How teen pregnancy is becoming a death trap

 

Teenage Pregnancies is the leading cause of maternal deaths in the country, an official from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has revealed.

Dr Neema Rusibamayila responsible for Reproductive and Chid Health at MoHSW said the number of maternal deaths of adolescents is significant higher for under the age of 20 years compared to those much older.

Dr Rusibamayila, who was attending the launching of the World Population Report yesterday, noted that maternal deaths representing under 20 years are 56 per 1000 while for older mothers it's 56 per 1000 births.

"Teenage pregnancies are a key problem in Tanzania and other developing countries and in some regions it's as high as 50 percent," she explained noting that in 2012 more than 5,000 girls were expelled from schools due to pregnancies.

She said many of the teenage girls who fall pregnant are exposed to danger of contracting HIV/Aids, developing fistula due to their undeveloped bodies that are not ready for child bearing.

She noted that the government has a number of strategies targeting youths, which include health strategy to promote adolescent sexual reproductive health rights.

Dr Rusibamayila also added that the government has developed tools for training health workers and leaders on the importance of adolescent and reproductive health.

"I take this opportunity to call upon all stakeholders to work together to make a difference for adolescents lives including protecting them from early marriages and adolescent pregnancies," she explained.

The Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Mr Saidi Meck Sadick  who was represented by the Regional Administrative Secretary, Mr Edwin Mbanga said stakeholders to ensure girls are assisted to stay in school, which would in turn delay child marriages.

"We could be giving them the potential and an opportunity to contribute to the country's development and chose when they should get married if we ensure that they complete their education, instead of marrying them off at a tender age," he explained.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country Representative Ms Mariam Khan said Tanzania has a great opportunity to benefit from its large youthful population which can fuel economy if the right investments in sexual repredoctive health including family planning and education are made.

Ms Khan said strategic action must be taken to reduce the rate of adolescent pregnancies in the country, to improve physical, social, economic and cultural stance of young girls in their communities.

"It is important that girls have access to correct information and comprehensive services on sexual and reproductive health, including family planning," she explained.

She added that enacting and enforcing national laws which raise the age of marriage to 18, while ensuring that girls who fall pregnant while in school can be re-admitted fate giving birth.

The report noted that 20,000 girls give birth every day, which accounts for missed educational and other opportunities, while 70,000 adolescent die every year due to pregnancy complications and child bearing.

It also noted the risk of maternal death for mothers under 15 in low and middle-income countries is double that of older females and the young group faces significant higher rates of obstetric fistula than their older peers.