Teenage pregnancy challenge a threat to maternal health

ZIMBABWE is facing a teenage pregnancy crisis, with a prevalence rate of 23, 7 percent, according to a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report. The report, which assessed adolescent pregnancies in Zimbabwe from 2019 to 2023, revealed that many factors contributed to this alarming situation, such as the ban of corporal punishment in schools, the lack of parental guidance on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the limited recreational opportunities for youth, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the social and religious norms.

Another factor that is emerging as a key driver of teenage pregnancy is the early exposure to pornographic and sexual content through uncontrolled use of cell phones.

The report also noted that half of the pregnancies were unintended and a quarter of them led to illegal and unsafe abortions, increasing the risk of complications and death during childbirth. In fact, one in four maternal deaths in Zimbabwe were among adolescents or young women, representing 25 percent of all maternal deaths in the country.

The report comes at a time when Zimbabwe has amended its Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which will see pedophiles serving up to 10 years in prison for having sex with minors or trafficking them to foreign countries for sex work. This is a welcome move to protect the rights and dignity of children and adolescents, especially girls, who are often vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation.

The report also provided some statistics on the magnitude and distribution of adolescent pregnancies in Zimbabwe. It said that from 2019 to 2022, an estimated 1 706 946 women of childbearing age (10 years and above) made antenatal bookings in 1 560 health care facilities. Of these, 21 percent were adolescents aged 10-19 years. A total of 1 532 maternal deaths were recorded, and of these, 25 percent were among adolescent and young women under 24 years. Of the estimated 50 957 pregnant women who tested positive for HIV, 0, 1 percent were among adolescents aged 10-14 years, 15 percent among the 15-19 years, 29 percent among the 20-24 years, 25 percent among the 25-29 years, 18 percent among the 30-34 years, 11 percent among the 35-39 years, and 3 percent among the 40 years and above age group.

The report stated that 2023 had the highest number of pregnant adolescent girls aged 10-14 years and that the adolescent pregnancy prevalence was 23, 7 percent. The prevalence of pregnancy varied significantly between the two age groups, with older adolescents (15-19 years old) being 71, 2 times more likely to be pregnant than very young adolescents (10–14-year-olds). There was also a significant difference in pregnancy prevalence between religions, with the Protestant 14, 5 percent, Pentecostal 15, 8 percent, Apostolic 31, 5 percent and other (African Tradition religion, Muslim, and no religion) 34, 5 percent. Compared to those who practiced Protestantism, adolescents who practiced other religions were 2, 79 times more likely to become pregnant, while those who practiced the Apostolic faith were 1, 98 times more likely, and those who practiced Pentecostalism were 1, 15 times more likely to become pregnant. The report also showed that the prevailing economic challenges, which led to poverty, unemployment, depletion of family savings, falling prices of agricultural produce and migration of parents, was a key driver of adolescent pregnancy.

Teenage pregnancies are life-threatening as they increase the risk of maternal mortality and lifelong disabilities that may result from labour. Reducing maternal mortality is one of the major Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the global health community. The aim of the SDG 3 is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio considerably by 2030. To achieve this goal, Zimbabwe needs to address the root causes and consequences of teenage pregnancy and ensure that adolescents have access to quality SRHR information and services.

“The upsurge in parental migration has undermined family structures leaving children alone or under the care of de facto caregivers thereby increasing children’s vulnerability to risky sexual behavior and sexual abuse,” said UNFPA.

“Lack of parental care and supervision because of parents or caregivers’ long working hours and prolonged absence from home has fueled adolescent pregnancies through consensual sex, transactional sex and sexual abuse.”

Another cited factor leading to teenage pregnancy was the economic decline which has resulted in the need for children to supplement their parents’ or care-giver’s income.