This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
Kenya Lockdown Nightmare: Teen Pregnancy Soars Amid COVID-19 ¶
According to the Kenya Health Information System, a staggering 152,820 girls between the ages of 10 to 19 got pregnant during the COVID-19 lockdown in Kenya between March and June 2020.
Of these, 10,000 girls were between the ages of 10 to 14 years old, leaving many to question the role of the church and poor parenting skills in the rise of teen pregnancies.
Sex education has become a taboo topic in Kenya, with many debating whether it should be introduced in schools. However, experts argue that it is essential to equip children with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of adolescence.
Martha Sunda, the executive director of Childline Kenya, emphasized the importance of sex education in correcting the wrong information being sent out to children. She suggested that parents should start discussing sex education with their children from a young age, training them about body parts, hygiene, and social skills.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation, with the closure of schools creating a 'wildfire' of free time among young people. This has contributed to the rising numbers of pregnancies, with some cases being attributed to rape and teenage prostitution.
As the Ministry of Education grapples with the decision to reopen schools, experts warn that the consequences of unwanted pregnancies are far-reaching, including overpopulation, abandoned children, and increased abortion rates.
