Teenage pregnancy: A silent menace in Nigeria

TEENAGE pregnancy in Nigeria has been on an alarming increase in recent times. It has become a menace that plagues the lives of young girls in this century. It is defined as an unintended pregnancy in female humans who are between the ages of 15–19 years; it can occur in ages as low as 12 years. As of 2013, statistics by the National Population Commission showed that about 23 per cent of adolescent women aged 15-19 years were already mothers or pregnant with their first child. Researches have also shown that the prevalence of this menace is highest in the North-West zone (36 per cent) and lowest in the South-East and South-West zones (8 per cent each) of the country. About 80 per cent of these pregnant teenagers were totally unprepared for this situation in which they ignorantly or innocently found themselves. Teenage pregnancy carries a social stigma in many communities and cultures.

A lot of researches have attributed the increase in teenage pregnancy in Nigeria to a number of factors. They include absence of parental care and guidance, peer pressure, ignorance on the part of the teenager on sex related issues; financial hardship, low level of education, cultural and religious beliefs, sexual assault and many more. It is commonly believed that all adolescent pregnancies happen by chance. However, this is not usually true. A few young people effectively plan to end up pregnant by not utilizing contraception, believing that pregnancy is a genuine strength in some dicey situations. In other situations, a few parents or guardians give their teenagers out in marriage on the grounds that they do not have the fortitude to provide food and educate them.

The implications of teenage pregnancy are quite grave both for mother and child. The after-effect of these consequences tell a great deal on the economy and society at large; they often are not immediately felt or seen but in the long run, they tell. Teen mothers suffer more from these implications. At the forefront of these consequences is unsafe abortion. Abortion is illegal in Nigeria; it is permitted only in exceptional cases where it is performed to save a woman’s life. Unsafe abortion is one of the major reasons the maternal mortality rate (1500 women per 100,000 births) of the country is on the high side. According to the WHO, 14 per cent of all unsafe abortions in developing countries are among women under 20 years of age.

Obstetric complications can also occur in teen mothers due to their body not being fully developed physically to sustain a healthy pregnancy or to give birth. These obstetric complications can result in mortality of either the mother/child or both. Contributing to these difficulties is their unwillingness to use antenatal and other health care facilities that would be beneficial to them due to stigmatization. Again, poor dietary patterns (skipping meals, eating junk foods) is a norm in adolescent ladies. This unhealthy habit puts them at a higher risk of malnutrition which is further compounded by pregnancy. A malnourished pregnant teenager has limited reservoir of nutrients from which the foetus can take its supply. She also has a higher danger of postnatal depression than matured women. This is undoubtedly because of various elements including an absence of support from companions as well as family, budgetary weights and societal pressures.

Amongst the most troubling consequences for adolescent moms is not finishing their education. They get to be drop outs and represent a high risk factor to the country’s economic development. This absence of training can bring about unemployment or occupation choices that are poorly paid and uncertain. A low wage implies poor living conditions and not being able to manage the cost of satisfactory human services or even fundamental necessities.

Shockingly, in this 21st century, there is still a stigma that is perceived from the public that brings a cloud of shame towards a teenage mother. This shame can influence the way a young mother feels about her child nurturing abilities and her failure as a person; such negative outlook lowers their self-esteem.  For the babies born to teenage mothers, they are usually pre-term and of low birth weight. They have an increased risk of being stillborn or dying within the first few weeks of birth. Those that survive are more likely to suffer from poor nutrition, childhood illnesses, poor cognitive and educational attainment, emotional and behavioural problems, and become teenage parents themselves.

Preventing teenage pregnancy ought to be the collective effort of all stakeholders, including individuals, parents, communities, the media and government. Quite a number of researches have shown that age-appropriate sex education and access to modern contraception are indispensable in averting teenage pregnancies. Adolescents who were initiated into early sex practices, are usually uninformed, naïve and misinformed about sexual practices, their reproductive health, myths and contraception. As proof of the hazards associated with teenage pregnancy, it is clear in many cases that much more extensive approaches than sex education and access to modern contraceptives are required to avoid teenage pregnancies. Security from abuse, family support, conducive environment, enhanced school care, building self-esteem, well equipped youth friendly centers and counselling are altogether required.

For teenagers who unfortunately get pregnant, appropriate counselling, affordable and adequate health care services, and alternative methods of education should be made available for them. All hands must be on deck to ensure that our teenage girls transit properly without any hazard.

• Akinbola writes in from Ilorin, Kwara State