Approximately one-fourth of Namibia’s girls will become pregnant before the age of 20. In fact, 160 800 teenage pregnancies have been recorded in Namibia between 2010-2022.
Some years, the teenage pregnancy rate exceeds the rate at which students progress to tertiary schooling.
For instance, in 2018, the number of teenage pregnancies was 56 300. In contrast, the number Grade 12 students who were able to go to university was 37 480.
Ohangwena and Kavango East in the northern regions of the country, Omusati, Omusati, Oshikoto, and Omusati are some of the most affected. This highlights the challenges faced by girls in the country’s poorest regions.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Social Services show around 23 700 teenagers fell pregnant over the 12 years in the Ohangwena region – one of the most poverty-stricken regions of the country.
Kavango East, with 19 800 teenage pregnancies, is in second place, followed closely by Omusati, at 17 700.
Each region, including Oshikoto and Kavango West, had around 12600 pregnancies.
Other than Omaheke (5 700), Hardap (550) and //Kharas (4000), which have the lowest teenage pregnancies, are Hardap (5 500), Omaheke (5 700), and //Kharas (4000).
Namibia is home to approximately 13 000 teenage pregnancies annually. There is no sign of a decrease in this number.
Over 2400 teenage pregnancies have been recorded in the country within the first two-months of 2022.
SEX FOR RESURES
Isack Hamatwi is the Ohangwena education director and says teenage pregnancies hinder girls’ education.
“If they return the same year, they can be left behind, because others have gone far with the syllabus,” he says.
The director attributes the trend to poverty and says that desperate teenagers fall prey for those who are willing to exchange resources to sex.
“Poor monitoring at home is another cause. Many of these students live with their grandmothers. . . They don’t fall pregnant at school, but mostly at home,” he says.
Hamatwi claims that many pupils also become pregnant during school holidays, when they leave their hostels to go home.
“When they come back, they start showing they are pregnant,” he says.
He said that efforts are being made to prevent teenage pregnancies.
“We are also waiting for the implementation of the Education Act that would have measures to be taken to deal with those who are impregnating pupils,” he says.
CHILD MARRIAGE
Steven Haingura, principal of Kaisosi Combined school at Rundu, in the Kavango East says that teenage pregnancies are largely due to child marriage.
“Girls believe the ultimate thing in life is to get a husband and children. This belief is encouraged by parents who want a son-in-law to take care of them financially,” he says.
Ndamona* fell pregnant two years ago in Grade 8.
Rundu Secondary School was her home.
She claims that she was forced to quit school because of her pregnancy to care for her child. She also felt marginalized by her classmates, she said.
“I don’t have qualifications to get a job, but it’s difficult to go to school or get a job because no one will stay with the baby. They told me it’s my responsibility and I must deal with it,” she says.
Ndamona lives in Swakopmund, and she hopes to return to school and make a difference in her life.
Okahandja Senior High School Grade 10 Student, a 17-year-old girl who became pregnant says she was once in a relationship of 22-years-old men.
“When you fall pregnant and drop out of school, opportunities are rare,” she says.
NUMBER-1 KILLER FOR GIRLS
Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services, said Monday that only 24% of teenagers aged 15-19 reported using contraceptives. However, 19% of teenage girls had experienced their first pregnancy. Shangula spoke at a Rundu World Population Day event.
“Pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications are the number-one killer of girls aged 15 to 19 in developing countries,” he said.
He encouraged parents to have a discussion with their children about sexual health.
“To improve access, family planning services must be provided at all clinics, health centres, hospitals, casualty departments, outpatient departments, and all the wards where female or male patients are admitted,” Shangula said.THE CULPRITS
Sanet Steenkamp, executive director of education arts and culture, said that the real culprits infecting schoolgirls with sperm are married, richer men.
“That is the sad reality. This is an important matter. . . highly debated at all levels of society,” she said.
In the past, the Office of the First Lady supported campaigns related to substance abuse, high teenage pregnancy rates and school dropouts, as well as sexual harassment, mental illness, and a dearth of social services.
Veronica Theron, a specialist in gender and child safety at the Office of the first Lady, stated that teenage pregnancies affect women’s long term socio-economic status.
She said that teenage pregnancies can be directly linked to dropouts from school, youth unemployment, mental health problems, and other factors.
“Life skills classes/sex education classes are not fully utilised and are used to do homework, while not all life skills teachers are comfortable to discuss al the topics,” Theron said.
Nelago Indongo, an associate Professor in statistics and population studies at the University of Namibia, conducted a 2020 study that found that only 39% of teenage girls who became pregnant during the review period were using contraceptives.
The majority of contraceptive injections are used (71,8%), followed by condoms (16.8%) and pills (9.4%).
Ohangwena has the lowest percentage of teenage contraceptives users (13,6%), while Kunene had 43,3%.
Around 30% of Kunene teenagers had used injections. According to the study, condom use was higher in Oshana (Khomas) and Oshikoto (Oshikoto) regions.
According to the study teenagers have on average partners who are older than they.
DROPOUTS ON RISE
The latest statistics from the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture indicate that around 24 700 pupils dropped out of school in 2020 alone – more than double the number in 2011.
In 2011, pupil dropouts stood at 11 640.
Pregnancy-related school dropouts have increased over the past three years, peaking at 3 658 in 2021. The ministry recorded 2 291 and 1 560 dropouts in 2020, respectively.
Due to the distance between home and school, a large number of students (1 334) dropped their education between 2010 and 2022.
Most of these students were from Kavango East, Kavango West and Kunene regions.
Steenkamp said that these dropouts were a serious concern.
As per the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy Policy, the ministry allows girls to return school after giving birth.
Herbert Jauch, labour expert, said that school dropouts face difficult employment prospects.
He said that youth unemployment is at more than 50% and that dropouts could be among thousands of people applying to one cleaning job.
He said that dropouts are more likely than others to find work in the informal sector or join the ranks of those who are unemployed.
“The first disadvantage is that the doors for further education are almost closed . . . Secondly, in the labour market, they are faced with thousands of others looking for work in lower skills categories, and the chances of success are very small,” Jauch said.
*Not her real name
*Additional reporting by Eino Vatileni, research contributed by Tutaleni Pinehas
Source: namibian
