This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, a significant number of Kenyan girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are already child-bearing. At 15, three out of 100 girls are already pregnant, rising to 40 out of 100 by age 19.
These statistics highlight the need for urgent action to address teenage pregnancies in Kenya. The National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy, launched in 2015, provides a clear roadmap for stakeholders to tackle this issue.
The policy's 14-point action plan includes providing teenagers with accurate information through comprehensive sexuality education, investing in youth-friendly reproductive healthcare, and ensuring access to modern contraceptives for every sexually active adolescent.
Implementing evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs, expanding access to Medicaid family planning services, and utilizing mass media campaigns to promote safe sex can also help reduce teen pregnancy and save taxpayer money.
Alongside efforts by the Health ministry, the Ministry of Education also has a crucial role to play in tackling teenage pregnancy. Adopting age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education into the school curriculum can help improve the likelihood of success in adulthood for young parents and reduce the probability of them having other children as teens.
From our experience in Kilifi County, a broad partnership involving parents, education officials, health officials, community, and religious leaders can yield positive results. We have seen a drastic reduction in teenage pregnancies in areas where we have worked for five years.
High-level intervention is needed to unlock the impasse on implementing a sexuality education curriculum. The best bet in tackling teenage pregnancy is implementing the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy.
