catered for.

In an interview, the overall organiser of #StopTeenagePregnancy, Ms Vehae Tjiriange of Queen Esther said teenage pregnancy has been a concern to the Ngamiland District, with statistics showing teenage expectant mothers at 12.5 per cent.

Ms Tjiriange said as such, teenage pregnancy became a priority issue at the Evidence Based Planning meetings, which focus on HIV in the district.

She therefore said organisations that deal with youth matters decided to come up with interventions to address the issue. 

The organisations were Queen Esther, Women Against Rape (WAR), BOFWA, Love Botswana, DHMT and District AIDS Coordinator.

Ms Tjiriange said the #StopTeenagePregnancy was a statement with the aim to sensitise the public and the young people (pupils and students) who are affected.

The event was attended by students’ representatives from all the secondary schools in Maun and some of the primary schools.

She said their target was to reach out to all pupils and students, which was however unsuccessful due to some limitations.

However, she said the organisations will continue with sensitisation to the public and students even in their individual capacities.

 Ms Tjiriange said her brain child, Queen Esther pageant, which promotes abstinence, would this year go with the theme, ‘stop teenage pregnancy’. ENDS