efforts that support girl’s rights and prevent child marriage and its consequences. In a speech read by Dr. Benjamin Alli-UNFPA Kenya representative, he said that the adolescents and youth need to be provided with the age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education to develop the knowledge and skills they need to protect their health throughout their lives. “We acknowledge Government efforts through the National council for Population and development and the ministry of Health in developing policies that ensure that adolescent and youth reproductive issues are addressed in multi-sectoral way”, Dr Osotimehin said. Teenage pregnancy has been a major drawback in most parts of the country as the girls either succumb to rape or forced sexual activities at a tender age. This leads to early pregnancies and the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. Kenya’s teen population according to the 2009 population and Housing census constitute about a quarter of the total population.
The findings of the 2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) indicate that about 18 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 years had already began childbearing. According to the survey the problem of adolescent pregnancy among females aged 15-19 years is most predominant in Nyanza and coast regions with incidences of teenage births estimated at 27 and 26 percent respectively. Central region recorded the lowest teenage births estimated at 10 percent. In first world nations like USA, the situation is far much different from what happens in most of the third world nations. According to a new study from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, although the U.S. still has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the developed world, teen birth rates have plunged to record lows as adolescents have begun to use more effective forms of birth control when they become sexually active. The Catholic Church in Kenya however reiterates its stand on contraceptives and encourages the young people to practice chastity and to avoid sex before marriage.
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THE SEED - VOL 25, No. 8 AUGUST 2013