SPIKE IN TEENAGE PREGNANCIES

H-Metro Reporter

ABOUT 350 000 teenage pregnancies were recorded in Zimbabwe between 2019 and 2022.

There was a steep increase in pregnancies among girls and teenagers during that period.

This was reported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA).

In 2021 alone, about 5 000 students were impregnated in the first two months of the year.

In 2020, around 4 770 students were forced to leave school due to pregnancy.

In 2018, about 3 000 girls dropped out of school because of pregnancy, and the figure remained steady in 2019.

The youngest mother to ever fall pregnant in Zimbabwe was an eight-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped by two 17-year-old boys.

Despite recent laws that outlaw sex with minors below 18, the high number of teenage pregnancies continues in the country.

The UNFPA believes that strengthening the delivery of sexuality education in schools is key to reducing cases of sexual exploitation of minors.

UNPFA adolescent sexual health reproductive specialist in Zimbabwe, Blessing Nyagumbo, said there were about 1.7 million pregnancies recorded in Zimbabwe between 2019 and 2021.

Of those, 21 percent were adolescents between 10 and 19 years.

“That tells you how devastating the rate of teenage pregnancies in Zimbabwe is,” said Nyagumbo.

He said sexual reproductive health education in schools had been identified as key in raising awareness to subsequently reduce cases of sexual exploitation of minors.